Writing from Elmhurst, Illinois
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Rachel Lee of Australia was 1-over after two holes of her second qualifying round in the 126th Women’s Western Amateur after a ho-hum even par round on Tuesday. Staying there would make qualifying for match play, limited to the low 32 players, dicey.
She didn’t stay there. She moved, and vigorously.
Lee birdied seven of her next 14 holes and raced back to the clubhouse at leafy and steamy River Forest Country Club with a 6-under-par 66, good for a 36-hole aggregate of 6-under 138 and a share of medalist honors in this oldest continuously-played championship in golf. To say the least, she felt comfortable.
“This course is very similar to my Sydney course,” said Lee, who won the Sydney Amateur late last year. “It felt more like home. I was a little worried, but not too worried, because yesterday I started with two bogeys. I knew I could get it back.”
Her 66, which she thought was highlighted by a deuce on the par-3 seventh via a 13-foot putt, her 16th hole, matched the best round of qualifying. Thailand’s Pimchompoo Chaisilprungruang, affectionately known to one and all as “Pinky,” fired a 66 on Tuesday, and remained in the lead until squandering four strokes to par across the first five holes of her final nine on Tuesday. Her total of 4-under 140 after Wednesday’s 2-over 74 still qualified her easily.
Lee was matched at 138 by Oregon State senior Raya Nakao of Kaheohe, Hawaii and Pepperdine sophomore Kylee Choi of Murrieta, Calif. They shot 70 and 68, respectively, in the second round to grab a share of medalist honors.
“It’s pretty tough conditions out there,” Nakao said. “You’ve got to keep it in the fairways here. The rough is pretty high. Playing in the short stuff makes it easier. And the greens can be tricky to read. But my putting has saved me.”
Grace Lee of Bellevue, Wash., and Jaclyn LaHa of Pleasanton, Calif., tied for fourth at 5-under 139. The lone area qualifier is Alabama-bound Alli Wiertel of west suburban Oswego, who added 1-over 73 to Tuesday’s opening 70 for a 1-under 143 total.
The playoff at even par 144 encompassed nine players chasing the last seven match play spots.
– Tim Cronin