Field Is Reduced To 32; Medalist Park AdvancesWestfield, N.J. – The field of 32 was reduced to 16 Thursday at the 54th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the par-73, 6,353-yard Echo Lake Country Club.
In the first match, top-seed In-Bee Park, 14, of Eustis, Fla., continued on as she defeated Laura Caniff, 16, of Russell, Ky., 4 and 3. Stephanie Connelly, 14, of Pasadena, Calif., eliminated 17-year-old Heather Wright of Houston, Texas, 3 and 2.
In the day’s fourth match, Mallory Code, 17, of Tampa, Fla., beat 16-year-old Christie Reed, of Coral Springs, Fla., 2 and 1.
In other matches, Chris Brady, 17, of Cary, N.C., won her match against Amanda Blumenherst, 15, of Fort Wayne, Ind., 5 and 3. Last year’s semifinalist Morgan Pressel, 14, of Boca Raton, Fla., ousted Ellyn Leonard, 17, of Zionsville, Ind., 7 and 6.
“I was a whole lot more relaxed than yesterday," said Brady, whose mother won the 1968 Girls' Junior. "I think it was because of the weather. It’s such a nice day."
Said Pressel of her match: “I played better. I didn’t have any bogeys today and I think that helped.
"Starting out with a 4-up lead helps you out first because you’re ahead, and you keep thinking to halve or win holes.”
Similar to her first round of match play, Park came out aggressive despite getting little sleep. She quickly went to 2 up and never relinquished the lead. On the ninth hole, Park took a commanding lead when Caniff couldn’t get up and down. Park chipped within 2 feet and Caniff conceded the hole to fall four back.
Park, whose favorite golfer is Annika Sorenstam, pushed the lead to 5 up after 10 holes. Fading a bit until the 15th, Park put the match away when she putted to a foot of the hole and Caniff two-putted.
Park faces Connelly in the afternoon round.
“My goal was to make it to the top 16,” said Park, “so I won’t have to come and qualify next year.”
“She couldn’t sleep well last night because of the high expectations those put on the medalist,” said coach Charlie Yoo.
Citing her club-assigned caddie as a benefit, Park has relied on Will Schnorr’s knowledge of the course. Despite knowing little English, Park and Schnorr have been able to communicate with signs and signals.
“There’s not a lot of communication,” said Schnorr. “But she listens to everything I say. It’s amazing. She’s so consistent. She’s definitely the best player I’ve seen, as a girl, on this course.”
In the meantime, Code takes on Jean Reynolds, 17, of Newman, Ga., who defeated Mallorie Underwood of Montgomery, Texas, 2 and 1.
Code and Reed were brilliant in their match. On the back nine, both did not miss a green in regulation until Reed couldn't get up and down on the 17th.
Oblivious to that, Code dazed off not thinking the match would end there.
“I didn’t want to watch," said Code. "I was already focused on my next shot (18th tee). I wanted to be prepared for the next hole.”
Results of remaining matches and pairings for the round of 16 are listed below.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior is one of 13 championships conducted by the United States Golf Association each year, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior is open to female amateur golfers who have not reached their 18th birthday before July 27, 2002, and have USGA Handicap Indexes not exceeding 18.4.
The field was reduced to 64 players after two rounds of stroke play, then to 32 at the end of Wednesday. There are two rounds of match play Thursday and two more on Friday. The championship final is scheduled for 9 a.m. EDT on Saturday.
Story written by Ken Klavon, USGA.
Westfield, N.J. -- Results from the round of 32 Thursday morning at Echo Lake Country Club. Round of 16 pairings are listed below.
Round of 32 Results
8:00 am In-Bee Park, Eustis, Fla. def. Laura Caniff, Russell, Ky., 4 and 3
8:08 am Stephanie Connelly, Pasadena, Md. def. Heather Wright, Houston, Texas, 3 and 2
8:16 am Jean Reynolds, Newnan, Ga. def. Mallorie Underwood, Montgomery, Texas, 2 and 1
8:24 am Mallory Code, Tampa, Fla. def. Christie Reed, Coral Springs, Fla., 2 and 1
8:32 am Julieta Granada, Paraguay def. Taylor Leon, Dallas, Texas, 3 and 2
8:40 am Ashley Knoll, The Woodlands, Texas def. Kim Shin, Shoreline, Wash., 5 and 3
8:48 am Paula Creamer, Pleasanton, Calif. def. Ashley Rollins, Austin, Texas, 5 and 3
8:56 am Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif. def. C J Kim, Diamond Bar, Calif., 4 and 3
9:04 am Allison Martin, Bakersfield, Calif. def. Catalina Marin, Colombia, 1 up
9:12 am Brittany Lincicome, Seminole, Fla. def. Eileen Vargas, Colombia, 2 and 1
9:20 am Morgan Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla. def. Ellyn Leonard, Zionsville, Ind., 7 and 6
9:28 am Jane Park, Oak Valley, Calif. def. Brittany Lang, McKinney, Texas, 21 Holes
9:36 am Amie Cochran, Torrance, Calif. def. Alice Kim, Los Angeles, Calif., 3 and 2
9:44 am Eom Ji Park, Canada def. Nicole Hage, Coral Springs, Fla., 6 and 4
9:52 am Chris Brady, Apex, N.C. def. Amanda Blumenherst, Fort Wayne, Ind., 5 and 3
10:00 am J Tangtiphaiboontana, Long Beach, Calif. def. Tiffany Tavee, Gilbert, Ariz., 3 and 2
Round of 16 Pairings
1:30 pm In-Bee Park, Eustis, Fla. vs. Stephanie Connelly, Pasadena, Md.
1:40 pm Jean Reynolds, Newnan, Ga. vs. Mallory Code, Tampa, Fla.
1:50 pm Julieta Granada, Paraguay vs. Ashley Knoll, The Woodlands, Texas
2:00 pm Paula Creamer, Pleasanton, Calif. vs. Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif.
2:10 pm Allison Martin, Bakersfield, Calif. vs. Brittany Lincicome, Seminole, Fla.
2:20 pm Morgan Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla. vs. Jane Park, Oak Valley, Calif.
2:30 pm Amie Cochran, Torrance, Calif. vs. Eom Ji Park, Canada
2:40 pm Chris Brady, Apex, N.C. vs. J Tangtiphaiboontana, Long Beach, Calif.
