Grantham Advances To Semifinals At Alabama State Am

ALEXANDER, Ala. -- Ole Miss women's golfer Sara Grantham advanced to the semifinals at the Alabama State Amateur Championship Thursday before falling in her afternoon match to Jordan Hardy 3 and 2. Grantham will now turn her attention to the U.S. Amateur Championship which begins next week in St. Louis, Mo.

In her quarterfinal match in the morning, Grantham, the defending champion, took out Betsy Birchall 4 and 3 to reach the semifinals for the second year in a row. She turned right around a little over two hours later and teed off the semifinal match against Hardy. Grantham took a 1-up lead through the first nine, but Hardy pulled even at 13 before taking charge.

"I played pretty well today and was still under par," Grantham said. "My opponent had no bogeys and five birdies. She played great today, and I just did not make enough putts to win."

"Sara had a great run this week," head coach Michele Drinkard said. "The good competition will help her next week as she competes in the U.S. Amateur in St. Louis."

Grantham will be joined at the U.S. Amateur with her former teammate, two-time All-American Dori Carter. Stroke-play qualifying begins Monday and concludes Tuesday. The low 64 scorers then advance to match play, with the champion determined by a 36-hole match-play final.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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