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NSW girls have put in a strong showing after the first round of the Australian Junior Amateur Championships being held at Devonport Golf Club.
Sixteen-year-old Stef Hall leads the charge after a round of 6-under par 68, which has her placed one shot off the leader, New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori.
Hall, from the Australian Golf Club, got off to a blistering start and was four under through the first four holes.
“I started off really hot. It was really good. I was trying not to get ahead of myself, but I was really excited,” she said.
“My putter was on fire today, it was ridiculous. I just saw the line and just holed everything, so my putting really helped me today.”
Holding steady with four holes to play, Hall told herself to stay composed, even though she knew she was in line to shoot her best-ever tournament round.
“I said just stick to my game plan. Don’t get ahead of myself. Just be calm and play one shot at a time…and it worked out really well.”
Queensland’s Rebecca Kay also sits at 6-under par beside Hall. Behind them it’s a packed leaderboard with 22 players shooting below par.
Among them is Avondale’s Grace Kim who had a solid 2-under par 72, while defending Champion Celina Yuan had, by her own admission, a ‘pretty scrappy’ round to be tied 16th at 1-under par.
NSW Golf Club’s Hannah Park was disappointed to let a 3-under start after nine holes, slip away to a 1-under par finish, but she was philosophical.
“I just need to make up five or so tomorrow, so that’s ok,” she said.
Of the others, Doey Choi is tied 23rd on even par while Amy Chu is at 2-over par and tied 31st.
The cut will be made tomorrow with the top 60 plus ties moving through to Friday’s 36 hole marathon.
For the big hitting Hall, however, tomorrow is all about building on today’s great start.
“Just go out and stick to my game plan and not get ahead of myself, pretty much what it was today.”