August 16, 2002

JACKSON'S STORMS BACK TO EARN BERTH IN U.S. AMATEUR FINALS

SCARBOROUGH, N.Y. -- Brandi Jackson (Belton, S.C.) stormed back from a three-hole deficit Friday afternoon to eliminate Maru Martinez of Venezuela in the semifinal round of the U.S. Amateur Championship.

Jackson, the reigning Southern Conference Champion, had some early chances in the match, but was unable to capitalize on Martinez' mistakes. Martinez took the early lead with birdies on the first and third holes, but when she bogeyed the fourth, Jackson also bogeyed to leave the match at 2 up in Martinez' favor. On the par four sixth hole Jackson pulled to within one with a par in response to her opponent's bogey, but on the next hole Jackson and Martinez both bogeyed to leave the match at 1 up in the Venezuelan's favor. A Jackson bogey on the par five eighth hole gave Martinez a two-point lead, but Jackson pulled to within one again with a par on number nine.

On the back nine Martinez again extended her lead to two when Jackson bogeyed the par four 11th hole, then moved to 3 up with another Jackson bogey on number 13. Facing possible elimination on the 15th hole, Jackson matched Martinez' par with her own, then won the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes to stave off elimination. On the sudden-death 19th hole of competition, Jackson stuck her approach shot within eight feet of the hole and made birdie to post a spectacular comeback.

Jackson will face Becky Lucidi in the 36-hole championship match of the U.S. Amateur on Saturday at 9 a.m. The match will be broadcast on ESPN Saturday afternoon from 3-5 p.m. The only other U.S. Amateur Champion in Furman history is Beth Daniel, who won the title in 1975 and 1977 and is an LPGA Hall of Fame member.

Furman U.S. Amateur Results, Friday, August 16

Semifinals

Brandi Jackson (Belton, S.C.) def. Maru Martinez (Venezuela) in 19 holes