Friday, June 26, 1998

Former prep champ Au
takes Public Links
medalist honors

She wins by three strokes to
lead the field into match play
competition today

Associated Press

KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Elisha Au, a 19-year-old from Waikoloa on the Big Island, shot a 1-over-par 72 yesterday to win medalist honors by three strokes in the Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.

Au completed two qualifying rounds over the Kapalua Golf Club's Bay Course in 6-over 148, three shots ahead of Bessie Phillips, 21, of Lantana, Fla., and Jill Gomric, 20, of Belleville, Ill. Stacy Prammanasudh, 18, of Enid, Okla., was at 152.

"Yesterday I didn't have any birdies, so it was nice to have three today," said Au, a former Hawaii high school state champion from Kamehameha who now is a senior at the University of Washington.

"It's nice to play in a big tournament near home," she added. "My dad is able to caddie for me, which is nice."

Defending champion JoJo Robertson, 22, of Roswell, N.M., was among the 32 players from the field of 132 who advanced to the first round of match play today.

The 18-hole final match is scheduled Sunday.

Lauren Baugh, 18, of The Woodlands, Texas improved her score by 10 strokes yesterday, shooting a 74 that got her into the field of 32 by one stroke. Her aunt, Laura Baugh, won the U.S. Amateur title in 1971.