Amelia Harris experienced something Monday that every golfer dreams of.
“I just couldn’t miss a putt on the back nine,” said Harris, who birdied eight of her final nine holes as part of an opening 9-under 63 that gave the 18-year-old Australian the early lead at the U.S. Girls’ Junior in Durham, North Carolina.
Harris’ 63 was one shot off the championship record and the lowest round since Rose Zhang fired a second-round 62 to claim medalist honors in 2021; Zhang would go on to beat Bailey Davis in the final, 6 and 4. It was also three strokes better than three players tied for second, all internationals – Japan’s Anna Iwanaga, Singapore’s Xingtong Chen and Canada’s Clairey Lin.
The USGA doesn’t keep low nine-hole splits in its U.S. Girls’ Junior record book, though Harris’ closing 28 is only the third known 28 in USGA championship history, men or women, pro or amateur – the first two 28s came in U.S. Senior Opens, Tom Kite (2012) and Kenny Perry (2015). No other woman is believed to have shot sub-29 for nine holes, with the lowest previous nine being shared by Christina Kim, who carded 29 (and 62) at the 2001 U.S. Girls’ Junior, and Chella Choi, who posted her 29 at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open.
Harris missed a short par save at Old Chatham’s par-4 ninth to turn in 1-under 35 before birdieing every back-nine hole but the par-3 12th. She capped her day with a 40-foot make at the par-4 18th.
At No. 66 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Harris, who is signed to play at South Carolina starting this fall, is the eighth highest-ranked player in the field. No. 16 Iwanaga is the best while Lin is ranked No. 80.
Currently, the match-play cut, which will be made to the top 64 after 36 holes (and likely a playoff), is projected at even par.
“To make match play, obviously, I think that’s the goal for everyone,” Harris said. “You know, keep my head on straight, stay steady and yeah, see how I go.”
But first, Harris planned to celebrate Monday’s low round with a trip to Target. The ones in Australia, per Harris, aren’t as good.
“Maybe we’ll go there and get a celebratory dinner,” Harris said.