Defending U.S. Girls’ Junior champion Ariya Jutanugarn took stroke-play medalist honors for the second consecutive year on Tuesday, carding a 36-hole total of 2-under 142 and setting the stage for a staunch title defense at the 6,291-yard, par-72 Lake Merced Golf Club.
Jutanugarn assembled two steady rounds of 71 featuring four birdies and three bogeys each to earn the top seed in the 64-player match-play bracket by three strokes over Lydia Ko. However, the 16-year-old from Thailand did point to some faults in her game.
"It wasn’t easy," said Jutanugarn, the 2012 Women’s Western Amateur champion. "My driver was not very good today, but my putter was better. I made long putts two times and some short putts two or three times."
Jutanugarn, who was also the medalist in 2011 at Olympia Fields C.C. outside Chicago, became the first player since Inbee Park (2002-04) to take medalist honors in consecutive years, a fact that she takes with a grain of salt. Park won the 2002 U.S. Girls’ Junior, but lost the 2003 and 2005 finals.
Being medalist is good, but in match play, it’s nothing, said Jutanugarn. I just do my best, and everybody’s the same. Everybody’s tied at the first hole.
Should she go on to win the championship, Jutanugarn would become just the fourth multiple champion in Girls’ Junior history, joining Judy Eller (1957-58) and World Golf Hall of Famers Hollis Stacy (1969-71) and Nancy Lopez (1972, 1974).
Sitting three strokes back is New Zealand’s Ko, the top amateur in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. Ko, the low amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open nine days ago, had her hands full early, opening with double bogey-bogey on the inward nine. However, a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-3 12th, her first of the championship, came at just the right time.
"The first couple of holes, my drives were going everywhere," said the 15-year-old Ko, who earlier this year won the 2012 New South Wales Open, a professional event, and the Australian Amateur. "But then on 12 I had my first birdie of the tournament and on 13 I had a good drive down there, so I think I got my confidence back.
"I think my putting got better then and the confidence started to rise because I was putting good at the [U.S. Women’s] Open and I was kind of shocked after yesterday."
Canadian Brogan McKinnon, who started the day one shot behind Jutanugarn after Monday’s first-round 72, carded a disappointing 4-over 76 to finish at 4-over 148.
"I was consistent on the front [nine]," said McKinnon, who still easily advanced to match play. "I let it get away on the back [nine]. I bogeyed what I considered the easiest holes on the golf course, holes that I could easily make birdie."
Mexico’s Marijosse Navarro, who won her home country’s 2012 Women’s Amateur, and local favorite Casie Cathrea, of Livermore, Calif., recorded holes-in-one on the third hole, which played 122 yards on Tuesday. Cathrea, who has committed to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall of 2013, carded a 6-under 66, the lowest 18-hole score of the championship, after a 10-over 82 on Monday.
Maria Jose Fassi also sparked an improbable Tuesday comeback. The Mexican teen rebounded from a 17-over 89 on Monday with a 3-under 69 on Tuesday to make the cut.
Karen Chung, the 2008 runner-up from Livingston, N.J., sits at 8-over 152, while 2010 runner-up Katelyn Dambaugh, of Goose Creek, S.C., returned an 11-over 155. Both players advanced to match play.
Notables to miss the cut, which came at 15-over 159 with 12 golfers playing off for the final four match-play spots, included 2012 Women’s Open competitors Hannah O’Sullivan (159) and Gigi Stoll (160), as well as Rachel Dai (159), a member of the Georgia team that won the 2011 USGA Women’s State Team.
Tuesday brought polar-opposite weather conditions from Monday, with sunny skies, relatively calm winds and temperatures in the low 60s. That was readily apparent in the scoring average, which dropped two strokes, 81.3 to 79.4, from Monday to Tuesday.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior continues Wednesday with the first round of match play. The second and third rounds will be played Thursday, and the quarterfinal and semifinal matches are on Friday. The 36-hole championship final will be played Saturday.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Christina Lance is a coordinator of championship communications for the USGA. Email questions or comments to clance@usga.org.
Results
Daly City, Calif. – Results from the second round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, being conducted at the 6,291-yard, par-72 Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, Calif. (* - Involved in 12-for-4 playoff for final match-play spots):
Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand - 71-71–142
Lydia Ko, New Zealand - 74-71–145
Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. - 75-71–146
Jordan Ferreira, University Place, Wash. - 74-72–146
Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis. - 76-71–147
Marijosse Navarro, Mexico - 75-72–147
Brooke Mackenzie Henderson, Canada - 74-74–148
Casie Cathrea, Livermore, Calif. - 82-66–148
Lilia Kha-Tu Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. - 75-73–148
Brogan McKinnon, Canada - 72-76–148
Elisabeth Bernabe, Anaheim Hills, Calif. - 77-73–150
Minjee Lee, Australia - 79-71–150
Jisoo Keel, Canada - 76-74–150
Su-Hyun Oh, Australia - 78-72–150
Nicole Morales, South Salem, N.Y. - 74-76–150
Amy Lee, Brea, Calif. - 79-71–150
Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, Ga. - 79-72–151
Kathleen Scavo, Benicia, Calif. - 77-74–151
Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. - 78-74–152
Anne Cheng, Torrance, Calif. - 79-73–152
Mika Liu, Beverly Hills, Calif. - 76-76–152
Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii - 77-75–152
Yueer Feng, Orlando, Fla. - 80-72–152
Anne Freman, Las Vegas, Nev. - 77-75–152
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. - 77-75–152
McKenzie Neisen, New Prague, Minn. - 77-76–153
Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. - 79-74–153
Kathleen Gallagher, Greenwood, Miss. - 73-81–154
Shawn Rennegarbe, Addieville, Ill. - 77-77–154
Yu Liu, Ppls Rep. of China - 76-78–154
Hee Wook Choi, San Diego, Calif. - 75-79–154
Minjia Luo, San Diego, Calif. - 78-77–155
Katelyn Dambaugh, Goose Creek, S.C. - 79-76–155
Cha Cha Willhoite, Palm Desert, Calif. - 79-77–156
Lyberty Anderson, Chesterfield, Va. - 80-76–156
Bryana Nguyen, Columbia, Md. - 83-73–156
Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. - 81-75–156
Haley Mills, Tyler, Texas - 81-75–156
Summar Roachell, Conway, Ark. - 76-80–156
Courtney Dow, Frisco, Texas - 75-81–156
Isabella Skinner, Cumming, Ga. - 81-76–157
Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. - 80-77–157
Alexandra Kaui, Kapolei, Hawaii - 81-76–157
Ju Hee Bae, Chantilly, Va. - 79-78–157
Kelli Murphy, Elgin, S.C. - 79-78–157
Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Texas - 79-78–157
Lindsey McCurdy, Kyle, Texas - 83-74–157
Danielle Lee, La Mirada, Calif. - 82-75–157
Jennifer Yu, Huntington Beach, Calif. - 78-79–157
Lauren Johnson, Chattanooga, Tenn. - 81-76–157
Lydia Choi, Beverly Hills, Calif. - 83-75–158
Erica Herr, New Hope, Pa. - 80-78–158
Taylor Totland, Tinton Falls, N.J. - 79-79–158
Maria Jose Fassi, Mexico - 89-69–158
Euna Pak, Irvine, Calif. - 79-79–158
Alice Jeong, Gardena, Calif. - 80-78–158
Samantha Wagner, Windermere, Fla. - 77-81–158
Gabby Barker, Caldwell, Idaho - 82-76–158
Bailey Tardy, Norcross, Ga. - 80-78–158
Stephanie Lau, Fullerton, Calif. - 78-80–158
*Mikayla Harmon, Gilbert, Ariz. - 75-84–159
*Ji Eun Baik, Newnan, Ga. - 79-80–159
*Rinko Mitsunaga, Roswell, Ga. - 78-81–159
*Julia Beck, Austin, Texas - 80-79–159
Failed to Qualify
*Monica Vaughn, Reedsport, Ore. - 77-82–159
*Hannah O'Sullivan, Cupertino, Calif. - 87-72–159
*Rachel Dai, Milton, Ga. - 78-81–159
*Eimi Koga, Honolulu, Hawaii - 80-79–159
*Madison Talley, Clarksville, Ark. - 84-75–159
*Bree Wanderscheid, Goldendale, Wash. - 83-76–159
*Brooke McDougald, The Woodlands, Texas - 81-78–159
*Marianne Li, Bellevue, Wash. - 83-76–159
Hannah Kim, Chula Vista, Calif. - 88-72–160
Kristine Odaiyar, Ocala, Fla. - 84-76–160
Tatiana Wijaya, Australia - 84-76–160
Hannah Wood, Centennial, Colo. - 80-80–160
Maria Torres, Puerto Rico - 82-78–160
Alana Uriell, Carlsbad, Calif. - 78-82–160
Naomi Ko, Canada - 81-79–160
Taylor Kim, Canada - 83-77–160
Gigi Stoll, Beaverton, Ore. - 74-86–160
Princess Mary Superal, Philippines - 84-76–160
Monet Flores, Litchfield Park, Ariz. - 78-82–160
Sophia Chen, Newbury Park, Calif. - 78-82–160
Evelyn Dole, Raleigh, N.C. - 79-82–161
Taylor Tomlinson, Gainesville, Fla. - 80-81–161
Felicia Paulina Medalla, Philippines - 82-79–161
Kristen Gillman, Austin, Texas - 81-80–161
Lauren Stephenson, Lexington, S.C. - 85-76–161
Camilla Vik, Greenwich, Conn. - 81-80–161
Grace Chua, Canada - 78-83–161
Jordan Keyser, Ahwahnee, Calif. - 83-79–162
Ciera Min, Hilo, Hawaii - 85-77–162
Eunice Yi, Evans, Ga. - 84-78–162
Kelly Grassel, Chesterton, Ind. - 82-80–162
Chloe Bartek, Vancouver, Wash. - 81-81–162
Elsa Moberly, Science Hill, Ky. - 83-79–162
Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas - 85-78–163
Haylee Harford, Leavittsburg, Ohio - 84-79–163
Isabel Southard, Sharon, Mass. - 82-81–163
Emily Campbell, Carrollton, Texas - 83-80–163
Yvonne Zheng, Bradenton, Fla. - 87-76–163
Kelsey Badmaev, Blythewood, S.C. - 80-84–164
Reona Hirai, Summerville, S.C. - 82-82–164
Maddie McCrary, Wylie, Texas - 84-80–164
Kendall Gray, Federal Way, Wash. - 79-85–164
Hannah Pietila, Brighton, Mich. - 81-83–164
Allison Lindley, Kokomo, Ind. - 86-79–165
Catherina Li, Kent, Wash. - 82-83–165
Youngin Chun, Korea - 80-85–165
Sophie Kitchen, Canada - 80-85–165
Samantha Gotcher, Clarksville, Tenn. - 82-83–165
Maddie Rose Hamilton, Louisville, Ky. - 83-82–165
Jordan Webb, Frankfort, Ky. - 88-78–166
Saya Aono, Japan - 88-78–166
Grace Park, Cupertino, Calif. - 85-81–166
Nancy Xu, Sunnyvale, Calif. - 83-83–166
Tatiana Pineda, Colombia - 82-84–166
Megan Kim, Redondo Beach, Calif. - 85-81–166
Lucia Polo, Guatemala - 87-79–166
Sydney Needham, Villa Rica, Ga. - 86-80–166
Morgan Messick, Tucson, Ariz. - 79-88–167
Alexandra Sborov, Pleasanton, Calif. - 80-87–167
Maggie Beth Byers, San Antonio, Texas - 84-83–167
Jackie Rogowicz, Yardley, Pa. - 84-83–167
Christine Schmitt, Pittsford, N.Y. - 87-80–167
Callie Scheffler, Dallas, Texas - 80-87–167
Kelly McGovern, The Woodlands, Texas - 86-81–167
Anne Willman, Prairie Village, Kan. - 81-87–168
Lauren Gros, Championsgate, Fla. - 82-86–168
Katherine Sborov, Pleasanton, Calif. - 82-86–168
Elizabeth Doty, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. - 83-86–169
Abbey Carlson, Lake Mary, Fla. - 84-85–169
Rosanna Lederhausen, Hinsdale, Ill. - 82-87–169
Amanda Ploener, Chadds Ford, Pa. - 84-85–169
Kaylee Benton, Cabot, Ark. - 87-82–169
Brooke Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis. - 85-85–170
Calli Ringsby, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. - 86-84–170
Blakesly Warren, Chattanooga, Tenn. - 83-87–170
Emily Gilbreth, Bellaire, Texas - 90-80–170
Sabrina Bonanno, Norridge, Ill. - 86-84–170
Hallie Getz, Pierre, S.D. - 84-87–171
Taylor Coleman, San Antonio, Texas - 89-82–171
Tatum Jackson, Mountain Brook, Ala. - 84-87–171
Gabrielle Curtis, Eau Claire, Wis. - 87-86–173
Avery French, Laguna Niguel, Calif. - 90-83–173
Katherine Smith, Detroit Lakes, Minn. - 84-90–174
Haliee Pieper, Watertown, S.D. - 85-89–174
Taylor Dorans, Erie, Colo. - 90-85–175
Klara Castillo, Albuquerque, N.M. - 91-85–176
Danielle Crilley, East Lansing, Mich. - 87-92–179
Jane Hopkinson-Wood, Pottstown, Pa. - 91-89–180
Stephanie Pribonic, Wake Forest, N.C. - 90-91–181
Kim Cifuentes, Gilbert, Ariz. - 86-96–182
Zora Gittens, Parkland, Fla. - 92-90–182
Pairings
Daly City, Calif. – Pairings for Wednesday’s first round of match play at the 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, being conducted at the 6,291-yard, par-72 Lake Merced Golf Club. (All times PDT):
Upper Bracket
10:15 a.m.: Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand (142) vs. Ji Eun Baik, Newnan, Ga. (159)
8 a.m.: Minjia Luo, San Diego, Calif. (155) vs. Katelyn Dambaugh, Goose Creek, S.C. (155)
8:09 a.m.: Amy Lee, Brea, Calif. (150) vs. Jennifer Yu, Huntington Beach, Calif. (157)
8:18 a.m.: Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, Ga. (151) vs. Danielle Lee, La Mirada, Calif. (157)
8:27 a.m.: Casie Cathrea, Livermore, Calif. (148) vs. Samantha Wagner, Windermere, Fla. (158)
8:36 a.m.: Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. (152) vs. Courtney Dow, Frisco, Texas (156)
8:45 a.m.: Lilia Kha-Tu Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. (148) vs. Alice Jeong, Gardena, Calif. (158)
8:54 a.m.: Anne Freman, Las Vegas, Nev. (152) vs. Isabella Skinner, Cumming, Ga. (157)
9:03 a.m.: Jordan Ferreira, University Place, Wash. (146) vs. Rinko Mitsunaga, Roswell, Ga. (159)
9:12 a.m.: Shawn Rennegarbe, Addieville, Ill. (154) vs. Bryana Nguyen, Columbia, Md. (156)
9:21 a.m.: Jisoo Keel, Canada (150) vs. Erica Herr, New Hope, Pa. (158)
9:30 a.m.: Anne Cheng, Torrance, Calif. (152) vs. Kelli Murphy, Elgin, S.C. (157)
9:39 a.m.: Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis. (147) vs. Stephanie Lau, Fullerton, Calif. (158)
9:48 a.m.: Kathleen Gallagher, Greenwood, Miss. (154) vs. Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. (156)
9:57 a.m.: Minjee Lee, Australia (150) vs. Taylor Totland, Tinton Falls, N.J. (158)
10:06 a.m.: Mika Liu, Beverly Hills, Calif. (152) vs. Ju Hee Bae, Chantilly, Va. (157)
Lower Bracket
10:24 a.m.: Lydia Ko, New Zealand (145) vs. Mikayla Harmon, Gilbert, Ariz. (159)
10:33 a.m.: Hee Wook Choi, San Diego, Calif. (154) vs. Cha Cha Willhoite, Palm Desert, Calif. (156)
10:42 a.m.: Nicole Morales, South Salem, N.Y. (150) vs. Lauren Johnson, Chattanooga, Tenn. (157)
10:51 a.m.: Kathleen Scavo, Benicia, Calif. (151) vs. Lindsey McCurdy, Kyle, Texas (157)
11 a.m.: Brooke Mackenzie Henderson, Canada (148) vs. Gabby Barker, Caldwell, Idaho (158)
11:09 a.m.: McKenzie Neisen, New Prague, Minn. (153) vs. Summar Roachell, Conway, Ark. (156)
11:18 a.m.: Brogan McKinnon, Canada (148) vs. Euna Pak, Irvine, Calif. (158)
11:27 a.m.: Yueer Feng, Orlando, Fla. (152) vs. Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (157)
11:36 a.m.: Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. (146) vs. Julia Beck, Austin, Texas (159)
11:45 a.m.: Yu Liu, Ppls Rep. of China (154) vs. Lyberty Anderson, Chesterfield, Va. (156)
11:54 a.m.: Su-Hyun Oh, Australia (150) vs. Lydia Choi, Beverly Hills, Calif. (158)
12:03 p.m.: Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. (152) vs. Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Texas (157)
12:12 p.m.: Marijosse Navarro, Mexico (147) vs. Bailey Tardy, Norcross, Ga. (158)
12:21 p.m.: Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. (153) vs. Haley Mills, Tyler, Texas (156)
12:30 p.m.: Elisabeth Bernabe, Anaheim Hills, Calif. (150) vs. Maria Jose Fassi, Mexico (158)
12:39 p.m.: Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii (152) vs. Alexandra Kaui, Kapolei, Hawaii (157)