OOLTEWAH, Tenn. - Samford women's golfer Gabi Nicastro finished off a historic run at the United States Women's Golf Amateur this morning, reaching the semifinals of the event. In a field of over 150 world-class golfers from around the world, Nicastro reached the final four stage before falling to the number one seed in the tournament.

A rising senior, Nicastro made her second appearance in three years at the U.S. Women's AM after winning the Alabama Women's Amateur championship. The Huntsville native entered the tournament ranked 380th in the amateur world golf rankings but outperformed those metrics during the week at The Honors Course.

She opened two days of stroke play with a round of one over 73, and followed that up with a 74 the following day to finish tied for 39th and qualify for the matchplay portion of the tournament. The Bulldog golfer earned the No. 44 seed and made quick work of her round of 64 opponent as Nicastro never trailed and won 5&4. Her next challenge came against the No. 12 seed, whom she dispatched on the first playoff hole with a birdie. 

Battling through 36-hole days and weather delays, Nicastro took down LSU golfer Ryleigh Knaub in the round of 16, 2&1. Nicastro won by the same margin in the quarterfinals over Pimchompoo Chaisilprungruang from Charlotte, ranked 66th in WAGR.

Nicastro finally ran out of gas against her semifinal opponent Anna Iwanaga, the No. 1 seed after earning co-medalist honors who is ranked 19^th in the world and a member of the Japan National team. The Bulldog was three down after nine holes before play was suspended due to darkness. She came out this morning and took the first hole they played but ended up falling 6&4.

She is set to return for her senior season after earning first-team All-Southern Conference this past season, having shot a school-record 10-under 62 to win the ULM Invitational in March.

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