Neisen Tied for 6th after Opening Round of U.S. Women's APL

NESHANIC STATION, N.J. -- Steffi Neisen, the former New Prague High School star who will begin her junior year at the University of Nebraska in a couple of months, made five birdies, three bogeys and 10 pars on Monday at Neshanic Valley Golf Course. All of which worked out to a 2-under-par 70, and that put her in a rather crowded, 13-way tie for sixth place after one round of stroke play qualifying at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.

Texan Lakareber Abe and Cindy Ha of New Jersey were tied for the lead with 68's.

Kim Kaufman, who lives in South Dakota and plays for Texas Tech but qualified for the APL in St. Paul (at Keller), is at 72. Sarah Burnham, who just finished her sophomore year of high school at Wayzata, is another stroke back at 73. 

The top 64 players after 36 holes of stroke play will advance to match play, beginning Wednesday.  

UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

Women's Amateur Public Links Championship

At Neshanic Valley Golf Course

Par 72, 6,176 yards

Neshanic Station, N.J. 

First-round of stroke play results 

Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas               68

Cindy Ha, Demarest, N.J.                           68

Brittany Albomare, Shrewsbury, Mass.    69

Kristina Merkle, Honolulu                           69

Victoria Fallgren, Lakewood, Calif.          69

Steffi Neisen, New Prague                       70

Kim Kaufman, Clark, S.D.                        72

Sarah Burnham, Wayzata                        73

Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif.                       79

Sarah Roering, Glenwood                         82