Sarah Shao (left) and Kristina Xu (right)
Shao, Xu Set to Compete in 126th U.S. Women’s Amateur
8/3/2026 7:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Columbia duo qualifies for their second championship
NEW YORK — Rising junior Sarah Shao and rising sophomore Kristina Xu of the Columbia women's golf team are set to compete in the 126th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. This year's event takes place August 4-9 at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
Shao earned her spot in the 156-player field by sharing medalist honors at an 18-hole qualifier at Copper Hill Country Club on June 23. She and three others each shot a 4-under-par 68. This will be Shao's second start in the championship, earning an exemption in 2025 as the winner of the 100th New Jersey Women's Amateur.
Xu earned her spot by carding a 2-under-par 68 in a qualifier at Redlands Country Club in Redlands, California on June 15. This will also be her second start in the championship, following her first qualification in 2024. Xu set the Columbia women's golf program's new single-season stroke average record of 73.50 this past season as a first year. She was named the winner of the 2025-26 William Terminello Award as the team's Most Valuable Player.
The U.S. Women's Amateur Championship format consists of 36 holes of stroke play, 18 on Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday, followed by a cut to the low 64 players. Those players compete in five rounds of single-elimination match play (August 6-8), concluding with a 36-hole final match (August 9) to determine this year's champion.
Xu tees off in Tuesday's First Round at 9:15 a.m. ET. Shao tees off at 2:15 p.m.
The Golf Channel will air live and taped coverage of the championship starting on Thursday. Check the USGA Championship page for more information.
Fans can track continuous, real-time updates and the complete live leaderboard on the official USGA U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Portal.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia women's golf, follow @CULionsWGolf on Facebook, X and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Shao earned her spot in the 156-player field by sharing medalist honors at an 18-hole qualifier at Copper Hill Country Club on June 23. She and three others each shot a 4-under-par 68. This will be Shao's second start in the championship, earning an exemption in 2025 as the winner of the 100th New Jersey Women's Amateur.
Xu earned her spot by carding a 2-under-par 68 in a qualifier at Redlands Country Club in Redlands, California on June 15. This will also be her second start in the championship, following her first qualification in 2024. Xu set the Columbia women's golf program's new single-season stroke average record of 73.50 this past season as a first year. She was named the winner of the 2025-26 William Terminello Award as the team's Most Valuable Player.
The U.S. Women's Amateur Championship format consists of 36 holes of stroke play, 18 on Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday, followed by a cut to the low 64 players. Those players compete in five rounds of single-elimination match play (August 6-8), concluding with a 36-hole final match (August 9) to determine this year's champion.
Xu tees off in Tuesday's First Round at 9:15 a.m. ET. Shao tees off at 2:15 p.m.
The Golf Channel will air live and taped coverage of the championship starting on Thursday. Check the USGA Championship page for more information.
Fans can track continuous, real-time updates and the complete live leaderboard on the official USGA U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Portal.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia women's golf, follow @CULionsWGolf on Facebook, X and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
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