Levitt/Phung Hold Early Leads at 2023 NYS Girls' Junior Amateur
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – In the opening round of the 2023 NYS Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship, one player was able to break par on Wednesday at Lake Placid Club’s Mountain Course.
Jordan Levitt of Bedford managed to finish at 1-under par (70) on the demanding Alex Findlay layout, sinking a 10-footer for birdie on the final hole. She recorded two other birdies on the front side of the course, on Nos. 3 and 7.
"First hole took my group by suprise a little bit, there was a lot of wind, said Levitt. "After that small adjustment it was really just a good rest of the round. I made some important putts."
Related: Championship Central / Results / Photos / Preview
"It was definitely important to look at my pin sheet because some of the holes where the fairway ends here and the green is way down here, you really need to know where that pin is... how far to hit it and what club to hit because you kind of have to hit off those slopes," she mentioned about the demanding layout.
One shot behind is 2022 champion, Sophia Li of MGA eClub – NYC at 71. She recorded three bogeys to offset her three birdies on the day.
Next is Pelham CC’s Nina Choe at 72. Two more are tied at 74 including Daniella Elisabeth Sutor of Met PGA Junior GC and Amelie Phung of Bonnie Briar CC.
Five strokes off the leader is Rosalie Dinunzio of Transit Valley CC at 75.
___
In the inaugural NYS Girls’ 14U Junior Amateur, one player dominated in the opening round by matching even-par 71 on the 5,102-yard setup.
Alexandra Phung of Met PGA Junior GC had a quick start with birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 on the Mountain Course before giving a stroke back to the field on the No. 5 with a bogey.
"It was a very nice course. I had some up and downs, but other than that it was great and I really enjoyed playing out there," she mentioned. "I felt calm and was just looking to do my best and enjoy the mountain view."
She collected three more birdies on Nos. 7, 10 and 14, but a few dropped strokes on the “Amen Corner” part of the golf course (which Alister Mackenzie enhanced), along with a bogey on the home hole ensured she would hold no more than a ten-stroke lead with 18 holes left to play.
The 12-year-old is making her first appearance in the championship, and has already established herself on the national level, competing in three Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. She won the Girls’ Age 10-11 Division this past April, and previously competed at Augusta National in 2019 and 2021.
