Aug. 4, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sydney Crane, a rising senior on North Carolina's golf team, and Allie White, an incoming freshman, begin play today at the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur in Eugene, Ore. Two rounds of stroke play will take place Monday and Tuesday at Eugene Country Club at which point the field will be cut to the low 64 scorers. Match play will begin on Wednesday and continue through Sunday.

Crane, from Jamestown, N.C., advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2008 Women's North and South Amateur earlier this summer as did incoming freshman, Catherine O'Donnell from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Other Tar Heels playing in that prestigious event were Lauen Hunt, a rising senior from Little River, S.C., and former Tar Heel Katie Miller, both of whom lost in the first round of match play. Margaret Pentrack, a rising sophomore from Pittsburgh, Pa., failed to advance out of stroke play.

Crane and Hunt also participated in the Carolinas-Virginias Team Matches played at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Virginias team led wire to wire and won 55 1/2 to 43 1/2.

White, from Lancaster, Ohio, has also carded two runner-up finishes this summer. She tied for second place at the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) Rolex Girls Junior Championship played at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., and was the runner-up at the Hudson Junior Invitational in Hudson, Ohio.