BGGA’s Annie Kim, Siyan Chen and
Alumni Jordan Cornelius Get to Know the U.S. Girls’
Championship Field
Last week, the best golfers in the world 18 years of
age and under began the ultimate test in junior golf
when #USGirlsJunior got underway at Poppy Hills Golf
Course in Pebble Beach, California. From the iconic
venue, to the legendary champions this championship
boasts, to the spoils that go to the winners, there was
a lot to look forward to for BGGA’s Annie Kim, Siyan
Chen and alumni Jordan Cornelius.
In the last decade, the U.S. Girls’ Junior has been one
of the fastest growing USGA championships, reaching
four figures in entries nine consecutive years with a
record total to 1,606 this year, nearly 200 more than the
U.S. Women’s Amateur. Raising the age limit from 17 to
18 for both USGA Junior Championships has helped
both in numbers of entries and quality of
field. This year, three golfers with a
year of college golf under their
belt qualified.
They may be young, but
they
have
experience.
Four players in the U.S.
Girls’ Junior field made
their fifth (!) starts in the
championship.
Notable U.S. Girls’ Junior
champions
include
Hall
of Famers and multiple U.S.
Women’s Open champions Mickey
Wright (1952) and JoAnne Gunderson
Carner (1956), Hall of Famer and 1980 U.S.
Women’s Open champion Amy Alcott (1973), Lexi
Thompson (2008), reigning U.S. Women’s Open
champion Ariya Jutanuygarn (2011), two-two U.S.
Women’s Open champion Inbee Park (2002) and four-
time LPGA Tour winner Minjee Lee (2012).
Field breakdown by age:
11: 1 player
12: 1 player
13: 5 players
14: 13 players
15: 22 players
16: 35 players
17: 39 players
18: 40 players
There were 14 countries represented in the
championship: Argentina (2), Australia (3), Canada (6),
Chinese Taipei (2), Colombia (2), Hong Kong China,
Japan, Malaysia, Mexico (4), Nigeria, the People’s
Republic of China (7), the Philippines (2),
the Republic of Korea (2), and the United
States (122).
There were 33 states represented
in the championship: Alabama (2),
Arizona (4), Arkansas (2), California
(34), Colorado (2), Connecticut
(2), Delaware, Florida (10), Georgia
(3), Hawaii (2), Idaho, Illinois
(2), Indiana (2), Iowa, Louisiana,
Maryland
(3),
Massachusetts,
Michigan (2), Minnesota, Missouri,
New Jersey (5), New Mexico, New York
(5), North Carolina (6), Ohio (4), Oregon,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina (2), Tennessee
(3), Texas (13).
We are proud of you for making it to this elite field
Annie Kim, Siyan Chen and Jordan Cornelius!
THE GATE | 9