Thursday, June 20, 2002
Duff feels at home in Women's Met
By Gary Estwick gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ashley Duff upset Kim Keyer-Scott.
(Ernest Coleman photos)
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Ashley Duff used home-course advantage to her favor at Royal Oak Country Club. Duff, a three-year member of the club, picked apart the course to upset Kim Keyer-Scott on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Greater Cincinnati Women's Amateur Invitational Championship.
“I know a couple of shortcuts,” Duff said. “It helped me out.”
Seeded No. 7 after Monday's qualifying round, she won 4 and 3 against the second-seeded Keyer-Scott, who reached the semifinals of the 2001 Women's Met.
Duff, 19, hopes to have the same success today as she faces two-time champion Janie Klare in an 8:40 a.m. semifinal. Klare defeated Linda Coffey 2-up to advance.
Lynn Thompson, another two-time champion, will play 2000 cham pion Katie Rakel in the other semifinal at 8:30 a.m. Thompson defeated Lynne Gokey, also a home-course favorite, 5 and 4 to advance. Rakel beat Cathy Almquist 3 and 2.
Kim Rakel hits from a trap.
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Duff, the current Royal Oak women's champion, is a former Glen Este High School standout who was a two-time first-team all-Fort Ancient Valley Conference selection. She is entering her sophomore year at Kent State, where she redshirted on the golf team last season.
She is playing in her second Women's Met and is the only semifinalist who is not a former champion.
If she continues to play as she has this week, that could change.
“I think I have a good chance (to advance to the finals),” Duff said. “Hopefully, (win) the next day, too.”
Duff never trailed against Keyer-Scott, who plays for NKU. Duff managed the course with the help of her caddie, Kyle Owens, who works at Royal Oak.
“Team effort,” she said.
Lynn Thompson misses a putt.
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Duff's dominance was evident on holes such as No.13. After the approach, Duff was 30 yards out, while Keyer-Scott was about 150 yards away. Duff avoided traps, while Keyer-Scott often hit into trouble and had to chip out.
It all came down to knowing the course and executing. Duff did both.
“She just knew places to cut, and that's to her advantage,” Keyer-Scott said. “And in golf, you have to use every advantage you have. She did, and she won.”
Duff's next challenge is Klare. The two have never played each other.
“It will be a good match,” Klare said. “It's her home course. Sometimes that can be an advantage. Sometimes that can be a disadvantage. I'm looking forward to it.”
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Duff feels at home in Women's Met
