Charlotte, N.C. – (July 18, 2006) -- Sixteen-year-old Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif., shot an 8-under 64 in the second round of stroke-play qualifying at the 58th U.S. Girls’ Junior Tuesday at Carmel Country Club.

Harigae’s lights-out round, which included nine birdies, earned medalist honors at 6-under 138 on the 6,396-yard, par-72 South Course. Sixteen-year-old Maria Jose Uribe, who played in the Women’s Open, finished alone in second at 4-under 140.

Fourteen-year-old Isabelle Lendl of Goshen, Conn., had the day’s next best round behind Harigae with a 5-under 67 that left her 3 under for the championship and tied for third with Lindy Duncan, 15, of Plantation, Fla., and Mindy Kim, 17, of Diamond Bar, Calif. Elisa Aoki, 14, of Bradenton, Fla., was the only other player to card in the red, at 2-under 142.

Mina Harigae was also the medalist at this year's U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. (USGA Photo Archives)

Fourteen-year-old MacKinzie Kline of Encinitas, Calif., granted the use of a golf cart because of a congenital heart defect, qualified for match play at 7-over 151. Her mother, Elizabeth, walked the course with an ice chest and applied cool towels every three to four holes.  Afterward she went to the medical trailer following the round to cool down and check all her vitals.

"My first nine were really tough," said Kline. "My first birdie of the day didn’t come until the 16th hole.

"My caddie and I have different versions of what happened on the front nine today.  But he calmed me down. He said, ‘I’m not worried, so you don’t need to be worried.  I’ll tell you when it’s time to worry.'"

The cut was established at 8-over 152. A playoff that featured 10 players for the remaining eight spots ensued.

Earlier this year at the Women’s Amateur Public Links, Harigae registered eight birdies during the second round of stroke-play qualifying to share the medalist honors. Her incentive is to win for more than one reason.

“If I win,” said Harigae, playing in her fourth Girls’ Junior, “my mom said I can get a car. If I win the Women’s Am, I get my choice.”

Immediately out of the chute Harigae birdied two of her first three holes, draining a 10-footer for her first birdie on No. 10. “I started getting dialed in,” said the 2003 semifinalist who took 26 putts overall.

“On some holes I was just thinking par, or ‘OK, get out of there with a two-putt,’” said Harigae.

The 8-under tally tied the four-time California State Women’s Amateur champion’s best personal round of 8-under 62, which she set in 2004 at the Polo Golf Classic. The record for lowest round in a Girls’ Junior is held by LPGA Tour pro Christina Kim, who carded a 62 in 2001.

The rest of the field couldn’t catch Harigae because sizzling temperatures in the mid-90s, coupled with a baking sun, firmed up the course. Uribe made a valiant effort, getting as low as 5 under, but three successive bogeys on the 14th, 15th and 16th holes ruined the bid. However, Uribe did convert on a 10-footer for birdie on the 17th, then sunk a 6-footer for another birdie to salvage the round.

“It was a really good score,” said Uribe of Harigae’s day. “But most of the time the girl who is medalist doesn’t win the tournament.”

Kim, playing in her first USGA event, bogeyed the 18th to fall out of a tie with Uribe. She has never competed in match play before.

“I was pretty nervous the first day of qualifying,” said Kim. “Some girls were saying you needed to shoot 2 over to make the cut. So I was like, ‘What if I don’t make the cut? Oh my gosh.’”

In bolting up the leaderboard, Lendl birdied three of her final four holes. She capped off the round with a slithering 14-footer hole-high on No. 9 that snuck in. But she was bolstered by 30-foot runner for par on the second hole, 25-footer for birdie on the par-3 seventh and 36-footer on No. 12 that snaked its way in.

More than her putting, Lendl’s ball-striking was solid in striking every fairway, 15 of 18 greens and going 3 for 3 in up and down situations even if her dad bounced between 16-year-old sister Marika (8-over 152)  and her.

The focus now for her turns to match play, the second time she’s qualified.

“Match play is a little different strategy,” said Isabelle. “I’m not going to give that up. It’s a secret.”

The U.S. Girls’ Junior is one of 10 national championships for amateurs conducted annually by the USGA. The Association also conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Senior Open.

Story written by Ken Klavon, USGA Web Editor. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.

Second Round Stroke-Play Qualifying Results

Charlotte, N.C. – Results after the second round of stroke-play qualifying Tuesday at the 2006 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the 6,396-yard, par-72 Carmel Country Club:
* denotes in playoff:

Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif., 74-64--138
Maria Jose Uribe, Colombia, 70-70--140
Isabelle Lendl, Bradenton, Fla., 74-67--141
Lindy Duncan, Plantation, Fla., 71-70--141
Mindy Kim, Diamond Bar, Calif., 71-70--141
Elisa Aoki, Bradenton, Fla., 72-70--142
Patty Chawalitmetha, Bellflower, Calif., 71-73--144
Joanne Lee, San Carlos, Calif., 69-76--145
Kristina Wong, Vestal, N.Y., 71-74--145
Sally Watson, Scotland, 72-73--145
Taylore Karle, Scottsdale, Ariz., 73-72--145
Ayaka Kaneko, Honolulu, Hawaii, 71-75--146
Christine Song, Fullerton, Calif., 75-71--146
Sara Hurwitch, Potomac Falls, Va., 73-73--146
Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga., 71-75--146
Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif., 73-73--146
Kate Scarpetta, Moosic, Pa., 73-74--147
Kimberly Donovan, Hopkinton, Mass., 73-74--147
Kristie Smith, Australia, 74-73--147
Lila Barton, Dallas, Texas, 71-76--147
Vicky Hurst, Melbourne, Fla., 72-75--147
Wonjoo Choi, Korea, 74-73--147
Cydney Clanton, Concord, N.C., 76-72--148
Grace Na, Oakland, Calif., 75-73--148
Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii, 77-71--148
Lisa McCloskey, Montgomery, Texas, 74-74--148
Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla., 74-74--148
Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii, 78-70--148
Alexandra Bodemann, Palm City, Fla., 75-74--149
Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo., 73-76--149
Britney Choy, Wahia, Hawaii, 74-75--149
Cassandra Blaney, Rochester, N.Y., 79-70--149
Ellen Mueller, Evansville, Ind., 76-73--149
Ellie Arkin, Reedsburg, Wis., 74-75--149
Jane Rah, Torrance, Calif., 78-71--149
Jennifer Kirby, Canada, 73-76--149
Margaret Pentrack, Pittsburgh, Pa., 73-76--149
Marina Alex, Wayne, N.J., 76-73--149
Natalie Sheary, West Hartford, Conn., 77-72--149
Courtney Harter, Clearwater, Fla., 74-76--150
Emily Johnson, Warsaw, Ind., 75-75--150
Jaclyn Sweeney, Bradenton, Fla., 77-73--150
Kelsey Lindenschmidt, West Chester, Ohio, 70-80--150
Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Canada, 73-77--150
Megan Grehan, Mamaroneck, N.Y., 76-74--150
Ariana Patterson, Carmel, Calif., 75-76--151
Brianna Do, Viet Nam, 77-74—15
Dakoda Dowd, Palm Harbor, Fla., 76-75--151
Esther Choe, Scottsdale, Ariz., 73-78--151
Jennifer Hirano, Pinole, Calif., 75-76--151
Jenny Shin, Torrance, Calif., 79-72--151
Kimberly Johnson, San Diego, Calif., 80-71--151
Mackinzie Kline, Encinitas, Calif., 72-79--151
Sydney Burlison, Salinas, Calif., 76-75--151
Tanya Wadhwa, India, 72-79--151
Taylor Weaver, Spartanburg, S.C., 78-73--151
*Ashley Edwards, Antioch, Calif., 75-77--152
*Ashley McKenney, Scottsdale, Ariz., 78-74--152
*Cheyenne Woods, Phoenix, Ariz., 77-75--152
*Katie Conway, Wading River, N.Y., 78-74--152
*Katie Detlefsen, Eagan, Minn., 79-73--152
*Kelsey Vines, Austin, Texas, 78-74--152
*Marika Lendl, Bradenton, Fla., 77-75--152
*Tiffany Dong, Sacramento, Calif., 72-80--152
Failed To Qualify
*Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C., 75-77--152
*Madison Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla., 76-76—152
Chelsey Cothran, Springdale, Ark., 79-74--153
Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz., 80-73--153
Molly Plomaritis, Eden, N.C., 82-71--153
Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif., 80-73--153
Rebecca Durham, St Simons Island, Ga., 77-76--153
Rebecca Lederhausen, Hinsdale, Ill., 78-75--153
Alex Rankin, Anderson, S.C., 74-80--154
Hunter Ross, Manakin Sabot, Va., 80-74--154
Kyung Kim, Wailulu, Hawaii, 79-75--154
Amelia Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., 77-78--155
Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass., 78-77--155
Felicia Espericueta, Edinburg, Texas, 82-73--155
Gabriella Dominguez, Chilton, Texas, 76-79--155
Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz., 75-80--155
Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg, Pa., 78-77--155
Seohee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash., 77-78--155
Corrine Carr, Pinehurst, N.C., 78-78--156
Erika Thornton, Knoxville, Tenn., 82-74--156
Jillian Brodd, Knoxville, Tenn., 80-76--156
Lindsey Solberg, Middleton, Wis., 77-79--156
Mariko Tumangan, San Jose, Calif., 78-78--156
Pam Burneski, Canada, 76-80--156
Sarah Almond, Albemarle, N.C., 75-81--156
Anya Sarai Alvarez, Tulsa, Okla., 76-81--157
Haley Millsap, Pace, Fla., 77-80--157
Hannah Yun, Bradenton, Fla., 83-74--157
Victoria Arena, Lansdale, Pa., 78-79--157
Victoria Fallgren, Lakewood, Calif., 78-79—157
Anne Catherine Tanguay, Canada, 77-81--158
Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky., 77-81--158
Katie Sylvan, San Diego, Calif., 81-77--158
Marisa Kamelgarn, Mahopac, N.Y., 82-76--158
Mia Kabasakalis, Alameda, Calif., 77-81--158
Nicole Ferrero, Lodi, Calif., 75-83--158
Mary Michael Maggio, Conway, Ark., 82-77--159
Megan Trachok, Upper St Clair, Pa., 82-77--159
Sarah Bejgrowicz, Lancaster, Pa., 81-78--159
Shannon Fish, Spring, Texas, 76-83--159
Ahnna Kim, Irvine, Calif., 79-81--160
Alexandra Borcherts, Las Vegas, Nev., 86-74--160
Betsy Birchall, Birmingham, Ala., 79-81--160
Beverly Vatananugulkit, Cerritos, Calif., 81-79--160
Erica Omlid, Springfield, Ore., 81-79--160
Katrina Hegge, Seattle, Wash., 78-82--160
Meghna Bal, India, 78-82--160
Neelam Patel, Clarksville, Tenn., 78-82--160
Andrea Watts, Lone Tree, Colo., 80-81--161
Courtney Figueroa, Naples, Fla., 81-80--161
Kayla Cline, Socorro, N.M., 85-76--161
Mariah Montoya, Lubbock, Texas, 79-82--161
Miki Ueoka, Lihue, Hawaii, 76-85--161
Nara Shin, Chula Vista, Calif., 78-83--161
Amy Meier, Rochester Hills, Mich., 79-83--162
Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis., 82-80--162
Casey Ann Kennedy, Venice, Fla., 80-82--162
Christine Cho, La Crescenta, Calif., 77-85--162
Emily Childs, Alameda, Calif., 83-79--162
Emma Lavy, Fayetteville, Ark., 81-81--162
Jessica Wallace, Canada, 84-78--162
Jordan Allyne, Bellevue, Wash., 79-83--162
Julia Thead, Poway, Calif., 83-79--162
Kyle Roig, Pembroke Pines, Fla., 83-79--162
Lauren Weaver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 83-79--162
Rachael Pruett, Linton, Ind., 82-80--162
Sherlyn Popelka, Switzerland, 80-82--162
Stephanie Kim, Bayside, N.Y., 79-83--162
Allyson Ferguson, Houston, Texas, 78-85--163
Ashley Lance, Franklin, Tenn., 84-80--164
Haley Stephens, Greer, S.C., 82-82--164
Hayley Brown, Canada, 85-79--164
Melissa Mabanta, Canada, 87-77--164
Paula Andrea Hurtado Restrepo, Colombia, 83-81--164
Ashley Kaufman, Clark, S.D., 83-82--165
Caitlin Bliss, Katy, Texas, 79-86--165
Jessica Hollandsworth, Floyd, Va., 80-85—165
Katrina Delen-Briones, San Francisco, Calif., 86-79--165
Veronica Valerio, Temecula, Calif., 84-81--165
Brittany Kelly, Fishers, Ind., 86-81--167
Sara Hemingway, Kingwood, Texas, 85-83--168
Amanda Arrington, Hinton, Okla., 85-84--169
Brittany Penny, Peoria, Ariz., 87-82--169
Jenna Zamprelli, Castle Rock, Colo., 85-84--169
Hannah Collier, Birmingham, Ala., 88-83--171
Kelsey Meyer, St Louis, Mo., 86-85--171
Mabrie Cain, St Peters, Mo., 83-88--171
Jessica Parmenter, Peoria, Ill., 86-86--172
Mariah Stackhouse, Atlanta, Ga., 89-84--173
Elizabeth Welker, Lake St Louis, Mo., 90-86--176
Sharon Shin, West Linn, Ore., 91-89--180
Mary Kate Boyce, Oak Lawn, Ill., 93-93--186