SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. – EKU's Rylea Marcum won the 2021 Kentucky Women's State Amateur at the University of Louisville Golf Club on Wednesday.
 
The Georgetown native faced University of Kentucky fifth-year senior Sarah Shipley in the championship match on Wednesday afternoon.  Marcum trailed by one before tying it on the 18th hole, and then won it on the 20th.
 
Marcum defeated another UK golfer, Sarah Fite, 6 and 4 in the semifinals on Wednesday morning.
 
Marcum is the fourth EKU golfer to win the state amateur.  April Emerson (2009-13) captured three titles in 2009, 2011 and 2013.  Becky Sharpe (2011-14) won it in 2015.  Elsa Moberly (2016-19) was the state am champion in 2016.
 
On Monday, Marcum cruised to a 7 and 6 win in the first round over Grace Bryant.  In the second round on Monday afternoon, Marcum beat Caroline McCrorey 4 and 2.  In the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Marcum edged Molly Bebelaar 1-up.
 
Marcum will be a sophomore this fall.  She sat out during the spring season due to NCAA rules after transferring from Western Kentucky University following a stellar fall semester.  Marcum earned Conference USA Golfer of the Week honors after finishing second in her first collegiate event.
 
Fellow EKU golfer and Richmond native Mattie Jo Neeley also competed at the Kentucky Women's State Amateur.  After falling to Casey Ott 1-up (19) in the first round, Neeley dropped into the consolation stroke play tournament.  She finished second on Tuesday with a round of 76 (+4), just one shot behind first place Olivia Hensley (75).