Lyla Louderbaugh has made waves in the world of amateur golf by reaching the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes. The Kansas native is a two-time champion of the Kansas Women’s Amateur. Tribal made her pro debut against top-ranked amateur Kiara Romero in a thrilling fight that showcased her toughness, heart, and burgeoning talent.
Despite holding a comfortable 2-up lead with only two holes left, the championship match took a dramatic turn as Louderbaugh lost the lead. She bounced back in a nerve-wracking conclusion, finally defeating Romero on the last day at the 20th hole. This victory is a big step for Louderbaugh, who is 249th in the women’s amateur rankings.
Talent shone through on both sides of the field in an incredibly tight game. They contended with tough conditions, fighting wind gusts that exceeded 30 mph on the course. On the par-5 18th hole, Louderbaugh ripped a stellar 7-iron from the heavy keel. At the same time, on the 17th hole, Romero displayed her ability to put the shot in close, dropping it within 3 feet of the pin.
Louderbaugh faced critical moments during the match. After losing the match for a brutal mistake on the 10th hole, the first extra-hole. Her concession-worthy, 7-foot birdie putt hit the back of the cup, spun out and denied her a critical stroke gained. Romero had just failed to convert a 10-foot par putt on the 16th green. This provided a perfect opening for Louderbaugh to exploit the situation.
Ultimately, Louderbaugh’s gamble was worth it as she two-putt from 20 feet to clinch her win over Romero. This win catapults her into the semifinals where she will compete against Brooke Biermann.
In looking back on her standout performance, Louderbaugh noted mental toughness was key all match long.
“I went to the bathroom and told myself, ‘Leading up the last two holes you were doing great. You don’t need to let the two misses affect you,’” – Lyla Louderbaugh
Her confidence didn’t falter under the weight of the moment, though, even when going up against the top-ranked Romero.
“I was confident I could come out and beat her today,” – Lyla Louderbaugh
Louderbaugh looks ahead to her title fight with Biermann. She carries with her the skills she’s honed over decades of rehearsal, along with the new energy from overcoming one of the oldest and most grueling challenges that she faced in her young career. The semifinal round should be another action-packed episode in this up-and-coming talent’s story among women’s amateur golf.
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