Phung Leads After Three-Under First Round In the NYS Girls’ Junior
WILTON, N.Y. – The first round of the 62nd NYS 18U Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship is complete at McGregor Links in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Amelie Phung of MET PGA Junior Golf Club turned in an opening round 69 (-3), which was the lowest total of the day in the Girls’ Junior field.
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Last year’s 5th place finisher dropped in five birdies and a two-shot lead heading into the final 36-hole. In second place at one-under is two-time and defending champion Sophia Li.
Amelie Phung on her round, “The best part of my game today was putting... I think driver is probably the most important club out here, if you keep the ball in play it's so important because there’s a lot of out of bounds.”
Sophia Li, had a rocky start to her day with a double-bogey on the opening hole but gathered it together with an eagle on hole eight. With a pair of birdies on the back nine she finished with a one-over round of 71. One shot behind Li, is past NYS Girls’ 14U Junior champion Alexandra Phung who shot an even score of 72 (she also finished T5 last year alongside her sister).
Li commented on the course, “At McGregor I would say putting is the most important, I made a lot of putts today especially to save par. It's tough to read these greens.”
Six junior girls, including Renna Chang of Youth on Course - MGA, Emma Lee of Westchester Country Club, Nina Choe of Pelham Country Club, Isabella Salerno of Westchester Country Club, 2023 Girls’ Junior Champion Jordan Levitt of Youth On Course - MGA and Aliya Liberatore of Yahnundasis Golf Club into the clubhouse at one over 73. They will each begin their second rounds four behind the leader, Phung.
25 players (low 24 and ties) finished within the cut-line of eight over par. Play will resume with the first of two rounds beginning tomorrow at 7:30 am.
The course played at 5,878 yards for the Girls’ Junior field and played to a Par 72.
