7/7/25

(Walla Walla, WA) The first round of the 123rd PNGA Women’s Amateur Championship wrapped up today. The first two rounds of stroke play set the 32-player match-play field. This week’s winner will get an exemption into the 125th U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon, from August 4-10.

There’s a three-way tie for the lead after 18 holes of action. Sammamish’s Nicole Koong, Atlanta, Georgia’s Reagan Southerland, and Twin Falls, Idaho’s Ava Schroeder all shot 3-under 69s to capture a two-stroke lead. Koong shot an even par 36 on the front but rallied with three birdies for a 33 on the second nine. Schroeder had a bogey-free round, and Southerland shot 34 on the front and 35 on the back.

All at 1-under are Darae Chung from Eugene, Oregon, Jazy Roberts from Australia, Gretchen Johnson from Portland, Oregon, Erin Lee from Canada, and Taya Battistella from Bellingham. The group is tied for fourth. Tied for ninth is Chelsea Truong from Canada and Kennedy Knox from Normandy Park after the pair shot an even par 72.

There are six players tied for 30th at 5-over, and if there is a tie after tomorrow’s round, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff to set the match play field.

The front nine saw an average score of 38.57 while the back nine saw an average of 37.76. The hardest hole on the course was the 425-yard par-4 5th hole. The 5th had an average score of 4.78, with no birdies, only 19 pars, and 32 bogeys or worse. The easiest hole on the course was the 14th hole, a 125-yard par 3. Eagle, Idaho’s Caroline Caven recorded an ace on the 14th, which was one of two eagles at the course today. The hole played under par with an average of 2.92. There were seven birdies, 38 pars, only five bogeys, and Caven’s hole-in-one.

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