Morgan Sahm, a Grandview High School freshman-to-be, opened the 36th annual U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship with a 94 on Monday.
The 14-year-old Sahm — who won in a playoff to be the last qualifier out of the Colorado tournament on June 4 at Spring Valley Golf Club in Elizabeth — was 7-over-par through nine holes on the 6,176-yard, par-72 Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Station, N.J., but an 11 on the par-5 hole No. 4 ended up contributing heavily to her plus-22 for the day.
Sahm’s round included four pars, 10 bogeys, 3 doubles and the 11 on the 508-yard No. 4 and she sits near the bottom of the leaderboard in the field of 156 women from across the country, which includes players as young as 12 and as old as 63.
Her playing partner, 15-year-old Cindy Ha, had a considerably different opening round, as the Demarest, N.J., native enjoyed playing in her home state. Ha — playing with Sahm and Lauren Carter of West End, N.C., who shot a 79 — carded eight birdies on her way to a 4-under 68, which tied her for the best score with Lakareber Abe of Angleton, Texas.
A second round of stroke play is scheduled for Tuesday — Sahm, Ha and Carter tee off at 2:30 p.m. ET — and the top 64 players at the end of the two rounds advances to the match play portion of the tournament, which begins Wednesday. The 1-on-1 format continues until a winner is crowned with a 36-hole championship match on June 24.
Overland High School graduate and current Pepperdine University golfer Somin Lee lost in match play at last season’s tournament in the round of 32. Overland’s SeungHa Choi also played last season, but didn’t make it through stroke play.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
