Ducks Beat Ohio State, Advance to Championship Match of East-West Challenge

Monday, September 19

Ann Arbor, Mich.

All Day

University of Oregon

East and West Match Play

Ducks Beat Ohio State, Advance to Championship Match of East-West Challenge

09/19/16 | Women's Golf

Amy Matsuoka's Win In Extra Holes Sends Oregon to Title Match Against Wisconsin On Tuesday

By: Nate Krueger

Photo: Eric Gatmaitan

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Oregon women's golf team came away with a 3-2 win in match play over Ohio State on Monday to advance to Tuesday's championship match of the East and West Match Play Challenge at Radrick Farms Golf Course.

How It Happened: Looking to repeat its success after winning the East-West Challenge in 2015, Oregon was pinned against the Buckeyes after finishing fourth in the stroke play portion of the event on Sunday. With the match tied, 2-2-1, freshman Amy Matsuoka went to extra holes with Ohio State's Rio Watanabe after Watanabe birdied No. 18 to force a playoff. In her first taste of collegiate match play, Matsuoka came up clutch with a birdie on the first playoff hole to win her match and send the Ducks to the championship match against Wisconsin.

"It feels amazing to be able to advance my team into the championship match," Matsuoka said. "With the team watching my match the last couple holes and cheering me on, it really showed our team chemistry and support towards one another."

Freshman Brooke Hamilton got off to a tremendous start in her match against Niki Schroeder, winning the first four holes and extending her lead to as many as seven holes before winning, 6&4, to secure the first point of the day. Hamilton had three birdies through her 14 holes of play.

Senior Cathleen Santoso came away with a point for the Ducks after leading Alex Wright throughout. The two players were all square through the first two holes, but Santoso took a one-hole lead on No. 3 after Wright bogeyed to take the lead for good. With a one-hole lead with two holes to play, Santoso birdied No. 17 to win her match, 2&1.

Sophomores Petra Salko and Kathleen Scavo both played tough in their matches, but Ohio State was able to come away with a pair of points. Salko was never down by more than three holes, but was unable to climb back against Jesssica Porvasnik, who was solid all day long en route to a 2&1 win. Scavo was even with Jaclyn Lee through eight holes, but fell behind after a bogey on No. 9 as Lee pulled away for a 4&3 win.

Quotes:
Head Coach Ria Scott
On the performances of freshmen Amy Matsuoka and Brooke Hamilton...
"Amy was calm and collected as always and just played her own, steady game. So fun for us to see our freshmen pull through."

"Brooke has an extra gear of competitiveness and ability to buckle down when it comes to match play."

"Even though Brooke and Amy are freshmen, they are no strangers to high level competition."

On Cathleen Santoso...
"Cathleen also hit some quality iron shots out there, and it was fun to see her in control of her game and her match."

Up Next: The Ducks will try to win the East and West Match Play Challenge for the second year in a row on Tuesday as they take on Wisconsin, who beat Kentucky, 3-2, on Monday. The two teams will tee off at approximately 7:48 a.m. PT.