U.S. Women’s Amateur semifinal preview: What to expect Saturday at Westchester Country Club

August 6, 2021

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HARRISON, N.Y. — The loaded field of 156 players is now down to four. A shot at a national championship is just one match away.

After two rounds of stroke play and four rounds of match play, Saturday’s slate of semifinal matches are set at the 121^st U.S. Women’s Amateur at Westchester Country Club.

Michigan State’s Valentina Rossi will square off against Arizona’s Yu-Chiang (Vivian) Hou at 1:15 p.m. ET, followed by Kentucky’s Jensen Castle against 2021 NCAA individual champion and Stanford Rachel Heck at 1:30 p.m. ET.

With each match intriguing in its own way, here’s a preview of what to expect in the semifinal showdowns.

Rossi vs. Hou

This match is a tale of two different routes to the semifinals.

Rossi has gone to extra holes in three of her four matches the last three days, and continues to deliver in clutch moments day after day. If it’s close, advantage Rossi.

Putt for 💰 is @vvalenrossi‘s game plan!

She is #USWomensAm Semifinals bound. pic.twitter.com/ncopvugJrA

— USGA (@USGA) August 6, 2021

On the other hand, “close” isn’t in Hou’s vocabulary this week. She hasn’t been to the 17th hole since the second round of stroke play, dispatching each of her opponents early and with ease (and with a torn labrum in her hip). Hou has gotten out to an early lead each match and had to battle back from a deficit just once this week. If she gains another early lead, advantage Hou.

Castle vs. Heck

On paper, this match is Heck’s to lose, which is something she doesn’t do very often. As a freshman at Stanford, Heck won her final five tournaments of the season, including the Pac-12 Championship, NCAA Stanford Regional and NCAA individual championship. After 7-and-5 and 7-and-6 wins in the Rounds of 64 and 32, the 2021 ANNIKA Award winner got her first challenge from Arkansas star Brooke Matthews in the Round of 16, but made a clutch putt on the 18th green to force an extra hole, where she won with par. Her game and poise under pressure make for a tough match-play out.

This is truly what this game is all about! 🥰@rachelheck2020 | #USWomensAm | @LPGAGirlsGolf pic.twitter.com/A8kd8Zfoie

— USGA (@USGA) August 6, 2021

But don’t write off Castle just yet. The Kentucky junior advanced to the Round of 32 at last year’s Women’s Amateur and then helped lead her Wildcats to their first NCAA Championship berth in 29 years last season. She didn’t pack enough outfits because she didn’t expect to last this long this week and is staying on an air mattress at a friends house. Coming off an injury, her doctors didn’t want her to play this week, yet here she is, still standing strong.

For all the tangibles going Heck’s way, Castle has the intangible benefits in spades. After surviving a 12-for-2 playoff to advance to match play alongside Wildcat teammate Marissa Wenzler, Castle has won just about every way possible. She defeated No. 2-seed Kennedy Pedigo in the Round of 64, lost a 2-up lead then went 2 down in the Round of 32 before fighting back to win 1 up against Sophie Linder in the Round of 32, then cruised on the back nine to win 4 and 2 against Jenny Bae in the Round of 16. In short: Heck isn’t the only tough out left.