72nd U.S. Girls' Junior Home

What Happened

Since 2019, Zhang has won 12 of 13 matches in USGA championships, with her only loss coming to 2021 U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Girls’ Junior. On Friday, she will face 14-year-old Yana Wilson, of Henderson, Nev., who dispatched Karoline Tuttle, 4 and 3, in the Round of 16.

Davis, 18, lives in White Plains, Md., less than 50 miles from Columbia, and has been commuting back and forth each day. The three-time Maryland high school state champion survived a 19-hole match in the Round of 64 by holing a wedge for eagle, then breezed through both of her matches on Thursday, never trailing.

“It was a lot less stressful today,” said Davis, the No. 3 seed. “A lot of people congratulated me on the exciting finish, but I really wanted to put that match aside and get a fresh start for today. I got off to solid starts in both matches and just tried to keep it steady.”

Bailey Shoemaker continued her dominant run with a 4-and-3 victory over Avery Zweig in the Round of 16. She was 1 down after six holes but reeled off wins on six of the next eight holes to take control. Through three matches Shoemaker hasn’t been pushed past the 15th. That’s even more impressive considering she is a relative newcomer to the format.

“I've actually never really played match play,” said Shoemaker, 16, of West Edmeston, N.Y. “Last week at Wyndham Cup was my first time. I’ve always wanted to play because it’s fun. I'm one that likes to go at pins and be as aggressive as I can.”

The only non-American quarterfinalist is Paula Miranda, of Mexico, who is six days shy of her 18th birthday. She is playing in her first USGA championship and has needed to go the distance in each of her first three matches, winning all of them 1 up.

Other players to win two matches on Thursday include a trio of 16-year-olds: Kaitlyn Schroeder, of Jacksonville, Fla.; Katie Li, of Basking Ridge, N.J.; and Karen Tsuru, of Carlsbad, Calif.

What’s Next

The quarterfinal matches will begin at 7:15 a.m. EDT on Friday with the first of two semifinal matches set to start at 1 p.m. Live coverage will be on Peacock from 3-5 p.m. EDT. The 36-hole final on Saturday will begin at 6:30 a.m. EDT, with live coverage on Golf Channel beginning at 1 p.m.

Notable

• In her Round of 32 match against Miranda, Alice Hodge made the 22nd hole-in-one in U.S. Girls’ Junior history. Hodge used a 6-iron on the 183-yard eighth hole to make the first ace of her life.
  
  
• Zhang is the only quarterfinalist who has not trailed during match play.
  
  
• Wilson is the second player age 14 or younger to advance to the Girls’ Junior quarterfinals in the last five years. Alexa Pano was 13 years old in 2018, when she finished runner-up.
  
  
• Of the quarterfinalists, Shoemaker has played the fewest holes (44), while Miranda and Tsuru (54) have played the most. Shoemaker has not played Nos. 16, 17 or 18 in three rounds of match play.
  
  
• Brian Harman, the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur champion at Columbia C.C., shot a 5-under 65 and is tied for second in the British Open.
  
  
• Each quarterfinalist is exempt into the 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky., provided she does not turn 19 before the final day of the championship on July 23.

Quotable

“There were a bunch of people by the green who saw it, so hypothetically if I had to buy drinks for everyone, it would have been an expensive hole-in-one.” – Hodge, on her ace in the Round of 32

“It feels amazing because three days ago I didn't think I would be playing. I almost had to withdraw because I was sick. I'm trying to wrap my head around it, but I'm also trying to stay calm because I still want to go win tomorrow.” – Schroeder, on playing through an illness

“He offered, and I said absolutely not. I don't even think that's allowed [laughs]. It was definitely just a joke.” – Davis, on caddie Joe Pakauk’s pledge to pay her $500 if she holed her approach on the 19th hole in the Round of 64

“This is beyond what I expected. The more I've played, the more I've figured stuff out. I was really struggling with hitting the ball, but as the week has progressed, I've really got into my rhythm.” – Li, on improving each round  

“This is my first U.S. Girls' Junior, so I'm really excited to have made it this far.” – Tsuru, on advancing to the quarterfinals

Mike Trostel is the executive producer of content at the USGA. Email him at mtrostel@usga.org. 

The Social Scene