Lauren Greenlief (USGA photo)
Rain continued to plague the southeast coast of Florida on Friday, but the AGA Women's Amateur was once again able to get the round in.
The star-studded field counts a total of 13 USGA national champion trophies. It also includes multiple Curtis Cup Team members and two team captains.
All of them continued to accept the challenge brought on by mother nature to post some solid numbers.
2015 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion, Lauren Greenlief from Ashburn, VA vaulted into the lead of the championship division after firing a four-under-par 68.
Her 3-under par tournament total through 36 holes gives Greenlief a six-shot lead heading into Saturday's final round. She is trailed by first round leader Chelsea Dantonio of New York (72-75=147) and Julia Potter-Bobb, the 2013 & 2016 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion. Potter-Bobb, of Indianapolis, fired 73 today on top of a 2-over 74 yesterday.
Tara-Joy Connelly from Vero Beach, FL and 2019 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion Ina Kim-Schaad from Rhinebeck, NY, who is a member at The Dye Preserve, are at 150 six-over-par for the tournament
The Senior Division caught a bit of a break from the rain but played in very wet conditions. First round leader Gigi Higgins of Cape Coral, FL extended her lead to four shots with a solid two-over-par 74, leaving her at even-par for the tournament. Amy Ellertson of Free Union, VA fired the low round of the day in the Senior Division with a one-over-par 73, putting her within striking distance at 148, four-over-par and four strokes behind Higgins.
Tara Fleming of Jensen Beach, FL and Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, CA are tied for third at nine-over-par 153 for the championship shooting 77 and 80, respectively in the second round.
FIRST ROUND COVERAGE
Chelsea Dantonio of East Aurora, NY fired even par 72 today at The Dye Preserve Golf Club to take the first round lead at the he inaugural Amateur Golf Alliance Women’s Amateur. Dantonio is a product of Winthrop University in South Carolina, where she played golf and graduated last year.
The event, originally scheduled for May. was able to start on time despite heavy Florida rains that pelted courses in the area. On top of that, an afternoon lightning delay brought players off the course for almost two and a half hours, but the entire field of players from around the U.S. managed to finish the first round.
The championship division is comprised of players who no longer have college eligibility, along with some of the nations most decorated mid-amateurs.
Lauren Greenlief of Ashburn, VA posted 1-over-par 73 to trail Dantonio by a shot. Three players including Tara-Joy Connelly from Vero Beach, FL, Heather Wall of Plantation, FL and Julia Potter-Bobb of Indianapolis, IN sit at 2-over-par 74.
In the Senior Division, Gigi Higgins of Cape Coral, FL set the standard and low round for the day with a 2-under-par 70 -- the only under par round of the opening round. Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, CA posted a 1-over-par 73, while Kelly Morris of Franklin, TN sits at 2-over-par 74 to stay within striking distance.
View results for AGA Women's Amateur Championship
ABOUT THE
AGA Women's Amateur Championship
The tournament will be 54 holes of stroke play for
eligible women who have completed their college
eligibility and are 23 years of age on or before the
first
round of the competition. Field limited to 72 players.
Applicants must have a USGA handicap index of 6.0
or
lower. Entries will be reviewed based on playing
experience, competitive success, rankings and merit
against those of other applicants.
View Complete Tournament Information