Amy Anderson Claims Medalist Honors At U.S. Girls' Junior

By David Shefter, USGA

Bedminster, N.J. – Amy Anderson walked away from the giant scoreboard at Trump National Golf Club late Tuesday afternoon wearing a grin that could brighten up even the bleakest of days.

The 17 year old from Oxbow, N.D., was so overcome with joy that she gave one USGA media official a bear hug. She had every reason to celebrate after earning stroke-play medalist honors at the 61st U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

Amy Anderson of Oxbow, N.D., has been sizzling-hot on the greens this week at the 61st U.S. Girls' Junior. (USGA Museum)

On what was a dismal day of rain, wind and extremely damp conditions, Anderson, who is headed to North Dakota State in the fall, carded an even-par 72 on the 6,186-yard New Course. Her 36-hole total of 3-under-par 141 was a stroke better than Jessica Korda, 16, of Bradenton, Fla., 17-year-old Sarah Brown of Lopatcong Township, N.J., and first-round leader Erynne Lee, 16, of Silverdale, Wash.

Another shot back at 1-under 143 was Ani Gulugian, 17, of Irvine, Calif., whose 2-under-par 70 was one of three sub-par scores shot on Tuesday. Brown also carded a 70 and Hannah Suh of San Jose, Calif., had a 71 (150).

Defending champion Alexis Thompson, 14, of Coral Springs, Fla., had a 4-over 76 (145), while two other past champions, Jenny Shin (2006) of Torrance, Calif., and Kristen Park (2007) of Buena Park, Calif., advanced to match play. Another qualifier was 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Kimberly Kim, 17, of Hilo, Hawaii (71-78—149).

The cut came at 13-over 157 with eight golfers playing off for the final five available spots in the match-play draw. The first round of match play is set for Wednesday on the Old Course.

“I’m scared to death,” said Anderson of the prospect of going into match play as the No. 1 seed. “Last year I was the underdog and this year I am the hunted.”

With the course saturated from rain that continued on and off most of the day, scoring became extremely difficult. The stroke average for the New Course was 80.685, almost two strokes higher than Monday’s round on the Old Course, where sunny skies and firmer conditions prevailed.

Players waged a constant battle to keep grips and gloves dry, while also trying to focus on their games. Growing up in North Dakota, Anderson has played many a round in similar conditions.

A sizzling performance on the greens helped as putting has been a major intangible to her success so far this week. And when she knocked a 7-iron approach from 117 yards to set up a 6-foot birdie at the 17th hole, she put herself in position to be medalist. A routine par at 18 confirmed it.

“On the last hole I kind of did,” said Anderson when asked if she thought about being the medalist. “It’s exciting. I didn’t expect this at all. I came in hoping just to make the cut. That was my goal. I played really well.”

When Korda awoke to the pelting rain on Tuesday morning, she prayed it would subside by her scheduled 1:30 p.m. EDT starting time. She got a minor break in that it stopped raining for a few holes. She finished with 17 pars and one bogey, which came on the par-5 eighth after taking a drop for casual water.

“Playing in this [weather] is tough,” said Korda, who made the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open two weeks ago at Saucon Valley Country Club and posted a final-round 69. “It’s tough mentally, it's tough physically.”

Brown, who had a morning starting time, registered four birdies and two bogeys when conditions were extremely challenging. She turned at 1-under 35, birdied the par-5 11th hole and finished with seven consecutive pars as the rain slowly dissipated.

“My dad told me before the round to just not over-swing out there,” said Brown, a quarterfinalist in the 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior. “That worked out pretty well.

“I just wanted to stay around par. I thought a couple over would be a good score. So it felt really good to get under par today.”

Lee, who owned a two-stroke lead after Monday’s first round, was one of the few competitors who welcomed the rain. A Pacific Northwest resident, she often faces these conditions.

“It was really relaxing out there because of the rain,” said Lee, a semifinalist in last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur who carded a 3-over 75. “I haven’t been in the rain for awhile. It was really nice and refreshing.

“All I wanted to do was make match play and I am glad where I am right now.”

Thompson was just looking to get into the clubhouse without getting fully drenched. Playing in the morning during some of the heaviest rain, the Floridian had difficulty keeping her grips dry. Her only birdie came at the par-5 fourth following a four-putt double bogey at the third when she had a lob wedge approach to the 267-yard, par-4 hole.

“After the third hole and non-stop rain, I was ready to be done,” said Thompson, whose 16-year-old brother, Curtis, made match play in the Junior Amateur, which also is being played at Trump National.

 “I just wanted to stay around par,” said Brown, a quarterfinalist at the 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior. “I thought a couple over would be a good score. So it felt really good to get under par today.”

Playing most of her golf in sunny southern California, Gulugian rarely sees these kinds of adverse conditions. But the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier adjusted quite well with five birdies and three bogeys. She knocked a 3-wood to 6 feet at the 207-yard seventh and holed a 20-footer at the 155-yard 10th.

“It was pretty tough,” said Gulugian, who has verbally committed to attend UCLA in the fall of 2010. “The wind, the rain, I had it all.”

The U.S. Girls' Junior is one of 13 national championships conducted by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

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

Second Round Stroke-Play Qualifying Results

Bedminster, N.J. -- Results from Tuesday's second round of stroke-play qualifying at the 61st U.S. Girls' Junior being played at Trump National Golf Club. Second round played on the 6,186-yard, par-72 New Course:

Amy Anderson, Oxbow, N.D. - 69-72--141

Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash. - 67-75--142

Jessica Korda, Bradenton, Fla. - 69-73--142

Sarah Brown, Lopatcong Twp, N.J. - 72-70--142

Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. - 73-70--143

Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y. - 72-72--144

Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla. - 69-76--145

Ginger Howard, Bradenton, Fla. - 72-74--146

Danielle Kang, Thousand Oaks, Calif. - 70-77--147

Stephanie Meadow, Northern Ireland - 73-74--147

Victoria Tanco, Argentina - 75-72--147

Yueer (Cindy) Feng, People's Republic of China - 70-77--147

Kimberly Kaufman, Clark, S.D. - 75-73--148

Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. - 69-80--149

Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand - 76-73--149

Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C. - 73-76--149

Casie Cathrea, Castro Valley, Calif. - 74-75--149

Cassy Isagawa, Wailuku, Hawaii - 76-73--149

Jennifer Johnson, La Quinta, Calif. - 69-80--149

Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii - 71-78--149

Kristen Park, Buena Park, Calif. - 71-78--149

Luz Alejandra Cangrejo, Colombia - 73-76--149

Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Canada - 77-72--149

Hannah Suh, San Jose, Calif. - 79-71--150

Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. - 72-79--151

Daffodil Sanchez, Mesa, Ariz. - 73-78--151

Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. - 77-74--151

Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz. - 77-74--151

Soobin Kim, Canada - 72-79--151

Victoria Park, Irvine, Calif. - 74-77--151

Casey Grice, College Station, Texas - 76-76--152

Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla. - 76-76--152

Isabelle Lendl, Goshen, Conn. - 72-80--152

Jenny Shin, Torrance, Calif. - 78-74--152

Katherine Perry, Cary, N.C. - 73-79--152

Kristin Coleman, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. - 75-77--152

Lisa McCloskey, Houston, Texas - 75-77--152

Nicole Zhang, Canada - 72-80--152

Devon Brown, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. - 79-74--153

Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky. - 79-74--153

Heather Proctor, Silver Spring, Fla. - 79-74--153

Kayli Quinton, Cypress, Texas - 73-80--153

Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn. - 72-81--153

Seo Hee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash. - 77-76--153

Kyle Roig, Pembroke Pines, Fla. - 73-81--154

Lindsey Weaver, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 75-79--154

Allison Emrey, Charlotte, N.C. - 77-78--155

Haley Andreas, Pacific Grove, Calif. - 76-79--155

Suzie Lee, Long Island, N.Y. - 78-77--155

Alina Ching, Honolulu, Hawaii - 79-77--156

Casey Kennedy, Venice, Fla. - 77-79--156

Dottie Ardina, Philippines - 78-78--156

Gabi Oubre, Mobile, Ala. - 78-78--156

Jackie Chang, Paradise Valley, Ariz. - 81-75--156

Jisoo Park, Korea - 74-82--156

Kaira Martin, Paradise Valley, Ariz. - 78-78--156

Mariko Tumangan, San Jose, Calif. - 75-81--156

Serena Aoki, Japan - 76-80--156

Whitney Rhodes, Staunton, Va. - 78-78--156

Anne Cheng, Torrance, Calif. - 76-81--157 (2)

Daniela Lendl, Goshen, Conn. - 77-80--157 (3)

Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. - 75-82--157 (3)

Seshia-Lei Telles, Tualatin, Ore. - 77-80--157 (3)

Veronica Valerio, Temecula, Calif. - 79-78--157 (3)

Failed To Qualify

Tiffany Lim, San Jose, Calif. - 78-79--157 (4)

Lauren Sewell, Renton, Wash. - 76-81--157 (4)

Kuriko Tsukiyama, Bogota, N.J. - 75-82--157 (6)

Ally McDonald, Fulton, Miss. - 79-79--158

Alyssa Shimel, Perrysburg, Ohio - 80-78--158

Amy Beth Simanton, Lake Oswego, Ore. - 76-82--158

Brittany Marchand, Canada - 78-80--158

Christina Foster, Canada - 79-79--158

Christina Miller, Bradenton, Fla. - 77-81--158

Elyse Archambault, Canada - 76-82--158

Katie-Rose Higgins, Charleston, S.C. - 82-76--158

Saby Dagenais, Canada - 78-80--158

Shannon Aubert, Champions Gate, Fla. - 81-77--158

Amy Ruengmateekhun, Garland, Texas - 80-79--159

Augusta James, Canada - 74-85--159

Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. - 78-81--159

Grace Na, Oakland, Calif. - 77-82--159

Simin Feng, People's Republic of China - 75-84--159

Szu-Han Chen, Chinese Taipei - 79-80--159

Viviana Vazquez, Mexico - 82-77--159

Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa. - 82-78--160

Cali Hipp, Caldwell, Idaho - 78-82--160

Mariah Montoya, Lubbock, Texas - 74-86--160

Tisha Abrea, Murrieta, Calif. - 80-80--160

Christina Ocampo, Delray Beach, Fla. - 77-84--161

Jennifer Hahn, Henderson, Nev. - 78-83--161

Taylor Newlin, Frisco, Texas - 77-84--161

Betsy Kelly, Forest Lake, Minn. - 83-79--162

Blair Lewis, La Mesa, Calif. - 78-84--162

Brenna Nelsen, Monte Sereno, Calif. - 75-87--162

Lauren Kim, Los Altos, Calif. - 81-81--162

Natalie Reeves, Fort Worth, Texas - 83-79--162

Ri Hyang Park, Hilton Head Island, S.C. - 78-84--162

Robbi Howard, Bradenton, Fla. - 80-82--162

Sami Crouch, Park City, Utah - 78-84--162

Sarah Almond, Albemarle, N.C. - 81-81--162

Alice Choi, Whitestone, N.Y. - 79-84--163

Ana Alicia Malagon, Mexico - 79-84--163

Andrea Unson, Murrieta, Calif. - 80-83--163

Julia Thead, Poway, Calif. - 81-82--163

Rinko Mitsunaga, Roswell, Ga. - 82-81--163

Hannah Collier, Birmingham, Ala. - 79-85--164

Michelle Lee, Canada - 78-86--164

Vivian Tsui, Canada - 81-83--164

Alexandra Wong, San Francisco, Calif. - 79-86--165

Chelsea Mocio, Fort Worth, Texas - 80-85--165

Cristina McQuiston, Italy - 85-80--165

Fabiola Arriaga, Mexico - 81-84--165

Sloan Shanahan, Suwanee, Ga. - 79-86--165

Stani Schiavone, Bangor, Pa. - 79-86--165

Tessa The, Los Altos, Calif. - 85-80--165

Alexandra Groetsema, Palo Alto, Calif. - 82-84--166

Cyd Okino, Honolulu, Hawaii - 85-81--166

Kendall Allen, Pittsburgh, Pa. - 88-78--166

Lauren Coughlin, Chesapeake, Va. - 84-82--166

Monifa Sealy, Trinidad and Tobago - 85-81--166

Portland Rosen, Sugar Land, Texas - 84-82--166

Sammi Stevens, Hereford, Texas - 82-84--166

Stephanie Liu, Lakewood Ranch, Fla. - 83-83--166

Tanya Wadhwa, Mckinney, Texas - 81-85--166

Bailey Cocca, Latham, N.Y. - 84-83--167

Lyberty Anderson, Chesterfield, Va. - 83-84--167

Paige Spiranac, Monument, Colo. - 76-91--167

Alex Carl, Union, Ky. - 86-82--168

Lindsey Eisenreich, Fenton, Mo. - 82-86--168

Shelby Phillips, Gilbert, Ariz. - 81-87--168

Somin Lee, Denver, Colo. - 82-86--168

Ellese Dias, Crockett, Calif. - 82-87--169

Katelyn McDougal, Richmond, Texas - 86-83--169

Olivia Lugar, Rockledge, Fla. - 85-84--169

Stephanie Frankian, Watertown, Mass. - 77-92--169

Kelsey Ulep, Lincoln, Calif. - 84-86--170

Olivia Lavy, Fayetteville, Ark. - 87-83--170

Chelsea May Saelee, Seattle, Wash. - 89-82--171

Dana Finkelstein, Chandler, Ariz. - 89-83--172

Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. - 85-87--172

Allie Johnston, Castle Rock, Colo. - 87-86--173

Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan. - 84-89--173

Isabel Southard, Sharon, Mass. - 84-89--173

Katy Harris, St Simons Island, Ga. - 81-92--173

Maria Yacaman, Colombia - 86-87--173

Scotland Preston, Mountainside, N.J. - 84-89--173

Taelor Rubin, Raleigh, N.C. - 84-89--173

Erica Herr, New Hope, Pa. - 91-83--174

Sandra Lee, Euless, Texas - 81-93--174

Tyler Barker, Caldwell, Idaho - 87-88--175

Lindsey Murray, Tipp City, Ohio - 94-82--176

Rachel Powers, Quincy, Ill. - 83-93--176

Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. - 86-91--177

Kendall Prince, Lake Oswego, Ore. - 81-97--178

Kathleen Gallagher, Savannah, Mo. - 85-96--181

Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla. - 87-WD--WD

Match Play Pairings

Bedminster, N.J. -- Pairings and starting times for the first round of match play on Wednesday at Trump National Golf Club's Old Course (6,203 yards, par 72). All times are EDT:

Round of 64
Upper Bracket

8:30 a.m. -- Amy Anderson, Oxbow, N.D. (141) vs. Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. (157)

8:39 a.m. -- Jenny Shin, Torrance, Calif. (151) vs. Isabelle Lendl, Goshen, Conn. (152)

8:48 a.m. -- Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. (149) vs. Allison Emrey, Charlotte, N.C. (155)

8:57 a.m. -- Cassy Isagawa, Wailuku, Hawaii (149) vs. Haley Andreas, Pacific Grove, Calif. (155)

9:06 a.m. -- Ginger Howard, Bradenton, Fla. (146) vs. Gabi Oubre, Mobile, Ala. (156)

9:15 a.m. -- Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. (151) vs. Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky. (153)

9:24 a.m. -- Victoria Tanco, Argentina (147) vs. Alina Ching, Honolulu, Hawaii (156)

9:33 a.m. -- Hannah Suh, San Jose, Calif. (150) vs. Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn. (153)

9:42 a.m. -- Sarah Brown, Lopatcong Twp, N.J. (142) vs. Daniela Lendl, Goshen, Conn. (157)

9:51 a.m. -- Victoria Park, Irvine, Calif. (151) vs. Casey Grice, College Station, Texas (152)

10 a.m. -- Kimberly Kaufman, Clark, S.D. (148) vs. Kaira Martin, Paradise Valley, Ariz. (156)

10:09 a.m. -- Casie Cathrea, Castro Valley, Calif. (149) vs. Lindsey Weaver, Scottsdale, Ariz. (154)

10:18 a.m. -- Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. (143) vs. Anne Cheng, Torrance, Calif. (157)

10:27 a.m. -- Soobin Kim, Canada (151) vs. Kristin Coleman, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. (152)

10:36 a.m. -- Yueer (Cindy) Feng, People's Rep. of China (147) vs. Jackie Chang, Paradise Valley, Ariz. (156)

10:45 a.m. -- Luz Alejandra Cangrejo, Colombia (149) vs. Devon Brown, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (153)

Lower Bracket

10:54 a.m. -- Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash. (142) vs. Veronica Valerio, Temecula, Calif. (157)

11:03 a.m. -- Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla. (152) vs. Katherine Perry, Cary, N.C. (152)

11:12 a.m. -- Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Canada (149) vs. Dottie Ardina, Philippines (156)

11:21 a.m. -- Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C. (149) vs. Suzie Lee, Long Island, N.Y. (155)

11:30 a.m. -- Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla. (145) vs. Jisoo Park, Korea (156)

11:39 a.m. -- Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz. (151) vs. Kayli Quinton, Cypress, Texas (153)

11:48 a.m. -- Stephanie Meadow, Northern Ireland (147) vs. Serena Aoki, Japan (156)

11:57 a.m. -- Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand (149) vs. Heather Proctor, Silver Spring, Fla. (153)

12:06 p.m. -- Jessica Korda, Bradenton, Fla. (142) vs. Seshia-Lei Telles, Tualatin, Ore. (157)

12:15 p.m. -- Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. (151) vs. Nicole Zhang, Canada (152)

12:24 p.m. -- Kristen Park, Buena Park, Calif. (149) vs. Casey Kennedy, Venice, Fla. (156)

12:33 p.m. -- Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii (149) vs. Kyle Roig, Pembroke Pines, Fla. (154)

12:42 p.m. -- Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y. (144) vs. Mariko Tumangan, San Jose, Calif. (156)

12:51 p.m. -- Daffodil Sanchez, Mesa, Ariz. (151) vs. Lisa McCloskey, Houston, Texas (152)

1 p.m. -- Danielle Kang, Thousand Oaks, Calif. (147) vs. Whitney Rhodes, Staunton, Va. (156)

1:09 p.m. -- Jennifer Johnson, La Quinta, Calif. (149) vs. Seo Hee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash. (153)