Wie Takes Early Lead at U.S. Girls’ Junior

 

Fairfield, Conn. – Michelle Wie, 13, of Honolulu, Hawaii, shot a 2-under 69 to grab the early lead by one stroke over defending champion In-Bee Park, 15, of Eustis, Fla., in the first round of stroke play at the 2003 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Wie tallied four birdies and two bogeys at the 6,303-yard, par-71 Brooklawn Country Club, while Park posted a 1-under 70. Wie, the teenage phenom who won the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links is attempting to become the first person to win both events in the same season.

 

Flanked by a gallery in excess of 300 people, Wie wowed the crowds with her length off the tee and precision with her irons, hitting 15 of 18 greens in regulation. Wie posted a 3-under 33 on the front nine, but her putter was the difference in a round where she could have gone even lower.

 

“I think I should have played better,” Wie said. “I easily could have shot 67 today.”

 

One of her 30 putts on the day was a missed four-footer for birdie on 16. All of her birdie putts came from inside 12 feet.

 

Following a successful performance at the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., where she made the cut and finished tied for 39 th, Wie has faced a torrent of media interest in preparation for this championship. Yet Wie seems to take all the outside distractions in stride.

 

“I don’t think of it as pressure because I’m the person who puts the pressure on myself,” she said. “I go out there and try my best. If I play good I’m happy, but if I don’t, I tried my hardest.”

 

Meanwhile, defending champion In-Bee Park made a statement with her play that she was not to be overlooked. After recording three birdies to two bogeys, including a two putt birdie on the par-5 eighth, Park was happy to be sitting

one shot back of Wie.

 

“I just played my game,” said the Korean-born Park. “I drove very well today, my irons were working, and I just made two-putts. I had no three-putts today.”

 

Park was one of many players who have been offering their praise about the classic, tree-lined layout at Brooklawn Country Club, which is hosting its fourth USGA championship.

 

“This course gives me a lot of confidence,” Park said. “It’s a very good course, and I really enjoyed it today.”

 

Park is in the somewhat enviable position of being the defending champion, but does not have to withstand the tremendous attention that usually comes with that distinction. “I have a lot less pressure than Michelle,” she said.

 

Morgan Pressel, 15, of Boca Raton, Fla., who also competed in the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open and made the cut, is three shots behind Wie after shooting a 1-over-par 72.

 

The U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 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 prior to the end of the championship and have a USGA Handicap Index of 18.4 or better.