Milligan opens with 72 in U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship
Kaitlin Milligan of Norman shot a 2-over 72 and is tied for 28th in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at Tulsa Country Club. First round play was suspended by darkness with several groups still to finish.
Sophie Liu of Canada leads among those finished with a 4-under-par 66. Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, Calif., is at 4-under through 17 holes.
Yujeong Son of Norman shot 75 and is tied for 75th place. She will need a strong round Tuesday to make the field of 64 that advances to match play on Wednesday.
In her USGA championship debut, the 16-year-old Liu returned a round of seven birdies, including five straight on holes 10 through 14, on the 6,076-yard, par-70 A.W. Tillinghast design.
"I wasn’t thinking about making birdies, but I kept getting it close and giving myself chances," said Liu, who currently resides in Melbourne, Fla., and started playing golf just three years ago when her family moved into a house adjacent to a golf course. "I feel so fortunate to be here. Playing in this championship was a goal of mine this year."
After a two-hour and 40-minute severe-weather suspension that ended at 6:45 p.m., play was suspended for the day at 8:38 p.m. due to darkness with 12 players remaining on the course. Play will resume as scheduled at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, with the remaining players finishing their first rounds prior to beginning their second rounds.
One of those 12 players is 2014 Girls’ Junior quarterfinalist Andrea Lee, who sits at 4 under through 17 holes. Lee, 16, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., arrived at Tulsa Country Club a little more than an hour before her 1:50 p.m. tee time after winning a silver medal at the Pan American Games Sunday in Toronto, Canada. It was the first time that golf has appeared in that event, which is a precursor to next year’s Summer Olympics.
"Even if it was cutting it close, I wanted to play in both events," said Lee, who finished second to LPGA player and 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Mariajo Uribe at the PanAm Games. "They’re both special and they’re both big championships. And some day, I really want to win one of these U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships."
Jaravee Boonchant, Muni He and Megan Khang, who fully completed their rounds, sit one stroke back at 3-under 67.
He and Khang are two of eight players in the field who competed in the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this month. Both made the cut at Lancaster Country Club, and Khang, who is playing in her record-tying seventh U.S. Girls’ Junior, earned low-amateur honors.
"I’m bringing a lot of patience from my Women’s Open experience," said Khang, 17, of Rockland, Mass., who carded five birdies to only two bogeys on Monday. "You can’t start every day with a birdie, so you just have to wait for them to come. Luckily, they came quite early for me today."
He, 16, who was born in the People’s Republic of China and currently resides in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., added: "I learned so much from the Women’s Open – a lot about course management and the mental game as well. My goal is to take what I learned from the U.S. Women’s Open, and, hopefully, I can apply it to my game and try to do my best every day that I’m here." He returned five birdies on Monday, with her only blemish coming when she double-bogeyed the par-5 third hole.
Mika Liu, who captured the inaugural 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship in May with her partner Rinko Mitsunaga, had the lowest score of the field’s three USGA champions. Liu, 16, of Beverly Hills, Calif., carded two birdies and three bogeys en route to a 1-over 71 and a tie for 18th.
Kristen Gillman, the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, also reached Tulsa this morning after competing in the Pan American Games, where she finished sixth in the women’s golf competition. Gillman, 17, of Austin, Texas, sits at 3 over par through 17 holes, with the par-3 ninth (her 18th hole) left to finish on Tuesday morning.
Fumie (Alice) Jo, who in 2014 became the final winner in U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links history, ended with a birdie on the par-4 18th. However, the 16-year-old from the People’s Republic of China struggled overall, shooting 7-over 77 and sitting T112.
Mariel Galdiano, of Pearl City, Hawaii, and Hannah O’Sullivan, of Chandler, Ariz., joined Khang and He as amateurs to complete 72 holes at the U.S. Women’s Open. Galdiano is tied for 18th at 1-over 71, while O’Sullivan, runner-up at May’s Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, finished at 3-over 73 and a tie for 41st.
The 2015 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship is open to female amateur golfers under the age of 18. It consists of 36 holes of stroke play followed by six rounds of match play, with the championship scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Saturday, July 25.
Results
TULSA, Okla. – Partial results from the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2015 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the 6,067-yard, par-70 Tulsa Country Club (first round to be completed Tuesday at 7 a.m. CDT):
Sophie Liu, Canada 34-32–66
Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif. -4 (17)
Jaravee Boonchant, Thailand 34-33–67
Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. 35-32–67
Muni He, People’s Republic of China 35-32–67
Aubree Jones, Covington, Tenn. 34-34–68
Courtney Dow, Frisco, Texas 34-34–68
Yu Sang Hou, Chinese Taipei 35-33–68
Karah Sanford, Escondido, Calif. 36-33–69
Lauren Hartlage, Elizabethtown, Ky. 34-35–69
Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif. 34-36–70
Ellie Slama, Salem, Ore. 37-33–70
Emily Cox, Lancaster, S.C. 37-33–70
Hailee Cooper, Montgomery, Texas 34-36–70
Lois Kaye Go, Philippines 34-36–70
Lucy Li, Redwood City, Calif. 35-35–70
Malia Nam, Kailua, Hawaii 34-36–70
Annika Cedo, Philippines 36-35–71
Courtney Zeng, Orlando, Fla. 37-34–71
Delaney Shah, North Potomac, Md. 34-37–71
Jennifer Koga, Honolulu, Hawaii 35-36–71
Katherine Muzi, Walnut, Calif. 37-34–71
Kelly Sim, Republic of Korea 35-36–71
Mariel Galdiano, Pearl City, Hawaii 37-34–71
Mika Liu, Beverly Hills, Calif. 36-35–71
Roshnee Sharma, Canada 36-35–71
Sarah Spicer, Bahama, N.C. 36-35–71
Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii 34-38–72
Alyaa Abdulghany, Newport Beach, Calif. 39-33–72
Binny Lee, Chicago, Ill. 36-36–72
Jessica Mangrobang, Chula Vista, Calif. 38-34–72
Kaitlin Milligan, Norman, Okla. 37-35–72
Kelly Su, Scottsdale, Ariz. 36-36–72
Kendall Griffin, Sebring, Fla. 36-36–72
Lilia Khatu Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. 37-35–72
Maria Vesga, Howey in the Hills, Fla. 38-34–72
Marni Murez, Manhattan Beach, Calif. 35-37–72
Yealimi Noh, Concord, Calif. 36-36–72
Gina Kim, Chapel Hill, N.C. +2 (17)
Adeena Shears, Elizabeth, W.Va. +2 (17)
Camille Enright, Plano, Texas 36-37–73
Eun Jeong Seong, Republic of Korea 34-39–73
Han Hsuan Yu, Chinese Taipei 39-34–73
Hannah O’Sullivan, Chandler, Ariz. 37-36–73
Haylin Harris, Tucson, Ariz. 38-35–73
Kelsey Zeng, Orlando, Fla. 37-36–73
Lauren Comegys, Austin, Texas 38-35–73
Maria Fassi, Mexico 37-36–73
Mikhaela Fortuna, Philippines 36-37–73
Pauline Del Rosario, Philippines 37-36–73
Rose Huang, People’s Republic of China 38-35–73
Shannon Brooks, Vienna, Va. 37-36–73
Yu Chiang Hou, Chinese Taipei 37-36–73
Kristen Gillman, Austin, Texas +3 (17)
Macy Fox, Marble Falls, Texas +3 (16)
Allison Paik, Providence, R.I. 37-37–74
Athena Yang, Winter Haven, Fla. 38-36–74
Bibilani Liu, Cupertino, Calif. 36-38–74
Brooke Hamilton, New Zealand 37-37–74
Chakansim (Fai) Khamborn, Thailand 37-37–74
Diana Camila Velez, Puerto Rico 38-36–74
Emily Mahar, Australia 39-35–74
Evelyn Arguelles, Mexico 37-37–74
Greta Bruner, Conroe, Texas 36-38–74
Jayna Choi, Collierville, Tenn. 38-36–74
Jessica Sloot, Fruit Heights, Utah 38-36–74
Katherine Zhu, San Jose, Calif. 37-37–74
Kory Nielsen, Kent, Ohio 37-37–74
Madelein Herr, New Hope, Pa. 37-37–74
Morgan Goldstein, Las Vegas, Nev. 37-37–74
Naomi Ko, Canada 39-35–74
Sabrina Iqbal, San Jose, Calif. 36-38–74
Sadie Englemann, Austin, Texas 37-37–74
Shelby Brauckmuller, Auburndale, Fla. 37-37–74
Madeline Chou, Santa Ana, Calif. +4 (16)
Aiko Leong, Honolulu, Hawaii 39-36–75
Anna Zhou, Palo Alto, Calif. 37-38–75
Beth Lillie, Fullerton, Calif. 39-36–75
Brooke Seay, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. 39-36–75
Chandler Rosholt, Cedar Park, Texas 38-37–75
Claire Cameron, Martinsville, Ind. 39-36–75
Clare Amelia Legaspi, Philippines 39-36–75
Dominique Galloway, Rio Rancho, N.M. 40-35–75
Ellen Secor, Portland, Ore. 38-37–75
Gabriela Coello, Venezuela 39-36–75
Hannah Ko, Anaheim, Calif. 39-36–75
Julia Gregg, Dallas, Texas 37-38–75
Kathleen Scavo, Benicia, Calif. 36-39–75
Lauren Beaudreau, Lemont, Ill. 38-37–75
Maria Balcazar, Mexico 38-37–75
Pajaree Anannarukarn, Thailand 37-38–75
Selena Costabile, Canada 39-36–75
Selina Zeng, Oak Brook, Ill. 35-40–75
Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. 39-36–75
Skylar Thompson, Buford, Ga. 39-36–75
Yujeong Son, Republic of Korea 37-38–75
Simar Singh, Los Altos, Calif. +5 (17)
Aneka Seumanutafa, Frederick, Md. +5 (16)
Alyssa Lamoureux, Seminole, Fla. +5 (16)
Anina Ku, Basking Ridge, N.J. +5 (16)
Jaelyn Tindal, Rock Hill, S.C. 37-39–76
Katrina Prendergast, Sparks, Nev. 39-37–76
Kenedee Peters, Lacey, Wash. 38-38–76
Maria Fernanda Martinez Almeida, Mexico 36-40–76
Megan Furtney, South Elgin, Ill. 39-37–76
Mimi (Xiaoyi) Chen, People’s Republic of China 40-36–76
Monica Dibildox, Mexico 39-37–76
Sarah Shipley, Hastings, Mich. 38-38–76
Sophie (Yixian) Guo, People’s Republic of China 39-37–76
Ya-Chun Chang, Chinese Taipei 40-36–76
Ashley Czarnecki, Greenville, S.C. +6 (17)
Alex Wright, Midlothian, Va. 38-39–77
Belinda Hu, San Ramon, Calif. 40-37–77
Brittany Kwon, Bremerton, Wash. 39-38–77
Calista Reyes, Philippines 37-40–77
Elizabeth Choi, Syosset, N.Y. 41-36–77
Emma Fisher, Bloomington, Ind. 41-36–77
Fumie (Alice) Jo, People’s Republic of China 40-37–77
Jackie Rogowicz, Yardley, Pa. 38-39–77
Jessica Spicer, Bahama, N.C. 38-39–77
Mari Nishiura, Mililani, Hawaii 38-39–77
Morgan Baxendale, Windermere, Fla. 39-38–77
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. 40-37–77
Ada Wong, San Marino, Calif. 39-39–78
Hadley Walts, Evansville, Ind. 40-38–78
Jennifer Cleary, Wilmington, Del. 42-36–78
Kasey Torres, Los Angeles, Calif. 37-41–78
Rachel Heck, Memphis, Tenn. 39-39–78
Sarah Willis, Eaton, Ohio 40-38–78
Taylor Black, Warrensburg, Mo. 38-40–78
Tiffany Kang, Suwanee, Ga. 38-40–78
Valery Plata, Colombia 38-40–78
Elizabeth Wang, San Marino, Calif. 40-39–79
Julia Ford, Shrewsbury, Mass. 40-39–79
Mariah Smith, Clarksville, Tenn. 41-38–79
Nicolette Donovan, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 39-40–79
Yang Liu, People’s Republic of China 40-39–79
Ella Woods, Saint Augustine, Fla. 40-40–80
Gillian Vance, Lakewood, Colo. 42-38–80
Tammy Lim, Fresno, Calif. +10 (16)
Alli Kim, Murrieta, Calif. 42-39–81
Daniele Giles, Central Point, Ore. 45-36–81
Angela Liu, San Jose, Calif. 44-38–82
Caroline Cahill, Wilmington, N.C. 43-39–82
Emily Sumner, North Tustin, Calif. 44-38–82
Gracyn Burgess, Lexington, S.C. 40-42–82
Nicole Schroeder, Rocklin, Calif. 46-36–82
Ami Gianchandani, Short Hills, N.J. 43-40–83
Megan McLean, Lebanon, N.J. 44-39–83
Sifan He, Japan 42-41–83
Tenley Moretti, Ankeny, Iowa 39-44–83
Katelyn Dunstan, Little Rock, Ark. 47-37–84
Katie Cudworth, Boise, Idaho 44-40–84
Payton Fehringer, American Falls, Idaho 41-44–85
Zora Gittens, Boynton Beach, Fla. 43-42–85
Divya Manthena, Moorpark, Calif. 44-44–88
Tee times and complete scoring are available at www.usga.org.
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