June 19, 2003

Woodburn, OR - Taya Battistella continued her dominance in the Oregon Amateur Championship Thursday, defeating Cassie Castleman, 5 and 4, and advancing to the match play quarterfinals. She plays again on Friday at the OGA Members Course at Tukwila.

Battistella, who won two Big Sky Conference individual titles at PSU, is in the OGA Amateur Championship quarterfinals for the second year in a row. Last year she lost to Alexandra Lee in the round of eight at Bandon Dunes.

This year Battistella has been impressive in the Oregon Amateur, placing third in stroke play qualifying. She then beat Katie Cunningham, 7 and 6, on Wednesday in the opening round of match play. In Thursday's convincing win over Castleman, Battistella played to even-par through 14 holes.

Battistella's PSU teammate, Bobbie Dunn, was eliminated in today's round of 16, losing to Eloise Carson, 3 and 2.

Brian Hughes needed a three-under par 69 to win his match over Kyle Johnson, 1-up, in the men's bracket of the Oregon Amateur. Hughes, a former Big Sky medalist for PSU and former assistant coach, advances to the men's round of 16.

In other golf news, PSU Coach Felicia Johnson, and junior-to-be Sarah Tiller both failed to qualify for the match play portion of the USGA Public Links Amateur Championship. Johnston and Tiller, competing amng 143 golfers at Palm Coast Florida's Ocean Hammock Course, did not finish among the top 64. Johnston shot 81-79=160 to tie for 76th. Tiller shot 81-85=166 and tied for 103rd.