Utah Women’s State Am: Kelsey Chugg reaches final, aims for 6th title
Five-time state am champion Kelsey Chugg will play for her sixth title as the 2013 Weber State alumnus won both her matches Friday at the 118th Utah Women’s State Amateur, hosted at TalonsCove Golf Club in Saratoga Springs.
Chugg, the No. 7 seed in this year’s tournament based on her Wednesday qualifying round, defeated No. 14 Faith Vui (Saratoga Springs) in the semifinals Friday afternoon. Chugg won the 15th hole to go 4-up with three holes remaining, ending the match.
Chugg, who first won the state am in 2012 and last in 2022, claimed holes six through eight to go 3-up and take control. Chugg played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Open in 2018.
Earlier Friday, Chugg upset No. 2 seed Jenna Anderson (Utah Tech) 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals. Even through the front nine, Chugg won holes 12, 15 and 17 to claim the match.
Chugg will face No. 1 seed Ali Mulhall (19, St. George) in Saturday morning’s championship match. Mulhall, a favorite to win the event entering the week and who plans to turn pro in August, squeaked by No. 5 Grace Summerhays (Davis Park GC) in 19 holes in the semfinals.
Summerhays, an Arizona native and niece to Farmington’s Daniel Summerhays, won her quarterfinal earlier Thursday, 7 and 6, over No. 13 Kate Walker (junior at Crimson Cliffs in St. George).
No. 6 seed Sydney Richards, a 2023 graduate of Farmington High, lost 3 and 2 to Vui in the quarterfinals.
