Jessica Ross is in a share of eighth place after the opening round of the US Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship after a level-par 71.
Prior to this week’s championship at Stonewall,Ross had not played a round of golf in the United States. Ross, a graduate of Queens University Belfast, won the 2022 Irish Women’s Mid-Amateur and was the runner-up in the 2023 European Women’s Mid-Amateur in Italy.
Aideen Walsh is back on five-over in a share of 52nd place with the top-64 qualifying for the matchplay stages after 36 holes.
Leaned the way on seven-under-par is Courtney Dow who shot a blistering 64 to set the standard.
Playing in her first year of eligibility, the Texas A&M women’s golf alum bested the rest of the field by 5 shots. Carding a 7-under 64 on the tricky Pennsylvania layout known for its undulating greens, Dow shot the competitive course record on Stonewall’s North Course. The 64 was also the 18-hole stroke play record at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, besting a 66 by Jennifer Peng in 2021.
“I knew I had some good par 5’s at the end because I was starting on [hole] 10 today,” said Dow. “So if I could get through the first nine, I would have some scoring chances toward the end. I missed the fairway on both par 5s and ended up having to birdie them differently than I thought I might. I laid up to a good wedge number and was able to recover with good wedges in.
“I love the mid-am attitude towards golf,” said Dow. “Everybody has jobs now, and nobody’s doing this every day, so it’s fun to play more relaxed with people that are just here for a good time, but still competitive and still have those same commonalities and same spirit. But we are all just in a different phase of life now.”
The opening round of the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship was suspended overnight with Hugh Foley just two shots off the lead on one-under while defending champion Matthew McClean faces a battle to make the top-64 on four-over through 15 holes.
Scoring HERE
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