San Jose’s Katherine Zhu came up short in her bid to win in her U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur debut, falling 2 and 1 to 2019 champion Ina Kim-Schaad Wednesday afternoon in the semifinals at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club.

The 25-year-old Zhu, a former star at Cal and Harker School, advanced to the semifinals earlier Wednesday by defeating Golf Channel analyst and former Wake Forest golfer Emilia Doran 3 and 1 at Pebble Beach.

Kim Schaad, of Jupiter, Fla., will face Henley Long of Clarksville, Tenn. In Thursday’s 18-hole final. The winner will earn a spot in the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

“Pinch me,” said the 42-year-old Kim-Schaad. “I mean, this was obviously my goal coming in for sure. I’ve worked ready hard this year to try and get here

See Full Page