Akabane jumps out to 2-shot lead at California Women's Am

Ty Akabane, a Danville, Calif., native, moved herself one step closer to being the medalist and thus earning the No. 1 seed in this week’s California Women’s Amateur. Akabane, a high school senior who recent earned a top-1o finish at the PGA Girls Junior, opened stroke-play qualifying with a 5-under 67 at Quail Lodge Resort in Carmel, Calif. Her round included four birdies and just one bogey. She also made eagle on the par-5 fourth hole.

In second place, just two shots back, is Malaysian national Natasha Oon. Oon, who’ll start playing for San Jose State and new head coach Dana Dormann this fall, had six birdies, a double-bogey and a bogey for a 69.

Three players – Andrea Gomez, Charlotte Hillary and Lexi Keene – are tied for third after posting rounds of 70s.

San Jose’s Sabrina Iqbal, who won the title in 2016, opened with a 75. Defending champion Brooke Riley of Manteca is not back to defend her title.

Other notable scores include four-time champion and current California Senior Women’s Amateur champ Lynne Cowan with an 80, UC Davis’ Yoonhee Kim with 73 and Kathleen Scavo with 75. Kim caddied for winner Yealimi Noh at the recent U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at Poppy Hills GC.

Wednesday’s play will consist of another 18 holes of stroke-play qualifying. The low 32 will then move on to match play.

Thursday’s action will see both the Round of 32 and Round of 16, while Friday’s play will consist of the quarterfinals and semifinals. Saturday’s championship finale will be 18 holes.

Information from the NCGA used in this report