TULSA, Oklahoma (AP) — Annika Cedo of the Philippines won two matches on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the US Girls Junior Championship at Tulsa Country Club in Oklahoma.
The 29th-seeded Filipina took out two higher seeds in one day, bundling out China's Muni He on the third playoff hole in their Final 32 match before taking out North Carolina's Gina Kim, 4&3, in the round of 16.
Cedo now takes on Korean-American Jayna Choi as she looks to mirror the victory of compatriot Princess Superal in this same event last year.
Choi advanced with a 2-up victory over Karah Sanford of Escondido, California, and Cedo beat Gina Kim of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 4 and 3.
Also advancing was Canada's Naomi Ko, who beat stroke-play medalist Megan Khang of Rockland, Massachusetts, 1 up in the round of 32, and topped Alyaa Abdulghany of Newport Beach, California, 2 and 1 in the afternoon round of 16.
"It was a big confidence-booster," Ko said about the victory over Khang. "Someone actually asked me if I felt like an underdog going into the match, and I kind of did, but I knew I had a chance because anything can happen in match play."
The 17-year-old Khang was making her record-tying seventh appearance in the tournament.
"Naomi was awesome, especially on the putting surface," Khang said. "She made every birdie putt whenever she was on the green inside 20 feet. She's a good player and she's played well this week."
The North Carolina State-bound Ko will face South Korea's Eun Jeong Seong on Friday. Seong routed Thailand's Chakansim Khamborn 6 and 5 in the round of 16.
In the other quarterfinal, Mexico's Evelyn Arguelles will face Mika Liu of Los Angeles. Arguelles beat Kathleen Scavo of Benicia, California, 1 up, and Liu topped Aneka Seumanutafa of Frederick, Maryland, 2 and 1.