CINCINNATI – The quarterfinal round of the 98th Women’s Western Junior at Maketewah Country Club delivered a mix of dramatic finishes and commanding performances Thursday, setting the stage for Friday morning’s semifinals.

After knocking off stroke-play medalist Isabel Emanuels of Austin, Texas, in the round of 16, Ryleigh Knaub, of DeBary, Florida, continued her run by beating Alli Wiertel, of Oswego, Illinois, in 20 holes. The 18-year-old Knaub was 2 down through 13 holes but battled back by winning two of the next four to square the match.

Both players had a chance to win on the 137-yard, par-3 18th. Knaub stuck her tee shot to 15 feet while Wiertel found the front bunker. Wiertel saved par with a clutch up-and-down, and Knaub's birdie putt slid just past the hole, sending the match to extra holes. Knaub, the 28th-ranked junior and an LSU commit, finally sealed the win with a birdie on the 20th hole.

Vidhi Lakhawala, of Kendall Park, New Jersey, showed her mental strength after going 1 down through three holes to Alisa Davidova, of Roanoke, Virginia. The 17-year-old Wake Forest commit responded by winning the next three holes – and five of the next nine – to take a 4-up lead. Lakhawala closed out the match on the 14th to win 5 and 4.

“I just continued to stick to my game plan and not get ahead of myself,” Lakhawala said. “The course was playing very tough today, and my body was fatigued, but everything was going well for me. I was putting myself in good positions all day.”

Kara An, of Valencia, California, found her rhythm on the back nine of her quarterfinal match against Catherine Andino, of Boca Raton, Florida, winning four of nine holes to win 2 up. An credited her caddie for helping navigate the match.

“My caddie was great out there today,” An said. “I just stayed patient. I’m going to get a good meal tonight and rest my legs to get ready for tomorrow.”

Another quarterfinal headed to extra holes as Ryan Donaldson, of McAlpin, Florida, edged Trinity Beth, of Calvert City, Kentucky, in 19 holes. Donaldson pulled ahead with wins at Nos. 12 and 14, but Beth responded with back-to-back wins at Nos. 16 and 17 to tie the match. Donaldson made birdie on the first extra hole to secure the win and punch her ticket to the semifinals.

Friday's semifinal matchups will see Lakhawala face Knaub at 8 a.m., followed by An against Donaldson at 8:10 a.m. The championship match is set for Friday afternoon.

First held in 1920, the Women’s Western Junior is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious junior tournaments, with past champions including Candie Kung (1998), Cristie Kerr (1994), Grace Park (1993) and Nancy Lopez (1972-74).

The winner of this year’s Women’s Western Junior will earn a sponsor exemption into the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, an LPGA Tour event taking place September 11-14 at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio. The 144-player field will include LPGA stars such as Nelly Korda, Haeran Ryu, Lydia Ko, and Jeeno Thitikul.

Attendance and parking at the Women’s Western Junior are free.

Match Play Results

Round of 16
Thursday, June 12
Ryleigh Knaub, DeBary, Florida, def. Isabel Emanuels, Austin, Texas, 3 and 1
Alli Wiertel, Oswego, Illinois, def. Sehee Sim, San Diego, California, 4 and 3
Vidhi Lakhawala, Kendall Park, NJ, def. Martha Kuwahara, Northbrook, Illinois, 3 and 2
Alisa Davidova, Roanoke, Virginia, def. Lucy Cook, West Point, Mississippi, 1 up
Kara An, Valencia, California, def. Eliza Yelverton, West Point, Mississippi, 4 and 3
Catherine Andino, Boca Raton, Florida, def. Kathryn DeLoach, 5 and 4
Ryan Donaldson, McAlpin, Florida, def. Addison Surber, Montgomery, Texas, 4 and 3
Trinity Beth, Calvert City, Kentucky, def. Taylor Snively, Zionsville, Indiana, 6 and 4

Quarterfinals
Knaub def. Wiertel, 20 holes
Lakhawala def. Davidova, 5 and 4
An def. Andino, 2 up
Donaldson def. Beth, 19 holes

Semifinal
Friday, June 13
Lakhawala vs. Knaub, 8:00 a.m.
An vs. Donaldson, 8:10 a.m.

Championship match to follow