2024 Women's Amateur Day 1 Recap

PAOLI, Pa. – The 88^th Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) Women’s Amateur teed off with 112 participants spread across four divisions – Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Senior, and Super Senior. The Amateur Division plays 54 holes over the next three days, while the Mid-Amateur, Senior, and Super Senior Divisions will determine a champion after just 36 holes.

Find recaps of all Monday’s action from each division below.

Amateur Division

Talk about a youth movement – rising Academy of Notre Dame high school sophomore Kiersten Bodge (Overbrook Golf Club) is the Amateur Division leader after 18 holes of competition with a four-under-par 69. She was steady and consistent on the course, completing a bogey-free round and adding birdies on holes No. 3, 4, 9, and 10 to round out a successful first day. 

“My driver and irons were certainly very good today but the best part of my game today was definitely my putting,” said Bodge. “The greens are very challenging, very hilly, and my putting really helped me a lot today.”

 Angelina Tolentino (The 1912 Club) is one stroke behind Bodge after shooting a three-under par 70. She was two-over after bogeys on holes No. 4 and 5 to start her round but turned things around with a birdie on 7 then four more birdies on the back nine. 

“I hit a lot of fairways, which is pretty important for this course,” said Tolentino. “I made some putts here and there on the front nine then started off strong with a birdie on the 10^th hole and really had the momentum going on. My iron striking and approach shots were also good, these greens are crazy insane so I was happy with how I hit my irons and wedges.”

 Plenty of other hopefuls are chasing the top two, including two-time PAGA Amateur Champion Jackie Rogowicz (Merion GC), who is solidly in third place with a two-under 71. Rogowicz was largely mistake-free on the day, making par on 16 holes and adding birdies on holes 3 and 11. 

Bucknell GC’s Hannah Rabb and Jericho National GC’s Megan Meng are tied for fourth place and are the only other players under par with a 72 (-1). Rabb, who has been the runner-up in the PAGA Junior Girls Championship for the last three years, birdied 3, 12, and 15 to help keep her in reach of the leaders. Meng birdied five holes but was set back by bogeys on 7 and 17 and a double bogey on 11. 

A trio of golfers are tied for sixth place after shooting even-par 73, including Natasha Kiel (Jericho National GC)—who was runner-up in this event last year. Brooke Oberparleiter (Philadelphia Publinks GA), and McKylie Boreman (Carlisle CC) are also just four strokes back entering Day Two.

 Mid-Amateur Division

 It’s a tight race at the top of the Mid-Amateur Division leaderboard, with Green Oaks CC’s Katie Miller Gee holding a one-stroke lead over Northampton CC’s Katrin Wolfe. Miller Gee birdied a pair of holes to card a 77 (+4) while Wolfe finished at five-over with a 78. Wolfe birdied four holes but was hampered by a pair of double bogeys on the back nine.

 Plenty of other players are still in shouting distance of the top spots, with Alejandra Watkinson (Waynesborough CC) and Allison Wix (CC of Harrisburg) both tied for third place with seven-over-par 80’s. Behind them is a trio at 81 (+8): Laura Hilger (Allegheny CC), Barbora Millichip (Honeybrook GC), and Jocelyn Abel (Regents’ Glen CC), who are all tied for fifth and four strokes off the lead.

 Senior Division

Lisa McGill (Sunnybrook GC) opened up an incredible seven shot lead in the Senior Division, ending the day with a two-under-par 71.  McGill’s front nine was impressive, with birdies on holes No. 2, 3, 6, and 7. She added another birdie on hole 10 and only bogeyed three holes to build her advantage heading into tomorrow’s final 18 holes. 

“I think I was lucky,” remarked McGill. “I had some really good recoveries and the golf course allowed me to do it. The greens are really interesting – they’re fast and they’re undulating but I was just fortunate where my ball was landing and I was able to make some putts.” 

McGill is no stranger to pressure situations in big tournaments. She is a three-time PAGA Senior Division Amateur champion, having won titles in 2018, 2021, and 2022. 

“The competition is great,” said McGill. “So I think you go into a tournament and you get to see old friends, and often we have to travel but that’s fun and you’re more focused at the event. Tomorrow, I just want to make pars and not think about anything different, just put one foot in front of the other.” 

Loraine Jones (Merion GC) owns sole possession of second place with a five-over 78, while Melana Regan (Philadelphia Cricket Club) was into the clubhouse with an 82 (+9) for third place. Louise Gebhart (Hanover CC) sits in fourth place with an 83 (+10) while Steph Urban (Lawrence Park GC) and Michele Rubenstein (Merion GC) are tied for fifth place with scores of 84 (+11). 

Super Senior Division

 Huntsville Golf Club’s Barb Pagana, a two-time Super Senior Amateur champion and last year’s runner-up, fired an eight-over 81 to lead the field by two strokes after the first round. Birdies on holes No. 6 and 10 aided her cause and pushed her into the lead over a pair of golfers tied for second place: Cynthia Moore (Meadia Heights GC) and Ruth Averback (Old York Road CC), who both shot 83 (+10). Also still within reach is a pair of former Super Senior Amateur champions in Liz Haines (Merion GC) and Noreen Mohler (Northampton CC), who both finished the day with a score of 84 (+11) and are three strokes behind Pagana heading into tomorrow’s final round.

 The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Waynesborough Country Club for the hospitality shown during today’s rounds, with additional thanks going to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.