Aug.29-Sept. 3, 2026, Montclair Golf Club, West Orange, N.J.
Scoring | Images | Media Resouces | uswomensmidamateur.org
Although a rookie to the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, stroke-play co-medalist Ivy Shepherd, 26, of Peachtree City, Ga., has not played like one during the 39th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Montclair Golf Club.
The Georgia native has showed off her veteran-like poise, patience and positive attitude during five long rounds of match play, defeating Vanessa Wang, 2 up, in the semifinals to advance to Thursday’s championship final. She will face off against Catherine McEvoy, 28, of Riverside, Conn., with the winner hoisting the Mildred Gardinor Prunaret Trophy and earning a spot in the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally at Inverness Club.
During Wednesday morning’s quarterfinals against two-time champion Julia Potter-Bobb, Shephard saw her 5-up lead quickly disappear and needed a winning par on the 18th hole just to advance to the semis.
In the afternoon, Shepherd struck first on the opening hole of her match against Wang with a par. The match remained tied over the next two holes, before Wang, an assistant coach at the University of Washington, holed a birdie on the par-4 fourth. The duo traded holes on Nos. 6 and 7, making the turn with the match tied.
“It was a phenomenal match,” said Shepherd who just finished her stint as the assistant women’s golf coach at Indiana University. “I really had to stick to my game plan of trying to make pars and trusting that it was going to work itself out, because that’s the kind of golf course it is. It can get you really quick if you try and push too hard.”
A winning par on the par-4 10th would give the Georgian a 1-up lead that she retained until the 15th hole, where Wang stuffed her approached to 3 feet and sunk the birdie putt to tie the match again. Unfazed, Shepherd regained the lead on the next with a steady par, closing out the match with pars on Nos. 17 and 18.
“We were just playing the golf course,” added Shepherd. “The whole time we were just trying to make a ton of pars and [hit] good speeds, good lines, and if they drop, they drop. Vanessa [Wang] made it hard. She made a ton of birdies.”
After her strong amateur career that featured her earning medalist honors at the 2020 North & South Amateur, and competing in the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Shepherd described the ensuing years as “falling flat on her face” as she was unable to jumpstart a professional career. Since returning to competition, she has leaned on gratitude, reignited her love for competitive golf and now stands one win away from achieving the biggest victory of her golf life.
“It’s kind of hard without getting a little emotional about it,” said Shepherd. “But the people who know me have kind of known my golf journey, kind of hitting the top and honestly falling like flat on your face and kind of losing your dreams and not getting to turn pro and all those kinds of hardships. It means a ton to be able to just kind of put it together and really enjoy competing again.”
McEvoy has also faced a strenuous road to the final. She completed a 4-down comeback in the Round of 16, a 3-down comeback in the quarterfinals and defeated stroke-play co-medalist and top-ranked player in the field Emilia Doran to advance to be one of the last two players standing.
Unlike her previous matches, McEvoy got off to a lightning-quick start, winning the first three holes. After the duo traded wins on the next two holes, Doran steadied the ship with a winning par on No. 7 after McEvoy failed to get up and down from off the green. The pair would halve the next two holes before Doran brought the match back to all-square with winning pars on Nos. 10 and 12.
“Just trying to stay present,” said McEvoy reflecting on her back-and-forth match with Doran. “One shot at a time, not trying to get too far ahead of myself or think ahead; just focus on what’s in front of me, which is hitting the green and putting the ball on the green in a good spot.”
After the duo traded birdies on 13 and 14, both competitors made a bogey 6 on the par-5 15th, bringing the tied match to the final three holes. McEvoy stuffed her tee shot on the 123-par 3 16th to just 3 feet. Doran conceded, and McEvoy never looked back, putting away the match with pars on Nos. 17 and 18.
“Definitely overwhelmed with excitement,” added McEvoy. “It’s been a long two days. Today 36 and yesterday 36 and having to finish a few holes this morning from my [Round of 16 match], so just overwhelmed but really excited.”
What’s Next?
Thursday’s 18-hole final will begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Admission is free, and spectators are encouraged to attend. The winner will receive a spot into the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally at Inverness Club.
Notable
- Semifinalists Emilia Doran and Vanessa Wang received bronze medals as well as exemptions into the next two U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships, at the Country Club of Buffalo in Williamsville, N.Y., in 2027 and Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club in 2028.
- Each of the finalists are now exempt into the 127th U.S. Women’s Amateur at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club (No. 2), in Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
- Emilia Doran’s 7-and-6 victory on Wednesday matched the largest margin of victory in any quarterfinal match in championship history. Ellen Port defeated Patricia Milton, 7 and 6, in the quarterfinals of the 2000 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Big Canyon C.C. in Newport Beach, Calif.
- Julia Potter-Bobb, the lone remaining champion in the field, was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Shepherd, 1 up.
- The last time a stroke-play medalist made it to the final was in 2018, when Shannon Johnson defeated Kelsey Chugg, 1 up.
Quotable
“It’s awesome. It’s the longest freaking Women’s Open qualifier in the history of the world. But it’s cool. All that is just awesome, you know, results and rewards for a long week of competitive golf for somebody who is going to end up winning it. Again, just tons of gratitude. Yeah, I feel very, very blessed, but, I mean, at the end of the day it’s just going to be fun. That’s kind of what I’m looking forward to. I think it’s just going to be a great time and that’s it.” Ivy Shepherd on the long week and playing for a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday
“I couldn’t even put it into words right now. That would be awesome and a phenomenal opportunity for my golf career. But just know there is a lot of work to do before I get there tomorrow, so just trying to stay present.” Catherine McEvoy on her mindset going into tomorrow and playing for a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open
“Just that I made it farther than I did last year. I definitely really wanted to make it through the quarters and just show myself I can continue to make a run in these USGA championships. I just didn’t quite have my iron play in the semifinal round. My swing just got a little off and just made it hard to hit some shots. Just couldn’t really get any putts to fall. Some of the reads were a little tricky. So, yeah, I didn’t play my best golf in the semifinal round but just proud of my fight.” Emilia Doran on the positives she’ll take away from making it to the semifinals
“There are so many positives. Where do I even start? I mean, just being out here has been super fun. This golf course is pure. I had a fun week. My teammates were out here. Was able to see them. Made new friends. Saw some family this weekend. I hadn’t competed pretty much until this summer from the time I graduated until now, so it’s been three years. So it was cool to put my game to the test again at a level like this, so yeah, it was a lot of fun.” Vanessa Wang on her first experience in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
