Erynne Lee's 67 Leads U.S. Girls' Junior By Two Strokes

By David Shefter, USGA

Bedminster, N.J. – When Erynne Lee approached the first tee of the Old Course at Trump National Golf Club Monday morning, a wave of nerves swept over her entire body. Her back ached and butterflies were circling her stomach.

Then the 16 year old from Silverdale, Wash., remembered what Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam said at the Players’ Dinner Sunday night.

Amy Anderson of Oxbow, N.D., was quite pleased with her 3-under 69 on Monday at Trump National's Old Course. (USGA Museum)

“You have to welcome the nerves,” said Lee, recalling Sorenstam’s words. “Block it out. I just told myself to breathe in and breathe out.”

After a seven-birdie, two-bogey performance on the 6,203-yard layout, it appears that formula worked quite nicely in the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the 61st U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Lee’s 5-under-par 67 gave her a two-stroke lead over defending champion Alexis Thompson, Jessica Korda, Alison Lee (no relation), Jennifer Johnson and Amy Anderson.  Past champions Kristen Park (2007) and Jenny Shin (2006) posted 71 and 78, respectively, while 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Kimberly Kim carded a 71.

Erynne Lee, a semifinalist at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur, finished with two long birdie putts at 16 and 17. She rolled in a 24-footer at the par-3 16th and after nearly finding the water near the green at the par-4 17th, she holed a 40-footer for birdie.

After struggling in three big June events, Erynne Lee came to the U.S. Girls’ Junior a little unsure of her game. A tie for 38th at the American Junior Golf Association’s Rolex Girls Championship and a missed cut at the Rolex Tournament of Champions, coupled with a second-round 83 during U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying in Texas, left her a bit frustrated. But a sixth-place showing last week at the McDonald’s Betsy Rawls Girls Championship provided some newfound confidence.

“I think that got me back on track,” said Erynne of her McDonald’s performance.

Thompson, bidding to join Judy Eller and Hollis Stacy as the only back-to-back Girls’ Junior champions, was playing bogey-free golf until the ninth hole, her last of the day, when she made a 5. But the minor hiccup didn’t deter what was a solid round of golf for the 14-year-old from Coral Springs, Fla. Two weeks ago at Saucon Valley Country Club in nearby Bethlehem, Pa., she made her first cut in three U.S. Women’s Open appearances, and she shared low-amateur honors earlier this spring at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

“I hit it good and putted a lot better than I usually do,” said Thompson, whose 16-year-old brother, Curtis, shot a 70 on the New Course in the first round of the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Both Juniors are being played at the same site for only the third time in USGA history and the first since 2000 at Pumpkin Ridge.

Meanwhile, Korda, a 16-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., and Valencia, Calif., resident Alison Lee, 14, were each coming off brilliant efforts two weeks ago at the Women’s Open, where they shot 9-over 293 to tie for second-low-amateur honors. Korda, the daughter of 1998 Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda, fired a 2-under 69 in the final round, while Lee had a 70.

Starting on No. 10, Korda registered nine consecutive pars before making three birdies over the final nine holes. Korda couldn’t recall the last time she played a bogey-free round.

“I really didn’t do anything on the [first] nine,” said Korda, who also had a final-round 69 in the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open to share 19th place. “I was basically lipping out every putt. On the [second nine], I started getting a little momentum.

	Jessica Korda played a bogey-free round in shooting 69 on Monday. (John Mummert/USGA)

“The course is set up like the U.S. [Women’s] Open. I got into the rough on the fifth hole. My ball was sitting so deep in the grass I couldn’t get it out. I’m pretty used to [the conditions] and I’m pretty used to the speed of the greens.”

Alison Lee, the runner-up at last week’s McDonald’s Betsy Rawls Girls Championship, made five birdies against two bogeys. She closed her round by knocking a 3-wood approach from 205 yards out to 3 feet for a birdie at the par-4 ninth hole.

“I tried to remember what I did [right] last week and the week before,” said Alison Lee. “I just try to think positive. If I have a bad putt or have a bad hole, I try to forget about it, and think about the birdie I made.”

This is Alison’s fourth appearance in a USGA amateur championship and she’s hoping to get past the first round of match play. She has been eliminated in the first round in each of the past two U.S. Girls’ Juniors and last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur, where she faced reigning NCAA Division I individual champion Azahara Munoz of Spain, who eventually finished as the runner-up to Amanda Blumenherst.

“I’m not worried about missing the [match-play] cut,” said Alison Lee. “I don’t think I have to worry too much about tomorrow. As long as you make the cut, it doesn’t really matter.”

Anderson, 17, of Oxbow, N.D., did advance to the second round of the 2008 Girls’ Junior, losing to Mary Michael Maggio, 2 and 1. A penalty on the final hole cost Anderson a shot. Her ball moved while starting her swing for her approach shot to the ninth hole, her 18th of the day. Anderson still got up and down for a bogey and was quite pleased with the 69.

“I totally exceeded my expectations today,” said Anderson, who will be a freshman at North Dakota State in Fargo this fall. “I was just hoping to shoot around par. I felt I played well today.”

Like Anderson, the 17-year-old Johnson of La Quinta, Calif., is headed to college in the fall, as she’ll enroll at Arizona State. Starting at No. 10, Johnson turned at even par before posting a 3-under 33 on the first nine of the Old Course.

“I’m just going to play my game and not think about the scoring,” said Johnson of her mindset for Tuesday’s second round. “Just play smart.”

The cut for match play will come after Tuesday’s second round of stroke play on the New Course. The low 64 scorers advance to Wednesday’s first round on the Old Course. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Thursday on the New Course, with the final two days of match play, including Saturday’s 36-hole final, scheduled for the New Course.

The U.S. Girls’ Junior is one of 13 national championships conducted by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. To be eligible for the Girls’ Junior, a player must not have reached her 18th birthday by July 25, the final day of the competition.

David Shefter is a USGA Digital Media staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.

First Round Stroke-Play Qualifying Results

Bedminster, N.J. -- Results from the first round of stroke-play qualifying Monday at the 6,203-yard, par-72 Trump National Golf Club's Old Course:

Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash. - 33-34--67

Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla. - 35-34--69

Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. - 36-33--69

Amy Anderson, Oxbow, N.D. - 34-35--69

Jennifer Johnson, La Quinta, Calif. - 33-36--69

Jessica Korda, Bradenton, Fla. - 33-36--69

Danielle Kang, Thousand Oaks, Calif. - 36-34--70

Yueer (Cindy) Feng, Orlando, Fla. - 35-35--70

Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii - 37-34--71

Kristen Park, Buena Park, Calif. - 37-34--71

Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. - 36-36--72

Ginger Howard, Bradenton, Fla. - 35-37--72

Isabelle Lendl, Goshen, Conn. - 36-36--72

Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y. - 35-37--72

Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn. - 37-35--72

Nicole Zhang, Canada - 37-35--72

Sarah Brown, Lopatcong Township, N.J. - 36-36--72

Soobin Kim, Canada - 37-35--72

Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. - 36-37--73

Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C. - 38-35--73

Daffodil Sanchez, Mesa, Ariz. - 36-37--73

Katherine Perry, Cary, N.C. - 36-37--73

Kayli Quinton, Cypress, Texas - 36-37--73

Kyle Roig, Pembroke Pines, Fla. - 35-38--73

Luz Alejandra Cangrejo, Colombia - 36-37--73

Stephanie Meadow, Northern Ireland - 37-36--73

Augusta James, Canada - 37-37--74

Casie Cathrea, Castro Valley, Calif. - 38-36--74

Jisoo Park, Beaumont, Calif. - 38-36--74

Mariah Montoya, Lubbock, Texas - 39-35--74

Victoria Park, Irvine, Calif. - 39-35--74

Brenna Nelsen, Monte Sereno, Calif. - 37-38--75

Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. - 39-36--75

Kimberly Kaufman, Clark, S.D. - 38-37--75

Kristin Coleman, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. - 39-36--75

Kuriko Tsukiyama, Bogota, N.J. - 36-39--75

Lindsey Weaver, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 41-34--75

Lisa McCloskey, Houston, Texas - 40-35--75

Mariko Tumangan, San Jose, Calif. - 37-38--75

Simin Feng, Ppls Rep. of China - 38-37--75

Victoria Tanco, Argentina - 37-38--75

Amy Beth Simanton, Lake Oswego, Ore. - 42-34--76

Anne Cheng, Torrance, Calif. - 37-39--76

Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand - 38-38--76

Casey Grice, College Station, Texas - 39-37--76

Cassy Isagawa, Wailuku, Hawaii - 38-38--76

Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla. - 39-37--76

Elyse Archambault, Canada - 38-38--76

Haley Andreas, Pacific Grove, Calif. - 35-41--76

Lauren Sewell, Renton, Wash. - 38-38--76

Paige Spiranac, Monument, Colo. - 38-38--76

Serena Aoki, Japan - 37-39--76

Allison Emrey, Charlotte, N.C. - 39-38--77

Casey Kennedy, Venice, Fla. - 38-39--77

Christina Miller, Bradenton, Fla. - 37-40--77

Christina Ocampo, Delray Beach, Fla. - 37-40--77

Daniela Lendl, Goshen, Conn. - 37-40--77

Grace Na, Oakland, Calif. - 39-38--77

Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. - 42-35--77

Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz. - 39-38--77

Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Canada - 40-37--77

Seo Hee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash. - 37-40--77

Seshia-Lei Telles, Tualatin, Ore. - 41-36--77

Stephanie Frankian, Watertown, Mass. - 40-37--77

Taylor Newlin, Frisco, Texas - 41-36--77

Blair Lewis, La Mesa, Calif. - 39-39--78

Brittany Marchand, Canada - 41-37--78

Cali Hipp, Caldwell, Idaho - 42-36--78

Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. - 40-38--78

Dottie Ardina, Philippines - 40-38--78

Gabi Oubre, Mobile, Ala. - 39-39--78

Jennifer Hahn, Henderson, Nev. - 40-38--78

Jenny Shin, Torrance, Calif. - 40-38--78

Kaira Martin, Paradise Valley, Ariz. - 38-40--78

Michelle Lee, Canada - 38-40--78

Ri Hyang Park, Hilton Head Island, S.C. - 42-36--78

Saby Dagenais, Canada - 39-39--78

Sami Crouch, Park City, Utah - 42-36--78

Suzie Lee, Long Island, N.Y. - 41-37--78

Tiffany Lim, San Jose, Calif. - 39-39--78

Whitney Rhodes, Staunton, Va. - 39-39--78

Alexandra Wong, San Francisco, Calif. - 40-39--79

Alice Choi, Whitestone, N.Y. - 40-39--79

Alina Ching, Honolulu, Hawaii - 39-40--79

Ally McDonald, Fulton, Miss. - 43-36--79

Ana Alicia Malagon, Mexico - 40-39--79

Christina Foster, Canada - 35-44--79

Devon Brown, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. - 40-39--79

Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky. - 41-38--79

Hannah Collier, Birmingham, Ala. - 39-40--79

Hannah Suh, San Jose, Calif. - 38-41--79

Heather Proctor, Silver Spring, Fla. - 41-38--79

Sloan Shanahan, Suwanee, Ga. - 42-37--79

Stani Schiavone, Bangor, Pa. - 40-39--79

Szu-Han Chen, Chinese Taipei - 40-39--79

Veronica Valerio, Temecula, Calif. - 42-37--79

Alyssa Shimel, Perrysburg, Ohio - 39-41--80

Amy Ruengmateekhun, Garland, Texas - 40-40--80

Andrea Unson, Murrieta, Calif. - 42-38--80

Chelsea Mocio, Fort Worth, Texas - 42-38--80

Robbi Howard, Bradenton, Fla. - 45-35--80

Tisha Abrea, Murrieta, Calif. - 41-39--80

Fabiola Arriaga, Mexico - 42-39--81

Jackie Chang, Paradise Valley, Ariz. - 40-41--81

Julia Thead, Poway, Calif. - 41-40--81

Katy Harris, St Simons Island, Ga. - 42-39--81

Kendall Prince, Lake Oswego, Ore. - 41-40--81

Lauren Kim, Los Altos, Calif. - 43-38--81

Sandra Lee, Euless, Texas - 40-41--81

Sarah Almond, Albemarle, N.C. - 40-41--81

Shannon Aubert, Champions Gate, Fla. - 42-39--81

Shelby Phillips, Gilbert, Ariz. - 42-39--81

Tanya Wadhwa, Mckinney, Texas - 41-40--81

Vivian Tsui, Canada - 41-40--81

Alexandra Groetsema, Palo Alto, Calif. - 44-38--82

Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa. - 40-42--82

Ellese Dias, Crockett, Calif. - 41-41--82

Katie-Rose Higgins, Charleston, S.C. - 40-42--82

Lindsey Eisenreich, Fenton, Mo. - 44-38--82

Rinko Mitsunaga, Roswell, Ga. - 39-43--82

Sammi Stevens, Hereford, Texas - 43-39--82

Somin Lee, Denver, Colo. - 43-39--82

Viviana Vazquez, Mexico - 42-40--82

Betsy Kelly, Forest Lake, Minn. - 41-42--83

Lyberty Anderson, Chesterfield, Va. - 42-41--83

Natalie Reeves, Fort Worth, Texas - 39-44--83

Rachel Powers, Quincy, Ill. - 45-38--83

Stephanie Liu, Lakewood Ranch, Fla. - 44-39--83

Bailey Cocca, Latham, N.Y. - 43-41--84

Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan. - 44-40--84

Isabel Southard, Sharon, Mass. - 41-43--84

Kelsey Ulep, Lincoln, Calif. - 41-43--84

Lauren Coughlin, Chesapeake, Va. - 42-42--84

Portland Rosen, Sugar Land, Texas - 43-41--84

Scotland Preston, Mountainside, N.J. - 43-41--84

Taelor Rubin, Raleigh, N.C. - 43-41--84

Cristina McQuiston, Italy - 43-42--85

Cyd Okino, Honolulu, Hawaii - 45-40--85

Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. - 44-41--85

Kathleen Gallagher, Savannah, Mo. - 48-37--85

Monifa Sealy, Trinidad and Tobago - 42-43--85

Olivia Lugar, Rockledge, Fla. - 44-41--85

Tessa The, Los Altos, Calif. - 41-44--85

Alex Carl, Union, Ky. - 44-42--86

Katelyn McDougal, Richmond, Texas - 41-45--86

Maria Yacaman, Colombia - 45-41--86

Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. - 45-41--86

Allie Johnston, Castle Rock, Colo. - 48-39--87

Olivia Lavy, Fayetteville, Ark. - 43-44--87

Tyler Barker, Caldwell, Idaho - 44-43--87

Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla. - 46-41--87

Kendall Allen, Pittsburgh, Pa. - 48-40--88

Chelsea May Saelee, Seattle, Wash. - 44-45--89

Dana Finkelstein, Chandler, Ariz. - 46-43--89

Erica Herr, New Hope, Pa. - 42-49--91

Lindsey Murray, Tipp City, Ohio - 50-44--94