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CORNING, N.Y.  --  After 36 holes of stroke play on Monday, one player separated themselves from the pack at the 93rd NYS Women’s Amateur Championship at Corning Country Club.

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A high scoring day one left Lily Zhang, of Park Country Club, at the top of the leaderboard shooting 77 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon to put her at 8-over 152. 

“I didn't have my best game today, but when I stayed calm and played it one shot at a time, I was in a normal rhythm and I stuck it out till the end,” Zhang said. 

In her morning round, Zhang was only able to knock in one birdie. But in round 2, she was able to keep a cleaner card and finish 2 strokes above the rest of the field. 

“My dad introduced me to golf so he knows his ways,” Zhang said about her dad on the bag for the tournament. “Having him on the bag gives that extra security that really helps.” 

She has finished runner-up two years in a row at the New York State Girls’ Junior Championship (2021-22).

Two strokes behind is Isabella Salerno of Westchester Country Club, who fired rounds of 80-74 and sits at 10-over.

Like Zhang, her first round featured some uncharacteristic bogeys and left her scorecard without any birdies. However, she was able to collect three during her second round and stay two back of the lead.

Ava La Belle of SGATOUR.com sits in solo third place, after knocking in seven birdies between the two rounds on Monday. Ava finished the day at 11-over shooting 78-77 for a total score of 155. 

With a four-way tie for fourth place, there are definitely some great players who need to play catch up to Zhang tomorrow. Amber Pennington of NYSGA eClub - Hudson Valley, who shot 82-74 for a 156, and Julia Zigrossi of Ridgemont Country Club who carded a 156 12-over as well. Also tied for fourth is Cristea Park of Ranic Golf Club and Taylor Miano of Mohansic Golf Course who also sit at 12-over 156. 

Mikah McDonnell of Locust Hill Country Club and Erika Fuentes of West Hills Country Club are tied at 13-over with a total score of 157. 

Rounding out the top 10 is Indian Hills Country Club’s own Emily Montagnino who is 6 shots back of the lead with a total score of 158. 

A cut was applied to the field leading into Tuesday morning’s final round of competition. Thirty players advanced into tomorrow’s round, with the cut line falling at 173.

In the late evening, groups were pulled off the golf course due to inclement weather, with the delay lasting about 45 minutes.

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In the 14th NYS Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, the field competed over 18 holes on Monday morning.

Defending champion Christy Schultz of Oak Hill CC finished atop the leaderboard, posting 4-over 76 in her first round at Corning.

“I think at this tournament, I just have this sense of coming home,” Schultz said. “I have played in this for so many years that it is just a special tournament for me so I feel very comfortable.”

The nine-time NYSGA champion had trouble in the middle of her round, losing a few strokes during the back-nine turn, but was still able to hold a lead heading into Tuesday’s final.

“I feel like I have a better feel for the greens now, so I am excited for tomorrow. I think I am going to play very well tomorrow” Schultz said of her confidence going into the final round.   

There is a three-way tie for second. Samantha Schuffenecker and Carolyn Mancini came into the clubhouse at 6-over 78. 

Kim Kaul, three-time NYS Women’s Senior Champion, is also in with a 78 for her first round score. 

Teresa Cleland of Bellevue Country Club, three-time Women’s Mid-Am Champion, rounded out the top five with a 7-over 79. 

The course was set up for the Mid-Ams at 5,505 yards. There was no cut applied to this division.