Photo by: USGA
Plata Finishes as a Semifinalist at the U.S. Women’s Amateur
8/8/2020 9:52:00 PM | Women's Golf
Michigan State rising junior Valery Plata put together an outstanding run at this week's U.S. Women's Amateur Championship as she made it all the way to the semifinals. Plata's impressive run eventually came to a halt one match shy of the championship as she fell to 2019 champ Gabriella Ruffels, 2&1, on Saturday afternoon at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland.
U.S. Women's Amateur Home
"It was a really good week, I started playing well right from the start and was able to keep it going during match play," Plata said. "I was just really having fun out there, enjoying myself and trying to play the best I could."
Plata started the week by finishing as the runner-up in stroke play portion of the event. She turned in a pair of 1-under-par 71s and her 2-under-par 142 was just two shots behind the winner, Rachel Heck. Plata was one of only seven players in the field of 132 to finish stroke play under par.
Plata was one of three Spartans to play in the U.S. Amateur as she was joined by rising senior Yurika Tanida and classmate Haylin Harris. Both Harris and Tanida also made the cut for the round of 64 match play.
While Tanida fell in her opening match, Harris and Plata actually met in the opening round of match play. Plata won 3&1.
Plata, who hails from Floridablanca, Colombia, finished 2 up on Zoe Antoinette Campos in the round of 32. She then defeated Tyler Akabane, 3&2, to reach the quarterfinals.
With her quarterfinal match vs. Kennedy Swan tied with four holes to play, Plata birdied the par-5, 532-yard 15th hole to take a lead she would not relinquish.
Plata had an early lead in Saturday's semifinal match vs. Ruffels, but the defending champ was able to come back for a 2&1 win.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans were allowed at the course and Plata's parents had to follow along from back home in Colombia.
"Golf Channel Latin America didn't air the tournament live, but some friends of theirs were able to stream it somehow and were sending them videos," Plata said.
Palta also received well-wishes and encouragement from her current teammates and the Spartan golf family.
"I was hearing from my current teammates all week," she said. "I talked to a few other past players, too, like Katie Sharp, Sarah Burnham, and others, as well as some of the current players on the men's team, too."
While Plata was disappointed she didn't reach the championship match, she was happy with her overall performance and knows it will make her an even better player when she returns to East Lansing.
"I think I played really well in the spring, but it got cut short, unfortunately," Plata said. "I just really wanted to pick it back up where I left off and I think I was able to do that. Coach Stacy (Slobodnik-Stoll) told me earlier that I can play with anyone in the country and I think I realized that today and this whole week."
U.S. Women's Amateur Home
"It was a really good week, I started playing well right from the start and was able to keep it going during match play," Plata said. "I was just really having fun out there, enjoying myself and trying to play the best I could."
Plata started the week by finishing as the runner-up in stroke play portion of the event. She turned in a pair of 1-under-par 71s and her 2-under-par 142 was just two shots behind the winner, Rachel Heck. Plata was one of only seven players in the field of 132 to finish stroke play under par.
Plata was one of three Spartans to play in the U.S. Amateur as she was joined by rising senior Yurika Tanida and classmate Haylin Harris. Both Harris and Tanida also made the cut for the round of 64 match play.
While Tanida fell in her opening match, Harris and Plata actually met in the opening round of match play. Plata won 3&1.
Plata, who hails from Floridablanca, Colombia, finished 2 up on Zoe Antoinette Campos in the round of 32. She then defeated Tyler Akabane, 3&2, to reach the quarterfinals.
With her quarterfinal match vs. Kennedy Swan tied with four holes to play, Plata birdied the par-5, 532-yard 15th hole to take a lead she would not relinquish.
Plata had an early lead in Saturday's semifinal match vs. Ruffels, but the defending champ was able to come back for a 2&1 win.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans were allowed at the course and Plata's parents had to follow along from back home in Colombia.
"Golf Channel Latin America didn't air the tournament live, but some friends of theirs were able to stream it somehow and were sending them videos," Plata said.
Palta also received well-wishes and encouragement from her current teammates and the Spartan golf family.
"I was hearing from my current teammates all week," she said. "I talked to a few other past players, too, like Katie Sharp, Sarah Burnham, and others, as well as some of the current players on the men's team, too."
While Plata was disappointed she didn't reach the championship match, she was happy with her overall performance and knows it will make her an even better player when she returns to East Lansing.
"I think I played really well in the spring, but it got cut short, unfortunately," Plata said. "I just really wanted to pick it back up where I left off and I think I was able to do that. Coach Stacy (Slobodnik-Stoll) told me earlier that I can play with anyone in the country and I think I realized that today and this whole week."
Players Mentioned
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