GolfweekTV: Course preview: Hartford Golf Club
By BETH ANN BALDRY
Senior WriterWEST HARTFORD, CONN. – For a while, Lindy Duncan thought she’d follow in the footsteps of good friend Vicky Hurst. But with a January birthday and one year left of high school, Duncan, 17, knew she’d have to petition the LPGA to enter Q-School and odds are they’d turn her down. And financially speaking, the Duramed Futures Tour isn’t an option right now for the Duncan family.
So while Hurst racks up titles on the Futures Tour this summer and readies for what should be a promising career on the LPGA, Duncan will take the traditional route: college.
But hey, a scholarship to Duke ain’t all that bad.
“The whole atmosphere, I really liked it there,” said Duncan, who recently committed to the Durham dynasty over UCF and Florida. “It was pretty easy actually.”
Duncan, who has been homeschooled for the last two years of high school, will go back to American Heritage in south Florida to finish out her senior year. She’ll then join good friend Courtney Ellenbogen in Durham next fall.
In the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the U.S. Girls’ Junior, Duncan carded an even-par 71 at the Hartford Golf Club. This marks her fourth and final Girls’ Junior, where her best finish was Round of 16 in 2006. Duncan’s future schoolmate, Kyle Roig, leads the field with a 4-under 67. Roig will be a sophomore this fall.
“(I feel) very old,” Duncan said. “The ’09s are used to being the young ones. It’s kind of sad, but it’s great for the game to see so many good kids coming up and you want it to build.”
• How good are these youngsters? Thirteen players in this week’s field have competed in a U.S. Women’s Open. Samantha Wagner, 11, meanwhile, is doing her part to make everyone feel old. Wagner is believed to be the youngest player ever to qualify for the Girls’ Junior since sectional qualifying started in 1996.
Wagner, who opened with an 83, looks like a young Morgan Pressel from a distance with her golden blonde ponytail bouncing down the fairways.
• Dozens of college coaches are on hand this week to scope the field. With juniors committing to schools earlier and earlier each year, it’s mostly a week of observation as NCAA rules prohibit coaches from talking to players in person prior to July 1 of their senior year.
Robin Walton, the former Florida assistant, was walking the course in Wake Forest attire. She started working for the Deamon Deacons last Monday and is on the road for the first time sporting gold and black.
Alexis Rather, a recent LSU grad, also is making her recruiting debut this week. She’s now working in her home state as an assistant coach at Ole Miss.
• Speaking of college buzz, Purdue coaches are scurrying to fill the void left by Christel Boeljon. The Netherlands native won’t be coming back for her senior and plans to turn pro. Boeljon finished last season No. 14 in the Golfweek college rankings.
• Former Texas A&M coach Jeanne Sutherland was spotted carrying a golf bag up to the clubhouse. Sutherland, who now works as a head pro in Colorado, estimates she’s been to 15 Girls’ Juniors over the year. This time she’s working inside the ropes, looping for her student, Casey Grice.
“It’s more fun than recruiting,” said Sutherland as she put down the bag, “more involved.”
• The USGA asks players to fill out bio sheets for every event. Considering that we’re dealing with teenagers and tweens, one never knows what might be listed under the “human interest” category. Mariko Tumangan, 14, gets the prize for most interesting tidbit.
Since she was 8 years old, the Californian has traveled the world competing in – get this – abacus competitions.
Tumangan, who opened with a 78, offers this explanation for calculator-carrying media members: “Abacus is the Chinese way of calculating large numbers without a calculator. That will ensure I will never make a mistake adding my scorecard!”
Just don’t forget to sign it.
• • •
Beth Ann Baldry is a
Golfweek senior writer. To reach her e-mail
bbaldry@golfweek.com.
Scores with relation to par from the first round of stroke -play qualifying at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur, played July 21 at the par-71 Hartford GC in West Hartford, Conn.:
| 1. Kyle Roig |
67 |
|
|
-4 |
| 2. Stephanie Kim |
68 |
|
|
-3 |
| 2. Samantha Swinehart |
68 |
|
|
-3 |
| 2. Jennifer Kirby |
68 |
|
|
-3 |
| 5. Madison Pressel |
69 |
|
|
-2 |
| 6. Sue Kim |
70 |
|
|
-1 |
| 6. Emma Talley |
70 |
|
|
-1 |
| 8. Lisa Mccloskey |
71 |
|
|
E |
| 8. Karen Chung |
71 |
|
|
E |
| 8. Emilie Burger |
71 |
|
|
E |
| 8. Lindy Duncan |
71 |
|
|
E |
| 8. Ani Gulugian |
71 |
|
|
E |
| 8. Alexis Thompson |
71 |
|
|
E |
| 14. Kimberly Kim |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Sarah Brown |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Pearl Jin |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Danielle Frasier |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Rachel Rohanna |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Susana Benavides |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Kristina Wong |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Seshia-Lei Telles |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Jenny Shin |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 14. Erynne Lee |
72 |
|
+ |
1 |
| 24. Marina Alex |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Sarah Beth Davis |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Saby Dagenais |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Casey Grice |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Victoria Tanco |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Esther Lee |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Mary Michael Maggio |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Chessey Thomas |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Ginger Howard |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Daniela Lendl |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Caroline Powers |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Betsie Johnson |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 24. Kristen Park |
73 |
|
+ |
2 |
| 37. Mariah Stackhouse |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Christine Shimel |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Leigh Henderson |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Kelly Shon |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Courtney Gunter |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Jessica Wallace |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Katrina Hegge |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Julie Yang |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Dorothy Schwartz |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Stacey Kim |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Natalie Reeves |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Cyna Marie Rodriguez |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Tiffany Lua |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 37. Christine Cho |
74 |
|
+ |
3 |
| 51. Simin Feng |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Austin Ernst |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Luz Alejandra Cangrejo |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Samantha Esguerra |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Danielle Kang |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Cheyenne Hickle |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Katia Joo |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Stephanie Meadow |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Stacy Kim |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Alison Lee |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Chelsey Cothran |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Whitney Hillier |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 51. Portland Rosen |
75 |
|
+ |
4 |
| 64. Shamira Marshall |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Nicole Agnello |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Brittany Altomare |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Gabi Oubre' |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Regina Alonso |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Amy Anderson |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Lindsey Weaver |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Jennifer Yang |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Beth Sellers |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. T J Kliebphipat |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Marisa Kamelgarn |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Rebecca Lee-Bentham |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Harin Lee |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Amy Ruengmateekhun |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Rochelle Chan |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Aurora Kan |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Nadia Luttner |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Veronica Valerio |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 64. Amelia Hill |
76 |
|
+ |
5 |
| 83. Felicia Marie Espericueta |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Haley Sanders |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Michelle Shin |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Alina Ching |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Kimberly Kaufman |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Ashlee Pickerell |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Jane Rah |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Jacy Benites |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Courtney Ellenbogen |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Alexandria Buelow |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Christine Song |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Anna Jang |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Amanda Steinhagen |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Erica Popson |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Taylor Schmidt |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Kyndall Ardoin |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 83. Belen Hernandez |
77 |
|
+ |
6 |
| 100. Haley Wilson |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Kristen Garabedian |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Bethany Buchner |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Brittany Weddell |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Laura Hildebrandt |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Ginger Jun Ki Mak |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Sun Park |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Katie Sylvan |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Mariko Tumangan |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Julia Thead |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Anna Keith |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Lalita Patipaksiri |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 100. Rui Li |
78 |
|
+ |
7 |
| 113. Linda Brown |
79 |
|
+ |
8 |
| 113. Seo Hee Moon |
79 |
|
+ |
8 |
| 113. Maria Piccio |
79 |
|
+ |
8 |
| 113. Blair Lewis |
79 |
|
+ |
8 |
| 113. Paige Spiranac |
79 |
|
+ |
8 |
| 118. Jacqueline Yanch |
80 |
|
+ |
9 |
| 118. Amy Meier |
80 |
|
+ |
9 |
| 118. Darlea Carr |
80 |
|
+ |
9 |
| 118. Isabel Han |
80 |
|
+ |
9 |
| 118. Gabriella Dominguez |
80 |
|
+ |
9 |
| 123. Erin Sharpee |
81 |
|
+ |
10 |
| 123. Isabelle Lendl |
81 |
|
+ |
10 |
| 125. Olivia Garard |
82 |
|
+ |
11 |
| 125. Lauren Weaver |
82 |
|
+ |
11 |
| 125. Olivia Lugar |
82 |
|
+ |
11 |
| 125. Tory Bauman |
82 |
|
+ |
11 |
| 125. Emily Podzielinski |
82 |
|
+ |
11 |
| 125. Abbie Horan |
82 |
|
+ |
11 |
| 125. Breanna Patz |
82 |
|
+ |
11 |
| 132. Nicole Morales |
83 |
|
+ |
12 |
| 132. Cyd Okino |
83 |
|
+ |
12 |
| 132. Brittany Mai |
83 |
|
+ |
12 |
| 132. Taylor Fisher |
83 |
|
+ |
12 |
| 132. Samantha Wagner |
83 |
|
+ |
12 |
| 137. Casie Cathrea |
84 |
|
+ |
13 |
| 137. Stephanie Smith |
84 |
|
+ |
13 |
| 137. Whitney Rhodes |
84 |
|
+ |
13 |
| 137. Sarah Schmelzel |
84 |
|
+ |
13 |
| 141. Chelsea Bretcher |
85 |
|
+ |
14 |
| 141. Lauren Kim |
85 |
|
+ |
14 |
| 143. Mary Larsh |
86 |
|
+ |
15 |
| 143. Alexandra Groetsema |
86 |
|
+ |
15 |
| 143. Gianna Misenhelter |
86 |
|
+ |
15 |
| 143. Isabel Southard |
86 |
|
+ |
15 |
| 147. Olivia Weber |
87 |
|
+ |
16 |
| 147. Amelia Lewis |
87 |
|
+ |
16 |
| 147. Jamie Lavin |
87 |
|
+ |
16 |
| 147. Rachel Uremovich |
87 |
|
+ |
16 |
| 151. Bryce Schroeder |
88 |
|
+ |
17 |
| 151. Sarah Almond |
88 |
|
+ |
17 |
| 151. Christina Ocampo |
88 |
|
+ |
17 |
| 154. Gianna Digrazia |
89 |
|
+ |
18 |
| 155. Cassie Deeg |
95 |
|
+ |
24 |
| 156. Chanet Fiorina |
96 |
|
+ |
25 |
Posted: 7/21/2008
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