WEST HARTFORD, Conn. ' Lisa McCloskey shot 8-under 63 to earn stroke-play medalist honors Tuesday at the U.S. Girls Junior Championship at Hartford Golf Club.
The 16-year-old McCloskey, who opened with an even-par 71, started her second round with a birdie on the par-5, 481-yard 10th hole and recorded birdies on all five par 5, including her 18th hole, the 500-yard ninth, where she nearly pitched in from 25 yards short of the green.
It feels good, especially at the U.S. Girls Junior, said McCloskey of her career-low 63. Id rather shoot it here rather than anywhere else.
The 63 was one stroke off the championships 18-hole record, set by Christina Kim in 2001 and Kimberly Kim in 2007.
To be honest, it might sound weird but I thought I was shooting like 65, said McCloskey, playing in her fourth Girls Junior. I couldnt really keep track of what the heck was going on.
Stephanie Kim, 16, shot a 68-70'138 to finish four strokes behind McCloskey, something that didnt seem to bother her too much.
I really hope Im not medalist, said Kim while she waited. I know it sounds weird, but medalists dont usually win. But I dont mind second!
For a while, 17-year-old Madison Pressel was in the hunt for medalist honors after making birdie on four of her first five holes. But Pressel, the younger sister of 2005 U.S. Womens Amateur champion Morgan Pressel, cooled off and finished at even-par 71 for a 140 total.
Among those advancing to match play were three USGA champions: 2006 U.S. Womens Amateur winner Kimberly Kim, defending Girls Junior champion Kristen Park and 2006 champion Jenny Shin.
Last year I was having trouble for some reason, said Shin, who missed the cut at the 2008 U.S. Womens Open by one stroke. It feels really nice to have my game back and make the cut and get into match play and compete with the other girls.
First-round leader Kyle Roig, who held a one-stroke lead after a 4-under 67, had a tougher time Tuesday morning, carding four bogeys and three double bogeys en route to an 8-over 79. But Roig still easily advanced to Wednesdays first round of match play.
All you want is to make match play and after that nobody really cares what you shoot, said Roig, a Puerto Rico native who is playing in her third Girls Junior. In match play, if you have a bad hole it doesnt matter, you can just forget it. I like match play a lot, much more than stroke play.
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McCloskey medals Pressel advances at Girls Jr Am
Published July 22, 2008 04:00 PM
