Late Birdies Give Smith a Victory During Round of 64 at U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur

  PARAMUS, N.J. – Minnesotan Kate Smith took an early lead during the opening round of match play Wednesday at Ridgewood Country Club and cruised with three birdies on the back nine, advancing to the second round Thursday.

Smith, Detroit Lakes, Minn., carded a 77 during the opening round of stroke play Monday before shooting 76 during the second round Tuesday to finish tied for 37th at 153.

Facing Aubree Jones, of Covington, Tenn., during the Round of 64 Wednesday, Smith took a quick 3-up through just four holes before Jones came back to win the seventh and ninth holes to pull within one heading to the back nine.

Smith rolled in back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th holes to increase her lead to 3-up before closing out the match with a birdie at the par-3 15th to win, 4 and 3.

Smith will face Hailee Cooper, of Montgomery, Texas, during the Round of 32 Thursday, scheduled to begin at 8:06 a.m. at Ridgewood Country Club.


For complete tournament results go to: www.usga.org/championships/2016/u-s--girls--junior.html