Herrick and Sommers Through to Match Play at Inaugural U.S. Four-Ball Championship

 BANDON, Ore. – At the 2014 U.S. Women’s Four-Ball Sectional Qualifying last September, a bogey on the final hole separated the team of Olivia Herrick and Samantha Sommers from forcing a playoff with the chance to advance to the inaugural event Saturday.

With a recent change of fortune, Herrick and Sommers not only were invited to the championship, but after two qualifying rounds, advanced to the Round of 32 Sunday at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Herrick, Roseville, Minn., and Sommers, Sartell, Minn., opened with a pair of birdies during the opening round Saturday before making bogey at the fifth. A birdie at the ninth put the two at 2-under on the round and they went on to card two more bogeys over the final nine holes to card an even par 72.

The tandem found an early groove during the second qualifying round Sunday with a pair of early birdies to quickly get to 2-under before adding another at the 13th to move to 3-under.

Dropping a shot at the par-3 14th, the two rebounded with a birdie at the 16th and would card a 69 to finish tied for 17th at 141, five shots inside the cut.

Herrick owns an extensive golf resume, including six four-ball championships, and has long been considered one of the top female amateur golfers in the state, while Sommers has had success with the four-ball format as well, winning the 2013 Minnesota Golf Association Mixed Amateur Team Championship.

Seeded No. 17 during the match play portion of the championship, Herrick and Sommers face Maria Fassi and Maria Balcazar, both of Mexico, to begin the Round of 32 Monday with an 11:12 a.m. tee time at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.


For complete tournament coverage go to: www.usga.org/championships/2015/u-s--women-s-amateur-four-ball.html