Talley Wins U.S. Women's Amateur


Emma Talley of Princeton, Ky., edged Yueer Cindy Feng 2 and 1 to win the U.S. Women's Amateur in the 36-hole championship match at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina.

Talley, a 19-year-old and University of Alabama sophomore, took a 1-up lead through morning 18 and increased her margin to 3-up through the 22nd hole.

The 17-year-old Feng, a native of China seeking to become the first Chinese-born player to win a USGA title, carded two straight birdies and parred the 25th hole - to Talley's bogey - to bring the match to all-square.

But Talley birdied the par-4 10th - the 28th hole of the match - to take a 1-up lead and increased it to 2-up two holes later.

Though Feng, who works with Sean Foley, the same instructor used by Tiger Woods and many other top players, got it back to 1-up when Talley bogeyed the 31st, she conceded a par putt to Talley on the 35th hole then missed a 6-foot par attempt to tie, thus giving Talley the title.

“To win the biggest tournament in the world, this is a dream come true,” said Talley.

“This morning, when she wasn’t playing well, I played worse,” said Feng, who will attempt to qualify for the LPGA Tour as an amateur at this month’s LPGA Qualifying School. “Then in the afternoon, when she did play well, I wasn’t able to hold on as tight.”

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.usga.org/ChampEventScore.aspx?id=17179869348&year=2013&type=061.