It is often memorable when a young upstart takes down his or her role model.

Allen Iverson crosses over Michael Jordan. Joe Namath upsets Johnny Unitas in Super Bowl III.

And at Penn State, Lauren Lundy defeats Carol Semple Thompson.

Lundy, last year's captain of the Penn State women's golf team, beat out Thompson, an amateur golf legend, to advance to the finals of the Pennsylvania Women's State Amateur Championship earlier this year.

Lundy played Thompson, a 21-time champion, in the third round of the playoffs. As soon as she got word of who her opponent would be, she called around for advice and crafted a plan of action.

"Just stick to your game, make sure you play the course," she told herself.

Known for her consistency as a player, Thompson has been competing in amateurs and winning championships since 1968.

"You just have to admire her," Lundy said. "She was good enough to go pro, but didn't because of other priorities."

Thompson won the first three out of four holes in match play, but Lundy stepped up on the fifth. She knocked down a birdie on the hole and turned the match around from there.

"At first it was intimidating because she is an all around good player. She made it easier because she was grounded," Lundy said. "Carol congratulated me and I could tell it was genuine. She is a good competitor."

After the gratifying defeat of Thompson, Lundy still had one more round to play. She met up with former Penn State player Cindy Skilton, who graduated in August of 2003, and lost in the finals. Skilton enjoyed playing an old teammate.

"It was like playing in college again," she said.

Penn State coach Denise St. Pierre also liked the idea of having two of her players come in first and second in the championship.

Although Lundy did not win the championship, her confidence has increased immensely, especially because of the defeat over Thompson, St. Pierre said.

"When you are a fairly accomplished player like Carol, there is a stigma around her," she said.

"If you draw to play her you can mentally defeat yourself before you even go out on the field."

Lundy said she was content just to make it as far as she did. Her original goal was to qualify for the championship flight, perhaps win one match, and go from there. After winning two rounds, she thought, "I can do something good with this."

Her attitude toward golf has always been somewhat like this. In fact, Lundy did not pick up a club until her sophomore year of high school. Even then, it was nothing more than a weekend activity for Lundy.

She had already decided to attend the university when the coaches approached her about playing as a Nittany Lion.

Lundy has really progressed in a short time to where she is now, St. Pierre said. "She has learned new shots to play and learned to handle herself in competition," she said. "Lauren just has a better appreciation for the game."