There was no international audience watching her sink an improbable 40-foot putt on the 18th green to force a playoff. There was no steel-eyed professional standing across the green looking for her second major title of the year.
But there was the title of America's best on the line again, and for the second time in an amazing summer that saw her name leap from obscurity to popularity across the nation, Jenny Chuasiriporn was in the finals fighting for a title.
Unfortunately for the Duke senior, she again found herself on the losing end just as she had in the 92-hole U.S. Open in July. Battling Arizona State sophomore Grace Park in the 36-hole match-play final, Chuasiriporn was unable to gain the lead at any point, falling 7 and 6 in what was an undramatic finale to the 94th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in Ann Arbor, Mich.
"[Chuasiriporn] played very well up until the finals," women's golf coach Dan Brooks said. "She said she was feeling good and she described her play as being really good in the opening rounds. Then, in the finals, her putting really nailed her. I didn't think her putting stroke had the rhythmic pace it generally has. I think that is what got her. Grace's putter did well for her in the tournament and Jenny's was off."
It was not exceptional but simply solid putting that was required of Park, who was able to win several holes, including two of the first three, with just a par. It ultimately proved to be Chuasiriporn's uncharacteristically poor putting, not Park's superior drives, that was her undoing.
"[Park] is long, she has length as a big asset there, knowing she's longer than anybody she plays against," said Brooks. "I really thought she was dropping her putts though. I'll take a good putter over anyone else doing anything else well; that's a no-brainer."
With the victory, Park became the first player since 1938 to sweep the United State's major amateur women's tournaments, also winning the Women's Western Amateur and the Trans-National Championship
Chuasiriporn continued a streak of a more dubious distinction, once again finishing second in a major USGA tournament.
"I have a pair of these now," Chuasiriporn, the two-time ACC Player of the Year, said of her runner-up medal.
The loss also marked her second loss to Park since the U.S. Open. Park took a 5 and 4 decision over Chuasiriporn on the way to the Trans-National title. But Brooks is quick to point out that the achievement of finishing second in two highly touted tournaments is spectacular within itself.
"I look at this the same way Jenny looks at it," Brooks said. "You put in your best effort, do the best you can and it's not the end of all things to not bring home the big trophy. To be runner up in [the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateurs] is an awesome accomplishment. I'm proud we have someone who finished second.
"As far as she goes mentally, I don't think this will bother her a bit. She won four tournaments this spring, including one where she beat Grace. I think when it's all said and done she'll end up with more first places than anyone who ever played the game."
Titles and medals aside, Chuasiriporn did win something more rare than silver cups.
"She knows she can play with anyone in the world, and play even with them," Brooks said. "No person can know how good he or she is until they put it to the test. She has had the opportunity to show to herself that she can play with anyone in the world. No better thing can happen to an athlete than that."
All the drama in Chuasiriporn's run to the finals at the U.S. Amateurs came in her semifinal matchup with Brandi Miller. Fighting the unpredictable weather, which caused a 3 1/2-hour rain delay, Chuasiriporn sank a six-foot putt on the final hole to erase a one-hole deficit and force a playoff. Despite missing a birdie putt on the 20th hole, Chuasiriporn claimed the victory on the 21st hole as Miller's putt lipped out.
"I'm just really kind of shocked," Chuasiriporn said of her semifinal match. "I always seem to surprise myself."
The match took its toll, however, when a worn-down Chuasiriporn played in the finals.
"I think she was tired," Brooks said. "I think there were some things that were wearing her out. She was definitely tired, and a lot of times fatigue affects the most mental part of the game, putting."
An additional pair of Duke golfers joined Chuasiriporn in qualifying for match play. Freshman Beth Bauer and junior Anne Cardea both shot under the 151-stroke cut. Bauer, who defeated Chuasiriporn earlier this summer for the North and South Amateur title and teamed up with her for the Curtis Cup, won her opening-round match before bowing out in a tight second-round loss.
Though Cardea didn't advance past the first round of match play, her performance at the U.S. Amateurs coupled with her victory in the State Farm Insurance Collegiate Players Tour National Championship could prove to be the spark that re-ignites a golfing career that has been somewhat down recently.
"I think that with Anne she's being reminded she's got a lot of talent," Brooks said. "Golf has its highs and lows and she's seeing that. She's remembering she's got a lot of talent, that this is just golf and she needs to not let expectations get carried away. If she does that, her talent will shine through."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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