Alabama’s Kristen Gillman, Cheyenne Knight and Lauren Stephenson Post Match Play Wins at U.S. Women’s Amateur

Alabama women’s golfers Kristen Gillman, Cheyenne Knight and Lauren Stephenson posted victories in the opening round of match play on Wednesday at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur and will play in Thursday’s Round of 32 at the par-72, 6,423-yard San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif.

All three Tide golfers won by 3-and-2 scores in the Round of 64 to advance. Knight defeated Gurleen Kaur of Houston, clinching the match with birdies on 10, 11 and 14. Gillman bested fellow Texan Hailee Cooper of Montgomery, Texas and Stephenson downed Bowling Green’s Erin Fahey.

Knight, the 20^th seed in match play, meeting 13^th seed Albane Valenzuela of Stanford in the Round of 32 at 10:20 a.m. (CT) on Thursday. Gillman, the 15^th seed, will face 47^th seed Brigitte Dunne of SMU at 11 a.m. while the 10^th-seeded Stephenson will face 23^rd seed Jaravee Boonchant of Duke at 11:20 a.m. Thursday morning winners will return to the course in the afternoon for the Round of 16.

Thursday’s Round of 32 will be streamed on usga.org beginning at 1 p.m. (CT). Coverage of the Round of 16 will air on FS1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (CT).

Former Crimson Tide golfer Emma Talley became the first Alabama golfer to win the Women's U.S. Amateur when she captured the title in 2013 at Charleston (S.C.) Country Club prior to her sophomore year. Gillman won the event in 2014 as a 16-year old.