Matching Up

Coloradan Sydney Gillespie lands final spot in match play at U.S. Women’s Mid-Am, but falls in round of 64 to a co-medalist

By Gary Baines – 9/9/2024

Sydney Gillespie of Highlands Ranch earned the 64th and final spot in match play at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur by making a par on the first extra hole to win a 4-for-1 playoff. For that, she landed a round-of-64 matchup with one of the two stroke-play co-medalists in West Newton, Mass., Jacqueline Setas of East Lansing, Mich.

Suffice it to say it wasn’t an easy draw.

Setas, 28 and a former Michigan State golfer, defeated Gillespie, who played her college golf at Creighton, 4 and 3 on Monday, ending the Coloradan’s run in the final 64.

Gillespie never led in the match, but was tied through four holes. Then Setas won three of four holes from 5-8, all with pars, to go 3 up. Gillespie made a birdie on No. 10 to cut her deficit to 2 down, but Setas won 11 with a par and never lost another hole, closing things out with a winning par on No. 15.

Gillespie ended up 10 over par for the 15 holes of the match, while Setas was 3 over.

The Women’s Mid-Amateur is limited to players 25 and older.

Results for Coloradans at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in West Newton, Mass.:

ROUND OF 64 MONDAY

Jacqueline Setas, East Lansing, Mich., def. Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch, 4 and 3

STROKE PLAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

64. Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch 79-84–163

Missed cut. Shannon Lubar, Denver 83-89–172

Missed cut. Janet Moore, Greenwood Village 86-95—181

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.