While it wasn’t Ciera Min’s day at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, another golfer from Hawaii stole the show.
While it wasn’t Ciera Min’s day at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, another golfer from Hawaii stole the show.
Min shot a 5-over 76 on Tuesday, falling short of a qualifying spot for match play in Springfield, Pa.
The Waiakea grad finished at 7-over after 36 holes. The cutline was 5-over.
Mariel Galdiano, a three-time HHSAA champion for Punahou (Oahu), took medalist honors, closing with a bogey-free 65 for a championship-record 9-under 133.
“It’s kind of shocking, actually,” Galdiano said on the United States Golf Association website. “I thought people would be like, lights out, 15-under.”
Nope, the previous record was 9-under, a feat accomplished previously by two golfers. Galdiano, who is set to attend UCLA, opened with a 68 and posted 10 birdies and only one bogey in two rounds of stroke play.
She begins the round of 64 on Wednesday as the top seed.
“I really like the layout,” Galdiano said of the William Flynn design. “It’s the same designer as the course out at Lancaster (Country Club) last year for the Women’s Open. I played in that. So it’s a comfortable feel and comfortable look. So I’m just able to pinpoint my approach shots and make those putts.”
Honolulu’s Kacie Komoto shot 73 and advanced at 5-over, and Rose Huang (7-over) and Zoey Akagi-Bustin (24-over) missed the cut.
Min, a senior at Washington State, was in striking distance after a 73 Monday, but she bogeyed her first hole and fell into trouble with a double-bogey on No. 6. Despite three birdies, four bogeys on the back nine sealed her fate.