Salas, Fuchik, Tomimbang, Kim Share First-Round Lead

Erin, Wis. – Lizette Salas, 18, of Azusa, Calif., Kelly Fuchik, 19, of Tulsa, Okla., May Tomimbang, 21, of Kissimmee, Fla., and Stacey Kim, 17, of Columbus, Ga. battled atypically cool, wet and windy conditions to card 2-under 71s to take the lead after the first round of stroke-play qualifying Monday at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being played at the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course.

One stroke back was Shasta Averyhardt, 22, of Flint, Mich., while Katie Kempter of Albuquerque, N.M., and Lauren Doughtie of Suffolk, Va., were two strokes back after shooting even-par 73s.

A second round of stroke play will be played on Tuesday, with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play, which begins Wednesday. The 36-hole final is scheduled for Saturday.

Salas, who is playing in her first WAPL after advancing to the round of 16 at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateuer, got off to a fast start, carding four birdies in her first nine holes despite battling constant wind throughout the morning.

“I played pretty good, taking advantage of the par-5 hole locations,” said Salas, who just finished her freshman season at the University of Southern California, where she helped the Trojans win the NCAA Division I women’s national title.. “I also did a good job hitting the low points on the green.”

Kim, who played in the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open and will be a high school senior in the fall, had six birdies and four bogeys in her round. Four of those birdies came on the second nine.

Fuchik, competing in her first USGA championship, felt right at home with the windy conditions, something she often sees in Oklahoma.

“I just had to think positive and [not think about the weather],” said Fuchik.  “I was just able to stay in the fairway and have a good round today.”

Fuchik and Doughtie were able to recover from rough starts as each made the turn at  three over par.

“I am feeling pretty good now,” said Doughtie. “Hopefully I can carry momentum into tomorrow.”

Averyhardt, a senior-to-be at Jackson State University, birdied the 18th hole to pull within one shot of the lead. 

“The golf course was not forgiving,” Averyhardt said. “I had to eliminate mental errors and trust myself and just try to stay in the moment [at 18].

Kempter is no stranger to the WAPL, having played in the championship on three previous occasions. She also has competed in a U.S. Girls’ Junior and one U.S. Women’s Amateur. The senior-to-be at Denver University, where she led the Pioneers to an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship, said Erin Hills provides a challenge for all the players.

“[The course] is scoreable, but punishable,” said Kempter.  “You have to hit the fairways then once you get on the greens you might not have short putts.”

Defending Women’s Amateur Public Links champion Mina Harigae, 18, of Monterey, Calif., had a tough morning, finishing with a 7-over 80.

But Harigae, a member of the recent victorious USA Curtis Cup team, did not seem too discouraged by her performance, saying she didn’t feel any additional pressure as the defending champion as she prepares for next week’s U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen Country Club.

“Not really, no pressure,” said Harigae, who beat Stephany Fleet last year, 4 and 3, at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky.  “It’s a new course for everyone, but the wind and muddy conditions made it tougher.”

Four other USA Curtis Cuppers are in the field. Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii, the youngest-ever winner of the U.S. Women’s Amateur (she was 14 in 2006), led the way with a 1-over 74. Tiffany Joh of San Diego, Calif., the 2006 WAPL champion and runner-up at the 2008 NCAAs, carded a 75, as did Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale, Ariz., the 2007 Women’s Amateur runner-up. Jennie Lee of Henderson, Nev., shot an 81.

Allisen Corpuz of Kapolei, Hawaii, at 10 years, three months and nine days old, became the youngest to ever qualify for a USGA championship, besting the previous record of Michelle Wie set at the 2000 WAPL. Corpuz had a respectable 8-over 81.  In 2000, Wie shot a first-round 74 and made the match-play cut before losing to Cindy Lee in her first match.

The U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association each year, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Kent Zakour, USGA Media Relations summer intern. Contact him at kzakour@usga.org with any questions or comments.

Erin, Wis. – Results Monday from the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being played at the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course.

Kelly Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla., 39-32--71

Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif., 36-35--71

Mayule Tomimbang, Kissimmee, Fla., 36-35--71

Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga., 36-35--71

Shasta Averyhardt, Flint, Mich., 37-35--72

Katie Kempter, Albuquerque, N.M., 37-36--73

Lauren Doughtie, Suffolk, Va., 39-34--73

Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii, 36-38--74

Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz., 37-37--74

Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla., 39-35--74

Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz., 37-38--75

Ha-Na Jang, Korea, 37-38--75

Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla., 37-38--75

Pennapa Pulsawath, Thailand, 38-37--75

Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif., 35-40--75

Angela Oh, Maple Shade, N.J., 39-37--76

Bonnie Hu, Fremont, Calif., 41-35--76

Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis., 40-36--76

Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif., 40-36--76

Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill., 39-37--76

Gennifer Mendez, North Port, Fla., 37-39--76

Inah Park, Fullerton, Calif., 39-37--76

Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii, 39-37--76

Megan Dowdy, Leander, Texas, 37-39--76

Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii, 40-36--76

Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif., 38-38--76

Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla., 37-39--76

Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz., 36-41--77

Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa., 39-38--77

Brooke Beeler, Butler, Ill., 39-38--77

Emily Street, Forest City, N.C., 40-37--77

Joy Trotter, Chino Hills, Calif., 39-38--77

Julie Yang, Phoenix, Ariz., 38-39--77

Kate Ackerson, Allen, Texas, 41-36--77

Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz., 40-37--77

Laura Luethke, Clovis, Calif., 38-39--77

Madelle Swaney, Marietta, Ohio, 41-36--77

Michelle Bowles, Davison, Mich., 40-37--77

Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif., 40-37--77

Alexandria Buelow, Palm City, Fla., 41-37--78

Brittany Altomare, Worcester, Mass., 40-38--78

Candice Wiley, Shelbyville, Ky., 40-38--78

Cassie Boles, Lakeland, Fla., 41-37--78

Christine Song, Fullerton, Calif., 42-36--78

Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla., 42-36--78

Erica Moston, Belmont, Calif., 37-41--78

Lynette Duran, Lakewood, Colo., 40-38--78

Mari Chun, Pearl City, Hawaii, 39-39--78

Rebecca Kim, Tigard, Ore., 42-36--78

Wonjoo Choi, Murrieta, Calif., 40-38--78

Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif., 43-36--79

Ashley Tait, Littleton, Colo., 38-41--79

Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo., 41-38--79

Erica Creed, Kernersville, N.C., 42-37--79

Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan., 41-38--79

Kathleen White, Waukegan, Ill., 40-39--79

Lauren Archer, Boise, Idaho, 43-36--79

Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J., 37-42--79

Stephanie Simich, Canada, 39-40--79

Sydney Cox, Oklahoma City, Okla., 42-37--79

Tzu Chi Lin, Chinese Taipei, 40-39--79

Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind., 40-40--80

Caroline Kim, Canada, 45-35--80

Cherry Lewis, Waynesboro, Tenn., 41-39--80

Daria Cummings, Monroe, Conn., 40-40--80

Grace Na, Oakland, Calif., 41-39--80

Jennifer Hahn, Henderson, Nev., 41-39--80

Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif., 39-41--80

Mallory Fraiche, Metairie, La., 41-39--80

Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif., 38-42--80

Ryann O'Toole, San Clemente, Calif., 41-39--80

Allisen Corpuz, Kapolei, Hawaii, 39-42--81

Amanda Henry, Russell Springs, Ky., 40-41--81

Annie Park, Levittown, Fla., 42-39--81

Ashley Sholer, Canada, 41-40--81

Elena Vukmir, Wauwatosa, Wis., 42-39--81

Hanule Seo, St Louis, Mo., 40-41--81

Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev., 41-40--81

Kelly Nakashima, Wailuku, Hawaii, 40-41--81

Rachael Schmidt, Elk River, Minn., 40-41--81

Seo Hee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash., 43-38--81

Suh Hwang, Ellicott City, Md., 42-39--81

Tovie St Louis, Royal Palm Beach, Fla., 39-42--81

Beth Weinstein, Highland Park, Ill., 42-40--82

Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif., 44-38--82

Gianna Digrazia, Addison, Ill., 40-42--82

Janine Fellows, Houston, Texas, 42-40--82

Jaqueline Smith, Magnolia, Texas, 43-39--82

Kelsey Vines, St George, Utah, 40-42--82

Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn., 43-39--82

Kristina Garrett, Chapmanville, W.Va., 41-41--82

Michelle Caporusso, Mt Prospect, Ill., 39-43--82

Sydney Liles, Phoenix, Ariz., 40-42--82

Xyra Suyetsugu, Honolulu, Hawaii, 44-38--82

Amber Littman, Greensboro, N.C., 44-39--83

Ashley Smith, Plymouth, Mich., 42-41--83

Deanne Stolarik, Zion, Ill., 41-42--83

Kristi Piepenbrink, Greenwood, Ind., 42-41--83

Louisa Yang, Suwanee, Ga., 40-43--83

Lynda Kwon, North Wales, Pa., 43-40--83

Molly Schemm, Fort Atkinson, Wis., 40-43--83

Sehee Kim, Canada, 44-39--83

Cyd Okino, Honolulu, Hawaii, 45-39--84

Heather Holte, Walterville, Ore., 42-42--84

Kimberly Johnson, San Diego, Calif., 42-42--84

Lauren Darnell, Gainesville, Ga., 45-39--84

Natalie Reeves, Euless, Texas, 38-46--84

Sarah Fogerty, San Diego, Calif., 41-43--84

Stephany Fleet, Dewitt, Mich., 45-39--84

Sydney Wells, Menominee, Mich., 44-40--84

Vanessa Leon, Canada, 41-43--84

Alexandra Casi, Columbiana, Ohio, 44-41--85

Alisha Matthews, St Louis, Mo., 45-40--85

Debbie Johnson, Stamford, Conn., 43-42--85

Melanie De Leon, Santa Clarita, Calif., 44-41--85

Remijin Camping, Miami, Fla., 42-43--85

Sebin Kim, Canada, 44-41--85

Yu Lee, Orlando, Fla., 45-40--85

Emily Houtz, Manhattan, Kan., 42-44--86

Jenny Lee, La Canada, Calif., 40-46--86

Kaitlyn Mardeusz, Novi, Mich., 40-46--86

Kara Spence, Hampton, Va., 47-39--86

Kim Lorenzana, Long Beach, Calif., 44-42--86

Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 47-39--86

Louisa Shu, Northville, Mich., 46-40--86

Ashlee Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., 43-44--87

Caitlin Duval-Hoppenrath, Grand Rapids, Mich., 42-45--87

Kaitlin Hovda, Weslaco, Texas, 46-41--87

Katelyn Poplawski, Williston, Vt., 41-46--87

Katia Joo, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., 45-42--87

Kayley Kempton, Littleton, Colo., 43-44--87

Michele Edlin, Jackson, Minn., 42-45--87

Selanee Henderson, Apple Valley, Calif., 45-42--87

Catherine Allen, Bellingham, Wash., 45-43--88

Rynae Baca, Wasilla, Alaska, 45-43--88

Sabrina Danielson, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 47-41--88

Ana North, Rock Island, Ill., 49-40--89

Brittany Weddell, Buzzards Bay, Mass., 47-42--89

Kelcie Kawano, Kahului, Hawaii, 43-46--89

Brittany Bomar, Anchorage, Alaska, 42-48--90

Misha Harvey, Forest, Va., 45-45--90

Cheyenne Hickle, Gilbert, Ariz., 45-46--91

Erin Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla., 47-44--91

Steffi Neisen, New Prague, Minn., 49-42--91

Johanna Dolle, Brookline, Mass., 45-47--92

Melissa Volz, San Antonio, Texas, 46-46--92

Stephanie Whatley, Las Vegas, Nev., 47-45--92

Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 48-45--93

Kelsey Babos, Uniontown, Ohio, 45-48--93

Kelsey Podlesny, Green River, Wyo., 45-48--93

Kaytie Spangler, Ely, Minn., 52-45--97

Kylie Fuller, Temecula, Calif., DQ-DQ--DQ

Madison Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla., DQ-DQ--DQ