RIANNE Malixi is expected to make it to the match-play stage of the US Women’s Amateur Championship but there’s still a chance she may not after her two-day round total placed her near or on the cutline.
Play was suspended Wednesday due to darkness at the Honors Course in Tennessee and the match-play field will not be known until all the other players have finished on Thursday morning, US time.
Late Malixi surge
One of the favorites in the tournament, Malixi needed two birdies in her last four holes for a round of 1-under-par 71 to make up for disastrous first round that saw her shoot a 77.
At the end of the day’s round, 5 over was the projected cutline with several more golfers still to complete their round.
Overall, she had four birdies against three bogeys, compared to six bogeys and one birdie in her first round.
She was 4 over for the tournament and she joins several players awaiting their fate following the suspension of the tournament.
The 19-year-old, who won this event in 2024, is tied at 51st place with only the Top 64 advancing to match play. If there are ties for 64th place, a playoff will be held to determine who takes that spot.
Last year, Malixi was hobbled with a back injury but managed to share medalist honors during the 36-hole stroke play. But she failed to advance past the first round of match play.
A two-hour weather delay caused the disruption with Japan’s Anna Iwanaga holding the clubhouse lead at 6 under after shooting 1-under-par 71 following a 5-under-par 67 in the first round.
Hailey Kim is second place, also at 6 under, with still one hole to play, while Anna Davis shot a 69 and was at 4 under. Also at 4 under was Asterisk Talley who still has four holes to play.
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