Medalist Megan Khang advances in US Girls’ Junior
Jul 22, 2015, 4:36 PM
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Stroke-play medalist Megan Khang beat Shannon Brooks 1 up Wednesday in the first round of match play in the U.S. Girls’ Junior.
The 17-year-old Khang, from Rockland, Massachusetts, is making her record-tying seventh appearance in the tournament. She took the lead with a birdie on the par-5 16th and matched Brooks, from Vienna, Virginia, with pars on the final two holes at Tulsa Country Club.
“I think this is actually my worst round,” said Khang, the low amateur in the U.S. Women’s Open. “It was definitely a good match, though. Shannon putted amazing today, and it was a great battle to have because she put me in a lot of pressure moments.”
Khang will face Canada’s Naomi Ko in the second round. Ko edged Allisen Corpuz of Honolulu 2 and 1.
Hannah O’Sullivan, the Chandler, Arizona, player who won a Symetra Tour event in February, was eliminated. She lost to Mexico’s Maria Balcazar in 19 holes when Balcazar holed out from 151 yards for an eagle on the par-4 first hole.
“We saw it was a pretty good shot, and there were two people near the green who said, ‘Wow!’ but we didn’t know it was in until I got to the green,” Balcazar said.
Balcazar will play long-hitting Angel Yin of Arcadia, California. Yin beat Pauline Del Rosario of the Philippines 4 and 2.
Twelve-year-old Lucy Li of Redwood City, California, the youngest player in the field, had a 6-and-5 victory over Pajaree Anannaruam of Thailand. Li will face 13-year-old Karah Sanford of Escondido, California, a 3-and-2 winner over Kelly Su of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant and China’s Muni He advanced, while fellow 16-year-old Sophie Liu of Canada dropped out. The trio tied for second in stroke-play qualifying, four strokes behind Khang.
Boonchant beat Beth Lillie of Fullerton, California, 3 and 2; He topped Simar Singh of Los Altos, California, 5 and 4; and Kathleen Scavo of Benicia, California, beat Liu 2 and 1.
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