Lauren Hartlage (Elizabethtown, Ky.) withstood an early challenge from Japanese junior golfer Sora Kamiya and pulled away for a four-shot win at the Women's Orlando International Amateur (OIC) at Orange County National GC in Winter Garden, Fla.
Hartlage, a senior at the University of Louisville, took a two-shot lead into the final round, but back-to-back bogeys on the 4th and 5th holes allowed Kamiya to draw even.
Hartlage bounced back with a birdie 2 at the par-3 6th to regain the lead. The lead was still one shot through 11 holes, but she gave Kamiya no openings the rest of the way, with two more birdies giving her a closing 71 for a 6-under-par total.
Kamiya finished with a 73 and was the runner-up at 2 under.
Monet Chun (Canada) shot a 73 and was the only other player under par at 1 under.
The Women's Orlando International Amateur is the latest in the series of OIC events held over the winter break. Kyle Cox won the Men's OIC last week by six shots and the OIC for Juniors is being played at the Crooked Cat Course at Orange County National.
Related: Cox runs away with the Orlando International Amateur
DAY TWO RECAP
Lauren Hartlage (Elizabethtown, Ky.) has a two-shot lead with one round to go at the Women's Orlando International Amateur (OIC) at Orange County National GC in Winter Garden, Fla.
Playing the Panther Lake Course, the University of Louisville senior battled through gusty winds for an even-par 72 on Saturday to preserve a lead she claimed on Friday after a flawless 67 with five birdies and no bogeys.
Hartlage is gunning for her second win in Florida; last spring she won the Moon Invitational, hosted by Louisville and played at Duran Golf Club in Viera.
Sora Kamiya, a junior golfer from Japan who is playing her first big amateur tournament in the United States, shot the round of the day, a 3-under 69, to move into second, two shots back.
Monet Chun (Canada), who started the tournament with a 68, slipped to a 74 on Saturday but is still in good position, alone in third and three shots behind Hartlage.
ABOUT THE Women's Orlando International Amateur
The Women's Orlando International Amateur
Championship
is an
annual golf tournament gathering high-level
amateur
golfers from the United States of America and
abroad. 54-hole stroke play
championship, playing 18 holes per day.
Open to low-handicap amateurs, players who play
college golf, players who have qualified for any of
the
current year's USGA or R&A championships, and
those who have the recommendation of their
country’s Federation or Association.
View Complete Tournament Information