In-Bee Park, 14, Only Player To Break Par At Girls’ JuniorWestfield, N.J. – Fourteen-year-old In-Bee Park of Eustis, Fla., was the only player to shoot under par Monday and took a three-stroke lead after the first round of stroke play at the 54th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the par-73, 6,353-yard Echo Lake Country Club.
Park, who came over from Seoul, Korea, when she was 13, pieced together six birdies and three bogeys en route to a 3-under 70. On a humid and breezy day, she was the only player to post a round under par.
Chris Brady, whose mother won the 1968 Girls’ Junior, shot an even-par 73. Mallory Code, 17, of Tampa, Fla., Taylor Leon, 15, of Dallas, Texas, and Catalina Marin, 16, of Columbia all were tied at 1-over 74. Seven players shot 2-over 75
The higher scores were a result of southwesterly winds, which reached 15 mph during the afternoon.
Park missed just four greens and was oblivious to her first-place standing.
“I don’t think she realized where she stood,” said her coach and interpreter Charlie Yoo.
Making the round of 32 in last year’s Girls’ Junior, Park lost to Eom Ji Park, another Korean, 1 up. That championship was her first exposure to match play.
Park’s family moved to America because of golf. With “99 percent” of the courses in Korea private, according to Yoo, Park’s parents thought there were better opportunities to in the United States, both for golf and education.
But she’s not taking too much from her standing after one round.
“She has a long way to go,” said Yoo.
Also a long way off, but not impossible, Brady has a chance to make history. She and mom Peggy Brady are attempting to become the second mother/daughter duo to win a USGA championship. Kathy Cornelius won the 1956 Women’s Open and daughter Kay captured the 1981 Girls’ Junior.
Peggy Brady was known as Margaret Harmon when she won the 1968 Girls’ Junior at Flint (Mich.) Golf Club.
“I don’t really think about whether there is more pressure on me knowing that my mom has won this event,” said Brady, who had three birdies against three bogeys. “There are a couple of trophies that both of our names are on, and that’s cool. There are a couple trophies that her name is on and mine is not.
“It’s not really pressure, it’s more incentive. But it will be tough to do that. It’s not a cakewalk to win a USGA Championship. Some people would say that I have to fill some really big shoes, but I think I gave up trying that when I was 10. I tried to make my own track.”
Marin finished her round before the wind picked up and the conditions toughened.
“The scores are really high because the course is really hard,” said Marin. “If you’re not on your game, you’re in trouble.”
Marin had a chance to finish even par, but bogeyed her final hole when she two-putted the 381-yard par-4 ninth. Playing in her second Girls’ Junior, Marin lost last year in the second round of match play to Jane Park.
Among two birdies and four bogeys, Marin posted an eagle on 479-yard par-5 fourth hole. After hitting a 3-wood off the tee, she nailed the approach to 6 feet before tapping in.
“I’m very happy because I didn’t expect to be [near] the lead,” said Marin.
Seventeen-year-old Choi, of Fountain Valley, Calif., who plays with 12 clubs in her bag, had a rocky start. That’s because she three-putted No. 10, her first hole, after sticking the approach within 15 feet. Nerves had taken over.
“There are some bogey holes out there, but if you get a par, congratulate them,” said Choi.
Creamer, 15, of Pleasanton, Calif., ran into some unfortunate luck. Even par through 16, she wound up going bogey-bogey. All wasn’t lost, however. The underlying goal is to make it to match play.
“Just try to make the cut and see from there,” said Creamer.
Morgan Pressel, 14, of Boca Raton, Fla., a semifinalist at the 2001 U.S. Girls’ Junior and a qualifier for last year’s U.S. Women’s Open, stands four back after posting a 5-over-par 78.
The championship’s youngest qualifier, Alexandria Buelow of Palm City, Fla., shot an 87. She set a goal of shooting in the 70s.
“Age can be a big difference, but I don’t look at it as the age that counts, it’s just the game,” said Buelow.
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.
After a second day of stroke play Tuesday, the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship field will be reduced to 64 players for match play. The first and second rounds of match play will be held on Wednesday, July 23. The third and quarterfinal rounds will be played on Thursday, July 24 and the semifinal matches will be played on Friday, July 26. The championship final is scheduled for 9 a.m. EDT on Saturday, July 27.
Story written by Ken Klavon, USGA.
Results
Westfield, N.J.. – Results after the first round of Monday’s first-round stroke play at the 2002 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the 6,353-yard, par-73 Echo Lake Country Club:
In-Bee Park, Eustis, Fla., 35-35--70
Chris Brady, Apex, N.C., 36-37--73
Mallory Code, Tampa, Fla., 38-36--74
Catalina Marin, Colombia, 38-36--74
Taylor Leon, Dallas, Texas, 38-36--74
Minnie Choi, Fountain Valley, Calif., 38-37--75
Paula Creamer, Pleasanton, Calif., 38-37--75
Jacqueline Concolino, Orlando, Fla., 36-39--75
Brittany Lincicome, Seminole, Fla., 37-38--75
Brittany Lang, McKinney, Texas, 35-40--75
Courtney McCracken, Eagle, Idaho, 38-37--75
Lorraine Ballerano, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 39-36--75
Julieta Granada, Paraguay, 37-39--76
Eileen Vargas, Colombia, 37-39--76
Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii, 41-35--76
Stephanie Connelly, Pasadena, Md., 38-38--76
J Tangtiphaiboontana, Long Beach, Calif., 34-42--76
Jane Park, Oak Valley, Calif., 37-39--76
Ashley Knoll, The Woodlands, Texas, 37-40--77
Ashley Rollins, Austin, Texas, 40-37--77
Heather Wright, Houston, Texas, 38-39--77
Sara Brown, Tucson, Ariz., 37-40--77
Mallorie Underwood, Montgomery, Texas, 38-39--77
Allison Martin, Bakersfield, Calif., 37-40--77
Irene Cho, La Habra, Calif., 39-38--77
Kimberly McCready, Placerville, Calif., 38-39--77
Blair Lamb, Flat Rock, N.C., 39-38--77
Alejandra Llaneza, Mexico, 37-40--77
Alejandra Diaz, Mexico, 37-41--78
Morgan Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla., 38-40--78
Kim Shin, Shoreline, Wash., 39-39--78
Jillian Ferrante, Battle Ground, Wash., 37-41--78
Kira-Ann Murashige, Hilo, Hawaii, 39-39--78
Amber Prange, Noblesville, Ind., 39-39--78
Tiffany Tavee, Gilbert, Ariz., 41-37--78
Jeana Dahl, Fargo, N.D., 38-40--78
Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif., 38-40--78
Tara Chappell, Carmel, Calif., 39-39--78
Amie Cochran, Torrance, Calif., 40-38--78
Sohyun Park, Korea, 38-40--78
Megan Grehan, Mamaroneck, N.Y., 40-38--78
Sydney Burlison, Salinas, Calif., 40-39--79
Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif., 39-40--79
Ellyn Leonard, Zionsville, Ind., 39-40--79
Carly Hunt, Berwyn, Pa., 44-35--79
Jane Lee, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., 39-40--79
Eom Ji Park, Canada, 42-37--79
Amanda Blumenherst, Fort Wayne, Ind., 40-39--79
Amanda Wilson, Hilo, Hawaii, 39-40--79
Emily Hoeper, Kansas City, Mo., 38-41--79
Anna Grzebien, Narragansett, R.I., 41-38--79
Christie Reed, Coral Springs, Fla., 39-40--79
Elizabeth Dotson, White Bluff, Tenn., 39-40--79
Seema Sadekar, Canada, 39-40--79
Nicole Hage, Coral Springs, Fla., 41-38--79
Jennifer Hong, Windermere, Ind., 40-39--79
Margaret Shirley, Roswell, Ga., 39-41--80
Kelly Robb, Concord, Mass., 40-40--80
Hannah Hoch, Turlock, Calif., 37-43--80
Brooke Todare, Paradise Valley, Ariz., 43-37--80
Tiffany Woods, Escondido, Calif., 41-39--80
Michelle Jarman, Wilmington, N.C., 39-41--80
Daniella Ronderos, Colombia, 41-39--80
Jennie Lee, Huntington Beach, Calif., 41-39--80
Christina Jones, Jensen Beach, Fla., 41-39--80
Songyi Yi, San Diego, Calif., 42-38--80
Alice Kim, Los Angeles, Calif., 40-41--81
Eleanor Tucker, Wilson, N.C., 42-39--81
Carling Coffing, Middletown, Ohio, 40-41--81
Cindy Shin, Coppell, Texas, 38-43--81
Ki-Shui Liao, Alameda, Calif., 42-39--81
Whitney Simons, Aiken, S.C., 41-40--81
Eloise Vicencio, Fremont, Calif., 41-40--81
Theresa Paik, Silver Springs, Md., 39-42--81
Jessica Huss, Atascadero, Calif., 43-38--81
Astrid Gulesserian, Argentina, 41-41--82
Lindsay Anderson, El Paso, Texas, 42-40--82
Grace Kim, Midland, Ga., 41-41--82
Laura Caniff, Russell, Ky., 41-41--82
C J Kim, Diamond Bar, Calif., 45-37--82
Maggie Noel, Houston, Texas, 44-38--82
Amanda McConnell, Grand Blanc, Mich., 41-41--82
Kylene Pulley, Kokomo, Ind., 40-43--83
Ayumi Hori, Honolulu, Hawaii, 43-40--83
Brittany Willborg, Waconia, Minn., 41-42--83
Samantha Milosh, Aliquippa, Pa., 42-41--83
Katherine Hoey, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 41-42--83
Katie Trachok, Upper St Clair, Pa., 41-42--83
Kristen Svicarovich, Hillsboro, Ore., 43-40--83
Rachel Schwartz, San Jose, Calif., 41-42--83
Michelle Wie, Honolulu, Hawaii, 43-40--83
Eva Hoi Ning Yoe, Hong Kong, 40-43--83
Sukjin-Lee Wuesthoff, Toms River, N.J., 42-41--83
Kelly Burke, Golden, Colo., 39-44--83
Jean Reynolds, Newnan, Ga., 43-40--83
Taylor Bunnell, Germantown, Tenn., 42-41--83
Jenny Suh, Fairfax, Va., 40-43--83
Michelle Grilli, Pikesville, Md., 43-41--84
Esther Choe, La Quinta, Calif., 40-44--84
Juli Wightman, Chicopee, Mass., 41-43--84
Julia Huh, Pasadena, Md., 42-42--84
Jaclyn Burch, Wildwood, Mo., 45-39--84
Stephanie Wavro, Baytown, Texas, 38-46--84
Kathryn Tewell, Greenwood, Ind., 41-43--84
Mandy Goins, Franfort, Ky., 41-43--84
Samantha Trask, Napa, Calif., 42-42--84
Sommer Scholl, Riverside, Calif., 40-44--84
Laura Cross, Midlothian, Texas, 43-41--84
Jenna Winokur, Wall, N.J., 44-40--84
Pamela Ontiveros, Mexico, 39-45--84
Elizabeth Reid, Canada, 41-44--85
Madeleine Lovette, Johnstown, Pa., 41-44--85
Brianna Broderick, Richmond, Mo., 41-44--85
Joy Juskowich, Morgantown, W.Va., 41-44--85
Jenna Pearson, Wheaton, Ill., 44-41--85
Marie Bos, Orlando, Fla., 42-43--85
Taylor Siebert, Selma, Calif., 43-42--85
Chelsea Bach, Roscoe, Ill., 46-39--85
Tamara Campbell, Lawton, Okla., 44-41--85
Heather Rose, Chillicothe, Ohio, 42-43--85
Kelly Weisgarber, Fargo, N.D., 45-41--86
Jessica Hauser, Germanton, N.C., 41-45--86
Lisa Kajihara, Makawao, Hawaii, 43-43--86
Whitney Wade, Glasgow, Ky., 42-44--86
Jessica Shin, Mankato, Minn., 39-47--86
Mayule Tomimbang, Kissimmee, Fla., 44-43--87
Tia Gannon, Hilton Head Island, S.C., 45-42--87
Lauren Motyl, New Bedford, Mass., 43-44--87
Eunice Yum, Torrance, Calif., 45-42--87
Blythe Worley, Greenville, N.C., 42-45--87
Stefanie Page, The Woodlands, Texas, 43-44--87
Brooke Alexander, Alpharetta, Ga., 43-44--87
Lauren Mielbrecht, Gulf Stream, Fla., 44-43--87
Amanda Costner, Claremore, Okla., 43-44--87
Christina Schams, Chandler, Ariz., 41-46--87
Vanessa Brockett, Los Angeles, Calif., 43-44--87
Alexandria Buelow, Palm City, Fla., 44-43--87
Nichole De Gennaro, Tucson, Ariz., 44-44--88
Natalie Todd, Woodinville, Wash., 45-43--88
Regina Rodriguez, Fort Morgan, Colo., 45-43--88
Caleigh Philo, Vero Beach, Fla., 44-44--88
Gabby Dimora, Auburn, N.Y., 42-46--88
Haley Brown, Austin, Texas, 44-44--88
Courtney Sullivan, Gresham, Ore., 44-44--88
Amy Wang, Kirkland, Wash., 41-47--88
Alexis Edwards, Oakley, Calif., 44-45--89
Alexis Rather, Tupelo, Miss., 39-50--89
Renee Skidmore, Everett, Wash., 49-41--90
Christine Yum, Bradenton, Fla., 45-45--90
Taylor Barrett, York, S.C., 45-45--90
Elli Brown, Meridian, Idaho, 44-46--90
Alison Walshe, Westford, Mass., 51-40--91
Heidi Kim, Sandy, Utah, 38-53--91
Lauren Espinosa, Irving, Texas, 49-43--92
Nicole Mackey, Shueyville, Iowa, 48-46--94
Noel Larson, Clarion, Pa., 47-47--94
