Olympia Fields, Ill. – Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn finished at 4-under 140 to take medalist honors following the second round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2011 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, being conducted at the 6,403-yard, par-72 South Course at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club.
It marked the second consecutive year that Jutanugarn has claimed a stroke-play medal at a USGA championship, following the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links.
The temperatures continued to rise at Olympia Fields, with Monday’s mid-90s readings giving way to the upper 90s on Tuesday. But as with Monday, the oppressive heat did not faze Jutanugarn in the slightest.
Jutanugarn, a 15-year-old native of Bangkok, followed Monday’s 4-under 68 with a steady round of even par on Tuesday to maintain her position atop the leaderboard at 4-under 140. No other player was even able to break par, with her closest competitor coming in four strokes back at even par.
However, despite her large lead, not everything was up to Jutanugarn’s usual high standards. While she made the turn at one under par and birdied the par-5 10th, consecutive bogeys on the par-4 11th and par-3 12th dropped her back to even for the day.
On the front nine, I played good, said Jutanugarn, who competed at the recent U.S. Women’s Open, where she failed to make the cut. But the back nine was so bad. I missed three short putts from like 3 feet.
The Jutanugarn family spends five months a year traversing the United States, with Ariya and her sister, Moriya, competing in tournaments. They’ll compete in 12 this summer, and both girls have already claimed victories on the American Junior Golf Association’s summer schedule.
They are a close-knit family, with Moriya, who withdrew from the Girls’ Junior with a wrist injury that she aggravated while competing at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open, on her bag and her parents, Somboon and Narumon, watching from outside the ropes.
We stay here for five months. If we don’t have [our parents], it would be really boring! said Jutanugarn with a laugh.
Jutanugarn hopes to better her performance from the 2010 Girls’ Junior, where she lost in the second round of match play in a marathon 25-hole match with Argentina’s Victoria Tanco. But the power game that is stroke play appeals much more to Jutanugarn’s competitive side than the sometimes-cruel luck of match play.
You don’t know when you’re going to lose, said Jutanugarn, who admitted to struggling in her past USGA match-play events. Sometimes, you play good, but you have bad luck and you can lose to a player who’s not so good. Or they’re so good, but you can win if you’re lucky.
Casie Cathrea, 15, of Livermore, Calif., followed Jutanugarn at even-par 144, carding a 2-under 70 in her morning round. After making the turn at one over on the round, she rattled off back-to-back birdies from within 5 feet on 10 and 11, and tacked on another at the closing par-5 18th to finish with a flourish.
I just started putting really well, getting it close to the hole and making some putts, said Cathrea, who advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at age 13.
Fellow 15-year-old Eimi Koga of Honolulu, Hawaii, recorded the first eagle of the championship at the par-4 11th, sending her 8-iron shot from 130 yards down a hill at the back of the green and into the hole for an eagle-2.
I was really happy, but it was only the second hole, said Koga, whose 3-under 69 was the low round of the day. I kind of wanted it to happen later. But it was a good start.
I was putting really good. All my putts were going in and I was really happy. That’s what saved me today.
Koga’s 1-over 145 total gave her sole possession of third place, followed by three players at 2-over 146: 2011 U.S. Women’s Open competitors Mariah Stackhouse, 17, of Riverdale, Ga., and Emma Talley, 17, of Princeton, Ky., as well as Nicole Morales, 15, of South Salem, N.Y. Stackhouse was a member of the Georgia team that won the 2009 USGA Women’s State Team Championship.
The two past U.S. Girls’ Junior runners-up in the field rebounded from poor Mondays to pull clear of the cut line. 2008 runner-up Karen Chung, 16, of Livingston, N.J., converted three birdies en route to a 77-71—148 and a tie for 14th. 2010 runner-up Katelyn Dambaugh, 16, of Goose Creek, S.C., still struggled, but managed a 78-74—152 to tie for 42nd.
Among the players to miss the cut was Tiffany Lim of San Jose, Calif., who advanced to the second round of match play at the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and returned a 72-hole score at the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open. Arizona’s Julie Yang, who advanced to the round of 16 at the 2011 Women’s Amateur Public Links, was eliminated in the six-player playoff for the final three berths in the match-play bracket.
The 2011 U.S. Girls’ Junior will continue 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
Olympia Fields, Ill. – Results from the second round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2011 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, being conducted at the 6,403-yard, par-72 South Course at Olympia Fields Country Club (* - Involved in 6-for-3 playoff for final match-play spots):
Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand - 68-72—140
Casie Cathrea, Livermore, Calif. - 74-70—144
Eimi Koga, Honolulu, Hawaii - 76-69—145
Nicole Morales, South Salem, N.Y. - 75-71—146
Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale, Ga. - 73-73—146
Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky. - 75-71—146
Yu Liu, People's Republic of China - 73-74—147
Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. - 73-74—147
Lindsey Weaver, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 73-74—147
Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. - 74-73—147
Mariko Tumangan, San Jose, Calif. - 72-75—147
Sophia Schubert, Oak Ridge, Tenn. - 73-74—147
Lydia Choi, Beverly Hills, Calif. - 76-71—147
Summar Roachell, Conway, Ark. - 77-71—148
Paige Lee, Folsom, Calif. - 74-74—148
Mariel Galdiano, Pearl City, Hawaii - 73-75—148
Jisoo Keel, Canada - 72-76—148
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. - 77-71—148
Manuela Carbajo Re, Argentina - 76-72—148
Amy Lee, Brea, Calif. - 76-73—149
Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis. - 74-75—149
Kaitlin Park, Tustin, Calif. - 72-77—149
Lauren Kim, Los Altos, Calif. - 77-72—149
Irene Jung, Canada - 69-80—149
Marguerite Swearingen, Livermore, Calif. - 75-74—149
Kacie Komoto, Honolulu, Hawaii - 74-75—149
Katelyn Reynolds, Los Angeles, Calif. - 72-77—149
Caroline Inglis, Eugene, Ore. - 73-77—150
Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii - 77-73—150
Stephanie Liu, St. Albans, Mo. - 73-77—150
Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, Ga. - 77-73—150
Sarah Schmelzel, Phoenix, Ariz. - 77-73—150
Suchaya Tangkamolprasert, Thailand - 76-75—151
Irina Paulin Gabasa, Philippines - 78-73—151
Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa. - 75-76—151
Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. - 74-77—151
Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. - 75-76—151
Dottie Ardina, Philippines - 75-76—151
Kristine Odaiyar, Ocala, Fla. - 78-73—151
Maria Fernanda Torres, Puerto Rico - 74-77—151
Caroline Araskog, Locust Valley, N.Y. - 76-75—151
Anne Cheng, Torrance, Calif. - 76-76—152
Hee Wook Choi, Korea - 74-78—152
Lilia Khatu Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. - 74-78—152
Mikayla Harmon, Gilbert, Ariz. - 77-75—152
Thanya Pattamakijsakul, Thailand - 74-78—152
Marijosse Navarro, Mexico - 74-78—152
Kayli Quinton, Houston, Texas - 73-79—152
Katelyn Dambaugh, Goose Creek, S.C. - 78-74—152
Sarah Harris, Hermitage, Tenn. - 79-74—153
Brooke Henderson, Canada - 75-78—153
Isabel Southard, Sharon, Mass. - 78-75—153
Talia Campbell, Dallas, Texas - 78-75—153
Yueer Cindy Feng, Orlando, Fla. - 80-73—153
Katherine Gravel-Coursol, Canada - 73-80—153
Janie Jackson, Huntsville, Ala. - 77-76—153
Lou Daniela Uy, Philippines - 77-76—153
Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif. - 78-75—153
Andrea Unson, Philippines - 81-72—153
Rachel Dai, Suwanee, Ga. - 78-75—153
Bryana Nguyen, Columbia, Md. - 78-75—153
*Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas - 79-75—154
*Marissa Chow, Honolulu, Hawaii - 74-80—154
*Megan Blonien, Altus, Okla. - 78-76—154
Failed to Qualify
Julie Yang, Mesa, Ariz. - 79-75—154
Hanna Lee, Cincinnati, Ohio - 73-81—154
Hana Ku, Basking Ridge, N.J. - 81-73—154
Carly Childs, Alameda, Calif. - 77-78—155
Jackie Rogowicz, Yardley, Pa. - 79-76—155
Shawnee Martinez, Modesto, Calif. - 79-76—155
Collins Bradshaw, Columbia, S.C. - 78-77—155
Mariana Sims, Austin, Texas - 74-81—155
Jennifer Dilger, Palmdale, Calif. - 80-75—155
Marissa Decola, Butler, Pa. - 74-81—155
Cassandra Deeg, Hugo, Minn. - 76-79—155
Courtney Dow, Frisco, Texas - 79-76—15
Bethany Wu, Diamond Bar, Calif. - 78-77—155
Allie Johnston, Castle Rock, Colo. - 76-79—155
Ju Hee Bae, Chantilly, Va. - 81-74—155
Anna Young, Canada - 79-76—155
Sirene Blair, South Jordan, Utah - 78-77—155
Chi Wang, Chinese Taipei - 77-79—156
Cindy Ha, Demarest, N.J. - 77-79—156
Wanasa Zhou, People's Republic of China - 80-76—156
Deanna Song, Granger, Ind. - 77-79—156
Sydney Kersten, Spokane, Wash. - 81-75—156
Maggie Neece, Colleyville, Texas - 80-76—156
Kelsey Ulep, Rocklin, Calif. - 77-79—156
Tiffany Lim, San Jose, Calif. - 79-77—156
Chelsey Couch, Ware Shoals, S.C. - 79-77—156
Emily Haas, Nicholasville, Ky. - 77-79—156
Jordan Lippetz, Piedmont, Calif. - 77-79—156
Christina Ocampo, Delray Beach, Fla. - 81-76—157
Alexandria Harrell, Phenix City, Ala. - 78-79—157
Alexandra Kaui, Las Vegas, Nev. - 75-82—157
Madison Lellyo, Windermere, Fla. - 78-79—157
Ayaka Nakayama, Hilton Head Island, S.C. - 80-77—157
Danielle Lemek, Doniphan, Neb. - 80-77—157
Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Texas - 76-81—157
Mika Liu, Beverly Hills, Calif. - 79-78—157
Celia Kuenster, Mendota Heights, Minn. - 78-80—158
Jenna Roadley, Canada - 81-77—158
Gabi Oubre', Mobile, Ala. - 80-78—158
Lauren Stephenson, Lexington, S.C. - 77-81—158
Yu-Hsin Chang, Chinese Taipei - 80-78—158
Katy Harris, St. Simons Island, Ga. - 80-78—158
Jocelyn Chia, La Crescenta, Calif. - 79-79—158
Alana Uriell, Carlsbad, Calif. - 81-77—158
Katie Barrand, Beverly, Mass. - 80-78—158
Tezira Abe, Angleton, Texas - 79-79—158
Megan Furnish, Cedar Rapids, Iowa - 79-80—159
Lyberty Anderson, Chesterfield, Va. - 80-79—159
Madison Opfer, Plant City, Fla. - 78-81—159
Emily Kurey, Alpharetta, Ga. - 80-79—159
Megan Haase, Spokane, Wash. - 78-81—159
Hsin-En Tsai, Chinese Taipei - 78-81—159
Harley Dubsky, Valparaiso, Ind. - 78-81—159
Abbey Carlson, Lake Mary, Fla. - 78-81—159
Lauren Salazar, Santa Clara, Calif. - 83-76—159
Christina Foster, Canada - 78-81—159
Yvonne Zheng, People's Republic of China - 79-80—159
Dominique Galloway, Rio Rancho, N.M. - 79-81—160
Alice Chen, Princeton, N.J. - 84-76—160
Briana Midkiff, Carmel, Ind. - 76-85—161
Laura Hendee, Tampa, Fla. - 81-80—161
Alexandra Rossi, Austin, Texas - 82-79—161
Becky Sharpe, Williamsburg, Ky. - 80-81—161
Julia Calbi, South Barrington, Ill. - 84-79—163
Jacqueline Chulya, Thailand - 78-85—163
Lea Garner, Washington Terrace, Utah - 83-80—163
Anica Yoo, Canada - 80-83—163
Avery George, Cleveland, Tenn. - 85-78—163
Monica Vaughn, Reedsport, Ore. - 80-83—163
Isabelle Kane, Winnetka, Ill. - 81-82—163
Ally Shin, Canada - 85-79—164
Sydney Legacy, Lexington, S.C. - 78-86—164
Abby Newton, Katy, Texas - 81-83—164
Alexandra Harkins, Crystal Lake, Ill. - 81-83—164
Kelsey Badmaev, Blythewood, S.C. - 81-84—165
Jessica Rouillard, Auburn, Ala. - 84-81—165
Nathalie Filler, Bloomfield, Conn. - 84-81—165
Molly Ward, Fishers, Ind. - 80-86—166
Annie Swords, Newnan, Ga. - 86-80—166
Alexandra Farnsworth, Nashville, Tenn. - 86-81—167
Sarah Kolodzik, Bellbrook, Ohio - 85-82—167
Mary Chandler Bryan, Chapin, S.C. - 81-87—168
Ashlee Pickerell, Salem, Ore. - 84-84—168
Abigail Luchtenburg, Geneva, Ill. - 81-88—169
Vinh-Hop Ngo, Newton, Mass. - 85-84—169
Anne Willman, Prairie Village, Kan. - 85-85—170
Angela Codian, Massillon, Ohio - 84-86—170
Landrie Grace, Canton, Ohio - 86-84—170
Alexis Sadeghy, Edmond, Okla. - 86-85—171
Jacqueline LeMarr, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 86-85—171
Gabby Bautista, Phoenix, Ariz. - 86-89—175
Olympia Fields, Ill. – Pairings for Wednesday’s first round of match play at the 2011 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, being conducted at the 6,403-yard, par-72 South Course at Olympia Fields Country Club:
Upper Bracket
8 am: Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand (140) vs. Marissa Chow, Honolulu, Hawaii (154)
8:09 a.m.: Sarah Schmelzel, Phoenix, Ariz. (150) vs. Suchaya Tangkamolprasert, Thailand (151)
8:18 a.m.: Mariel Galdiano, Pearl City, Hawaii (148) vs. Katelyn Dambaugh, Goose Creek, S.C. (152)
8:27 a.m.: Jisoo Keel, Canada (148) vs. Kayli Quinton, Houston, Texas (152)
8:36 a.m.: Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (147) vs. Lou Daniela Uy, Philippines (153)
8:45 a.m.: Marguerite Swearingen, Livermore, Calif. (149) vs. Maria Fernanda Torres, Puerto Rico (151)
8:54 a.m.: Lindsey Weaver, Scottsdale, Ariz. (147) vs. Janie Jackson, Huntsville, Ala. (153)
9:03 a.m.: Irene Jung, Canada (149) vs. Caroline Araskog, Locust Valley, N.Y. (151)
9:12 a.m.: Nicole Morales, South Salem, N.Y. (146) vs. Bryana Nguyen, Columbia, Md. (153)
9:21 a.m.: Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii (150) vs. Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. (151)
9:30 a.m.: Lydia Choi, Beverly Hills, Calif. (147) vs. Isabel Southard, Sharon, Mass. (153)
9:39 a.m.: Amy Lee, Brea, Calif. (149) vs. Mikayla Harmon, Gilbert, Ariz. (152)
9:48 a.m.: Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale, Ga. (146) vs. Rachel Dai, Suwanee, Ga. (153)
9:57 a.m.: Caroline Inglis, Eugene, Ore. (150) vs. Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. (151)
10:06 a.m.: Sophia Schubert, Oak Ridge, Tenn. (147) vs. Talia Campbell, Dallas, Texas (153)
10:15 a.m.: Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis. (149) vs. Lilia Khatu Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. (152)
Lower Bracket
10:24 a.m.: Casie Cathrea, Livermore, Calif. (144) vs. Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas (154)
10:33 a.m.: Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, Ga. (150) vs. Irina Paulin Gabasa, Philippines (151)
10:42 a.m.: Paige Lee, Folsom, Calif. (148) vs. Sarah Harris, Hermitage, Tenn. (153)
10:51 a.m.: Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. (148) vs. Marijosse Navarro, Mexico (152)
11 a.m.: Yu Liu, People's Republic of China (147) vs. Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif. (153)
11:09 a.m.: Kacie Komoto, Honolulu, Hawaii (149) vs. Kristine Odaiyar, Ocala, Fla. (151)
11:18 a.m.: Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. (147) vs. Katherine Gravel-Coursol, Canada (153)
11:27 a.m.: Lauren Kim, Los Altos, Calif. (149) vs. Anne Cheng, Torrance, Calif. (152)
11:36 a.m.: Eimi Koga, Honolulu, Hawaii (145) vs. Megan Blonien, Altus, Okla. (154)
11:45 a.m.: Stephanie Liu, St. Albans, Mo. (150) vs. Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa. (151)
11:54 a.m.: Summar Roachell, Conway, Ark. (148) vs. Brooke Henderson, Canada (153)
12:03 p.m.: Manuela Carbajo Re, Argentina (148) vs. Thanya Pattamakijsakul, Thailand (152)
12:12 p.m.: Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky. (146) vs. Andrea Unson, Philippines (153)
12:21 p.m.: Katelyn Reynolds, Los Angeles, Calif. (149) vs. Dottie Ardina, Philippines (151)
12:30 p.m.: Mariko Tumangan, San Jose, Calif. (147) vs. Yueer Cindy Feng, Orlando, Fla. (153)
12:39 p.m.: Kaitlin Park, Tustin, Calif. (149) vs. Hee Wook Choi, Korea (152)