Victoria’s Amelia Harris sets record at US Junior Girls Championship
Amelia Harris with her record-setting card on day one – image Logan Whitton USGA
Victorian 18-year-old Amelia Harris stunned the golfing world on day one of the US Junior Girls’ Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina, producing a closing nine of 28 and a round of 63 to take the opening round lead in the 36-hole Strokeplay phase.
Harris’ feat is also the lowest known nine-hole score in a women’s USGA championship, surpassing the 29 Christina Kim shot in 2001 at the U.S. Girls’ Junior at Indian Hills Country Club, in Mission Hills, Kan., en route to the first-ever 62 shot in the championship, and Chella Choi’s 29 posted in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club.
Although Harris would struggle in round two with a round of 75, she has finished in a share of 5th place at 6 under and comfortably into the knockout rounds, where the leading 64 face off in 18-hole match-ups.
Harris, who will attend the University of South Carolina when the new collegiate year begins, reached the turn in 1 under 35 in her opening round on Monday, but an amazing run of eight birdies over her closing nine holes saw her finish three clear of her nearest rival in the 156-player field, setting up a great week to finish her junior golfing career.
The Yarra Yarra Golf Club member, who is the current Australian Junior Girls Champion amongst other titles she has won in her impressive career to date, began her second round with yet another birdie but the momentum began to change when she dropped four shots on her way to the turn. She steadied the ship with a closing nine of even par 36 however, for her round of 75.
The only other Australian in the field was NSW golfer, Lara Thomsen, who finished in a group in a share of 11th place, and she too takes to the knockout phase tomorrow.
