YANA WILSON DUO END USGA WOMEN’S FOUR-BALL IN ROUND OF 16

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico–Fifteen-year-olds Chloe Kovelesky, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Yana Wilson, of Henderson, Nev., were defeated in the round 16 matches of the US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in Puerto Rico 3 and 2 by 17-year-olds Kaitlyn Schroeder, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Bailey Shoemaker, of West Edmeston, N.Y.  For Wilson, an SNJGA and SNGA member, the finish continued a high-quality run of golf in 2022. –By Brian Hurlburt and Randy Dodson

Wilson also played in the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, one of the world’s top amateur events, and also won the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex, among other top finishes. The Kovelesky and Wilson team tied for low medalist honors in the qualifying portion of the Four-Ball. The event was played at the Grand Reserve Golf Club.

Kovelesky, a 2021 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier, and Wilson, a two-time Drive, Chip & Putt age-group champion, didn’t have their best stuff in the round of 16, but the team they lost to are accomplished players. Schroeder was a quarterfinalist in the 2021 U.S. Girls’ Junior and Shoemaker is a past DCP finalist.

Wilson won’t be returning to Las Vegas soon as she’s headed to AJGA events in Florida and has an exemption into a Epson Tour event also in Florida. She is also the reigning 5A High School champion both and team and individual. She is a sophomore at Coronado.

“Southern Nevada has a really help grow as a golfer and I loved playing in Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association events when I was little and it really helped me prepare for events like this,” Wilson said following the Fourball qualifying.

Southern Nevada’s Ali Mulhall and Lilly Denunzio shot (-4) 68 Thursday but their opening round of 76 left them at even par for the stroke play qualifying and three shots off the cutline of 141 needed to advance to match play. Brynn Kort and her partner Hadley Ashton also missed the cut by 1-stroke at 142.