DUPONT, Wash. – Cindy Ha, 17, of Demarest, N.J., shot a 5-under 67 and holds the lead following Monday’s first round of stroke play at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being conducted at The Home Course.
Ha, a member of New Jersey’s winning team at the 2013 USGA Women’s State Team Championship, converted seven birdies against only two bogeys at the 6,169-yard, par-72 layout.
Reigning Girls’ Junior champion Gabriella Then, 18, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., made six birdies in her first nine holes, including five straight to make the turn with a 6-under 30. However, she faded down the stretch with two bogeys and sits one stroke behind Ha at 4-under 68.
Playing in her third Women’s Amateur Public Links, Ha played what she called unreal golf. The freshman-to-be at Vanderbilt University earned her lowest score in a USGA championship.
Everything was really solid, said Ha, who reached the quarterfinals of the 2013 WAPL. Tee shots are really important here and I was hitting the fairways with pretty long drives, so I had wedges in. From there, (I was) just hitting them close and making the putts.
Ha played in the morning’s third group, and saw weather conditions that ranged from overcast and cool to sunny and warm. Her adaptability to the changing conditions was vital to her success.
I was shivering while I was warming up, said Ha. It was very dry weather and I really love it. You’re not out there sweating.
Then’s birdie streak had an improbable start. The rising sophomore at the University of Southern California watched her tee shot at the par-3 14th (her fifth hole) land 15 feet short and roll off the back of the green.
I thought, ‘Oh, I hit a good tee shot, but oh well, I have to chip,’ said Then. Her deft 60-foot chip found the bottom of the hole, and sent her on what she called her birdie train.
I thought it gave me a little confidence and got me going for the next couple of holes, said Then, who is playing in her first competitive round since failing to advance in a 36-hole U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifier on May 14.
Then’s freshman season at USC, in which she played in nine tournaments and posted a 74.08 stroke average, illustrates the depth of the Trojans’ roster. Then did not make the five-player squad that competed for the national title. Going through swing and club changes at that time, Then has used her extended break to regain control of her game.
I’ve had to adjust fairly quickly, said Then, who followed her six birdies with two bogeys over her final nine holes. I’ve had this time in the summer to get back together.
Annie Park, a member of the victorious 2014 USA Curtis Cup Team and the co-medalist at the 2013 Women’s Amateur Public Links, carded a 3-under 69. She came to The Home Course off a month of travel that included the Curtis Cup Match in St. Louis and the World University Golf Championship in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, as well as stops in Florida and California. However, all the miles and time zones did not adversely affect the 19-year-old from Levittown, N.Y.
I had trouble hitting it on the fairways with my tee shots, but I’ve got all day to work on that, said Park, who reached the quarterfinals of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur. I had some birdie putts that I made and some that I missed, but the greens are in unbelievable condition.
Joining Park at 69 is Aram Choi, 22, of Canada, who is a rising senior at Portland State University.
Lucy Li, the 11-year-old who captivated fans at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open as the championship’s youngest-ever qualifier, carded two birdies and four bogeys en route to a 2-over 74. Li, of Redwood Shores, Calif., again displayed the positive attitude that has typified her USGA experiences.
I was happy, said Li of her first round. I’m glad I came back on the back nine. On this golf course, you can go low.
Seven players sit at 2-under 70, including Eun Jeong Seong, who at one point was tied for the lead at 5 under, but closed with three consecutive bogeys.
Reigning Women’s Amateur Public Links champion Lauren Diaz-Yi began her title defense with an even-par 72. Kyung Kim, the 2012 winner, and 2013 runner-up Doris Chen both carded 2-over 74s.
Terese Romeo and Alice Chen both carded holes-in-one during Monday’s first round. Romeo, 17, of Tampa, Fla., used a 4-hybrid from 170 yards on the sixth hole. Chen, 18, of Princeton, N.J., aced the 130-yard 14th hole with a 7-iron.
The 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke play followed by six rounds of match play. The championship is scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final at 8 a.m. PDT on Saturday.
The U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Christina Lance is the assistant manager of championship communications for the USGA. Email her at clance@usga.org.
Results
DUPONT, Wash. – Results from the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being conducted at The Home Course (6,169 yards, par 72):
Cindy Ha, Demarest, N.J. 34-33--67
Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 38-30--68
Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. 34-35--69
Aram Choi, Canada 35-34--69
Blair Lewis, La Mesa, Calif. 34-36--70
Soobin Kim, Seattle, Wash. 34-36--70
Dominique Galloway, Rio Rancho, N.M. 34-36--70
Katharine Patrick, West University Place, Texas 35-35--70
Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Texas 34-36--70
Cassy Isagawa, Wailuku, Hawaii 36-34--70
Eun Jeong Seong, Republic of Korea 36-34--70
Jacquelyn Eleey, Quincy, Mass. 36-35--71
T. J. Kliebphipat, Panorama City, Calif. 36-35--71
Alice Kim, Honolulu, Hawaii 36-35--71
Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas 35-36--71
Kaci Masuda, Honolulu, Hawaii 35-36--71
Eimi Koga, Honolulu, Hawaii 36-35--71
Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. 35-37--72
Ines Lescudier, France 36-36--72
Carly Ray Goldstein, Coral Springs, Fla. 38-34--72
Mariel Galdiano, Pearl City, Hawaii 36-36--72
Luciane Lee, Brazil 36-36--72
Alice Chen, Princeton, N.J. 37-35--72
Alana Uriell, Carlsbad, Calif. 37-35--72
Jennifer Yang, Republic of Korea 36-36--72
Caroline Inglis, Eugene, Ore. 36-36--72
Isabella Lambert, Big Bend, Wis. 37-35--72
Cyd Okino, Honoulu, Hawaii 35-37--72
Christina Yang, Suwanee, Ga. 34-38--72
Grace Na, Alameda, Calif. 36-37--73
Sirene Blair, South Jordan, Utah 37-36--73
Samantha Gotcher, Clarksville, Tenn. 35-38--73
Hannah Sodersten, Fresno, Calif. 36-37--73
Krystal Quihuis, Tucson, Ariz. 36-37--73
Leilanie Kim, Canada 35-38--73
Elyse Smidinger, Crofton, Md. 37-36--73
Stani Schiavone, Bangor, Pa. 36-37--73
Michelle Kim, Canada 38-35--73
Abby Newton, Katy, Texas 34-39--73
McKenzie Neisen, New Prague, Minn. 35-38--73
Hannah Wood, Centennial, Colo. 37-36--73
Harley Dubsky, Valparaiso, Ind. 37-36--73
Kaew Preamchuen, Thailand 36-37--73
Lucy Li, Redwood Shores, Calif. 39-35--74
Dana Finkelstein, Chandler, Ariz. 38-36--74
Raychelle Santos, La Quinta, Calif. 38-36--74
Lily Pendy, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. 36-38--74
Sarah Cho, San Diego, Calif. 36-38--74
Sarah Bae, Pinehurst, N.C. 37-37--74
Terese Romeo, Tampa, Fla. 37-37--74
Lindsey McCurdy, Kyle, Texas 35-39--74
Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif. 37-37--74
Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz. 38-36--74
Alexis Keating, Elma, Wash. 37-37--74
Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. 36-38--74
Ji Eun Baik, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 36-38--74
Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla. 39-35--74
Alex Milan, Lutz, Fla. 38-36--74
Shawn Rennegarbe, Addieville, Ill. 38-36--74
Brenna Lervick, Chanhassen, Minn. 36-38--74
Monica Vaughn, Reedsport, Ore. 40-35--75
Alice Jeong, Gardena, Calif. 37-38--75
Catherine Dolan, Ballwin, Mo. 39-36--75
Lauren Grogan, Columbus, Ohio 36-39--75
Mikayla Tatman, Fort Collins, Colo. 39-36--75
Alisaundre Morallos, Long Beach, Calif. 37-38--75
Robynn Ree, Redondo Beach, Calif. 39-36--75
Nicole Budnik, The Woodlands, Texas 37-38--75
Ashleigh Park, Mission Viejo, Calif. 40-35--75
Carly Simpson, Corona, Calif. 39-36--75
Wanasa Zhou, Beaumont, Calif. 39-36--75
Bryce Schroeder, Wichita, Kan. 36-39--75
Sydney Youngblood, Durant, Okla. 38-37--75
Shelby Thompson, Dover, Ohio 37-39--76
Marianne Li, Bellevue, Wash. 40-36--76
Taylor Stockton, Houston, Texas 36-40--76
Carly Ragains, Highland Village, Texas 38-38--76
Robyn Doig, Canada 38-38--76
Minami Levonowich, Katy, Texas 38-38--76
Katie Lee, Silverdale, Wash. 39-37--76
Victoria Fallgren, Lakewood, Calif. 37-39--76
Taryn Yee, Sacramento, Calif. 39-37--76
Alisha Matthews, St. Louis, Mo. 39-37--76
Lucy Nunn, Lawton, Okla. 39-37--76
Marika Liu, Beverly Hills, Calif. 40-36--76
Kaitlen Parsons, Greenacres, Wash. 40-36--76
Rose Huang, Honolulu, Hawaii 38-38--76
Nani Yanagi, Hilo, Hawaii 36-40--76
Waverly Whiston, San Diego, Calif. 39-37--76
Saki Iida, Gilbert, Ariz. 38-38--76
Jacqueline Shelly, Fernandina Beach, Fla. 39-37--76
Camille Orito, Fresno, Calif. 39-37--76
Amy West, Valrico, Fla. 38-38--76
Katie Sharp, Kendallville, Ind. 37-39--76
Jordyn Deardorff, Glendale, Ariz. 39-38--77
Fumie (Alice) Jo, People's Republic of China 37-40--77
Katelyn Wright, Incline Village, Nev. 38-39--77
Marissa Dodd, Allen, Texas 37-40--77
Hallie Getz, Pierre, S.D. 38-39--77
Clare Sorensen, Roseville, Calif. 41-36--77
Haley Dunn, Layton, Utah 38-39--77
Emily Mahar, Australia 41-36--77
Jacqueline Bendrick, Mercer Island, Wash. 40-37--77
Elsa Moberly, Science Hill, Ky. 37-40--77
Meghan Shain, Bakersfield, Calif. 40-37--77
Patricia Wong, Walnut, Calif. 39-38--77
Lydia Gumm, Radcliff, Ky. 35-42--77
Elle Nichols, Okemos, Mich. 38-39--77
Elyse Archambault, Canada 38-40--78
Angie Varona, Argentina 39-39--78
Megan Kim, Redondo Beach, Calif. 41-37--78
Torey Johnson, Conway, S.C. 39-39--78
Grace Kil, Arlington Hts., Ill. 38-40--78
Ju Hee Bae, Chantilly, Va. 39-39--78
Noelle Maertz, Clark, N.J. 41-37--78
Lauren Kim, Austin, Texas 38-40--78
Ashley Malinchak, Parkland, Fla. 38-40--78
Taylor Ledwein, New Prague, Minn. 38-40--78
Jordan Keyser, Ahwahnee, Calif. 41-37--78
Aneka Seumanutafa, Kapolei, Hawaii 39-39--78
Yeji Shin, Norwood, N.J. 38-40--78
Taylor Dorans, Erie, Colo. 37-41--78
Monet Flores, Litchfield Park, Ariz. 39-39--78
Jennifer Yu, Huntington Beach, Calif. 38-41--79
Maria Melania Bajo Geijo, Argentina 42-37--79
Tara Green, Harrisville, Utah 38-41--79
Madison Opfer, Plant City, Fla. 39-40--79
Tina Chang, Mineola, N.Y. 41-38--79
Blaise Carabello, Charleston, S.C. 41-38--79
Emily Brooks, Chapel Hill, N.C. 40-39--79
Angella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 40-39--79
Caryn Khoo, New Zealand 37-42--79
Alyssa Shimel, Perrysburg, Ohio 40-39--79
Jessie Sindlinger, Charles City, Iowa 41-38--79
Kailie Vongsaga, Walnut, Calif. 42-38--80
Anina Ku, Basking Ridge, N.J. 39-41--80
Kassidy Teare, Vista, Calif. 41-39--80
Alyssa Morahan, North Reading, Mass. 41-40--81
Pim Thirati, Chicago, Ill. 41-40--81
Laura Kraft, Jamestown, N.D. 44-37--81
Ashley Dingman, Lorton, Va. 42-39--81
Megan Furnish, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 43-38--81
Hunter Pate, Las Vegas, Nev. 44-37--81
Haliee Pieper, Watertown, S.D. 41-41--82
Jackie Galloway, Rio Rancho, N.M. 39-43--82
Kayla Sciupider, Etowah, N.C. 45-37--82
Elizabeth Doykan, Houston, Texas 41-42--83
Sierra Campbell, Rio Rancho, N.M. 44-39--83
Kristen Cline, Socorro, N.M. 39-44--83
Julianne Lee, York, Pa. 44-41--85
Kendall Gray, Federal Way, Wash. 45-40--85
Natalie Mu, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. 45-41--86
Brooke Kochevar, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 46-40--86
Shaebug Scarberry, Purcell, Okla. 44-42--86
Hui Chong Dofflemyer, Belvidere, Ill. 47-42--89
Mariah Peters, Blue Springs, Mo. 48-44--92