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Kelsey Chugg advances to U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur final
Kelsey Chugg is in familiar territory in a match-play golf tournament.
The five-time Women’s State Amateur champion will make a third appearance in the final match of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. Thursday’s 18-hole duel at Stonewall’s North Course in Pennsylvania starts at 7 a.m. MDT.
Kelsey Chugg watches her tee shot on the first hole during the quarterfinals at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Stonewall (North Course) in Elverson, Pa. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Jeff Haynes/USGA)
Having held off her opponents’ rallies in a pair of 1-up victories Wednesday, Chugg described herself as “just really, really excited to be back in the final again.”
She won the 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Am title and reached the final stage again the following year, before dropping a tough, 1-up decision.
Chugg, the associate director of Salt Lake City Golf, qualified for the 64-golfer match-play bracket as the No. 14 seed, thanks to a second-round 69. She has been in command throughout all five matches, even while having to go to No. 18 in both the quarterfinals and semifinals Wednesday.
“I really fought hard today … I’m proud of myself for grinding it out down the stretch,” she said.
The Women’s Mid-Am is open to golfers 25 and older. Chugg, 32, will face No. 16 seed Kimberly Dinh of Michigan in the final match.
Chugg was 3 up through 14 holes vs. No. 11 Taryn Walker of Kentucky in the quarterfinals and held on after losing two holes. The pattern was similar in the semifinals vs. No. 2 Jackie Rogowicz, who had a home-state following. Chugg was 2 up at the turn, lost No. 15, then tied the last three holes to earn the victory.
Kelsey Chugg and her caddie Lynsey Myers discuss options on the No. 17 tee box during the quarterfinals. (Jeff Haynes/USGA)
Chugg is a former Weber State golfer and Utah Golf Association staff member. Her caddie this week is longtime coach Lynsey Myers, the head professional at Forest Dale Golf Course. “She just has been amazing,” Chugg said. “She knows my swing and game better than anybody.”
Follow USGA live scoring of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship match Thursday morning, click here: https://championships.usga.org/uswomensmidamateur/2023/scoring.html
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship story written by Fairways Media senior writer, Kurt Kragthorpe. Photos courtesy of the USGA/Jeff Haynes.