Two Qualify for U.S. Girls' Junior, Four for U.S. Junior Amateur
Qualifying Conducted on Thursday, Completed Friday at Champions Run
OMAHA (May 31, 2024) - Two players earned spots in the 2024 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship, while four qualified for the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, after qualifying at Champions Run in Omaha was completed on Friday.
Storms rolled into Omaha in the afternoon and play was suspended for more than four hours. The boys qualifying round had concluded, but a playoff still remained to decide the last two qualifiers. The girls were still on their first nine when play was suspended. Play resumed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and was again suspended due to darkness at 8:50 p.m. Play resumed at 8 a.m. on Friday and was completed.
Lucy Darr of Stillwater, Oklahoma earned medalist honors on the girls' side, firing a round of 73 (+1) to take the first qualifying spot. Olivia Lovegrove of Lincoln nabbed the second spot with a round of 74 (+2).
On the boys' side, Leuan Jones of Wales earned medalist honors with a round of 68 (-4), taking the first qualifying spot. Axton Miller of Arthur, Iowa was right behind him with a 69 (-3) to secure the second spot.
Six players tied for third at 72 (E), resulting in a playoff for the final two qualifying spots. The playoff commenced at 7 p.m. on Thursday, with Trevor Gutschewski of Elkhorn making a birdie on the second playoff hole to take the third spot, and Andrea Birolini of Italy doing the same on the third playoff hole to take the final spot.
Annie Weng of San Juan Capistrano, California won a playoff to earn the first alternate spot, with Summer Jakubek of Plano, Texas claiming the second alternate spot.
Lincoln's Gavin Gerch was in the playoff for the final two spots in the boys' qualifier, and eventually took the first alternate position after the continuation of the playoff. Kearney's Nash Malone is the second alternate after falling to Gerch in the playoff.
Jones, Miller, Gutschewski and Birolini will play next at the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, July 22-27. Darr and Love will play at the 75th U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, California, July 15-20.
Final results and more are available at the buttons below.
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The Nebraska Golf Association (NebGolf), founded in 1966, is comprised of all members of public and private clubs and/or municipal or regional golf associations which utilize an approved handicap service recognized by the USGA and provided by NebGolf. Our mission is to uphold and promote the game of golf and its values to all golfers in Nebraska. Among the duties of the Association include governance of member clubs and service as their handicapping and course rating authority, conduct of state golf championships, local USGA qualifying & other notable competitions, promotion of junior golf, presentation of worthwhile educational programs and support of allied golf organizations in Nebraska. The Nebraska Golf Association is an Allied Golf Association of the USGA and carries out core services including Handicap Administration and Oversight, Course Rating, Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status, Tournaments and USGA Championship Qualifiers and USGA Initiatives and Community Programs.
