Thompson, 12, reaches quarterfinals
CARMEL, Ind. -- Twelve-year-old Alexis Thompson became the youngest quarterfinalist in the 107-year history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur golf tournament. A home-schooled seventh-grader from Coral Springs, Fla., the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women’s Open history and the recent Junior PGA champion, beat 12-year-old Pearl Jin of San Gabriel, 5 and 4, in a second-round showdown Thursday at Crooked Stick Golf Club.
Thompson came back later in the afternoon with another 5-and-4 win over 18-year-old Lizette Salas of Azusa to reach today’s quarterfinals against Korea’s Ha Na Jang.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m hitting it,” she said. “I’m just going in [today] and try to play the way I did today.”
Thompson and Jin were the first 12-year-olds to reach match play in the Women’s Amateur.
“It’s a great experience,” Jin said of the preteen matchup.
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