Sowers Leads After Day 1 at PA Junior Girls' Championship
Sowers leads 61st Junior Girls’ Championship by five strokes after round one
LEBANON, Pa. – The first round of the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) 61st Junior Girls’ Championship and Junior Girls’ Team Championship wrapped up on Monday afternoon at Lebanon Country Club.
The individual leaderboard features Kate Sowers (Tam O’Shanter GC) at the top with a five-stroke lead after shooting an impressive four-under-par 68. Sowers, who attends Middlesex High School and was the recent PIAA AA runner-up, birdied three holes on the front nine (No. 1, 3, and 7) and added another on 15 while completing a bogey-free round to build her substantial lead in today’s windy conditions.
The closest players to Sowers include Sophia Severns (St. Clair CC) at 73 (+1)—who had a double bogey on the first hole but rebounded with three birdies in the round as well as an eagle on hole No. 7—along with Whitford CC’s Mia Pace at 74 (+2).
A trio of golfers are tied in fourth place with four-over-par 76’s, including Hannah Rabb (Bucknell GC), who has earned runner-up finishes in the last two PAGA Girls’ Championships, in addition to Rhianna Gooneratne (The 1912 Club) and Anna Swan (Lake View CC), who are both reigning PIAA champions.
The Girls’ Team Championship leaderboard finds the Country Club of York at the top, courtesy of Olivia Kury and Vivienne Powers and a combined +21 to par on the day. Also in the hunt are Concord CC’s Sophia DeSantis and Makayla Stone (+23) and the duo of Kiersten Bodge and Elayna Fanelli (+24) from Overbrook GC.
Play continues tomorrow with 36 more holes of competition to determine the 2024 champions. The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Lebanon Country Club for the hospitality shown during today’s round, with additional thanks going to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.