California, United States: Nearly one-fifth of the 156-player field (30 golfers) bettered the par of 71 at El Caballero Country Club during the opening round of stroke play at the 75th US Girls’ Junior Championship.
American Kylee Choi, 17, and 14-year-old, rising high school Canadian freshman Aphrodite Deng, led the way with six-under-par 65s.
China’s Kinsley Ni, 16, is one stroke back, while eight others, including 2023 runner-up Rianne Malixi, 17, of the Philippines, and Hong Kong China’s Sophie Han, posted three-under 68s.
Also in that group were 2023 US Women’s Open qualifier Kaili Xiao, 15, of China and US National Junior Team member Shyla Brown, 16.
Han’s compatriot Arianna Lau, fresh from her victory in last week’s IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, is tied for 31st on 71 with Indian Avani Prashanth in a share of 36th after an opening one-over 72.
Choi, who has verbally committed to play for Pepperdine University in 2025, didn’t have to travel too far to the championship site as Murrieta is only a two-hour drive.
Coming off a recent semi-final showing at the Women’s North & South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 and a fourth-place finish in last week’s Southern California Golf Association Women’s Amateur at nearby Saticoy Country Club, Choi continued to build on her momentum.
Her 66 was a personal best, bettering a 67 the 2022 US Women’s Open qualifier posted two years ago at an American Junior Golf Association event at Pronghorn Resort in Oregon.
This is her third US Girls’ Junior appearance, but first since advancing to the Round of 16 in 2022 at The Club at Olde Stone, losing to semi-finalist and current Arkansas Razorback Maria Jose Marin, of Colombia.
“I honestly didn’t realise I was shooting that low,” said Choi. “I guess today was one of those days where it all clicked together.”
Deng, who lost in the Round of 32 last year to 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion and current Auburn University standout Anna Davis, played nearly flawless golf.
In the past eight months, Deng owns a win in the prestigious AJGA Tournament of Champions and The Nelly Invitational. The home-schooled Deng is already 161st in the latest Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and recently claimed the New Jersey Junior Girls’ Championship.
Born in Canada to Chinese parents, the family moved to Short Hills, New Jersey, when she was five, but she spends most of the year in Orlando, playing and practicing.
Following Tuesday’s second round, the field will be cut to the low 64 scorers for match play, which begins on Wednesday. A play-off, if necessary, to decide the final spots is scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon, daylight permitting. Match play continues from Wednesday until Saturday’s 36-hole championship match.