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Alton, IL - On a bright and sunny day in Illinois, 86 junior golfers took to course at Spencer T. Olin Golf Club. Boys and girls alike were vying for spots in the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur. Two qualifying spots and two alternate spots were available for the girls, and three qualifying spots and two alternate spots were available for the boys. Number of qualifying spots are determined and set by the USGA based on the number of registrations for each qualifier location. 

The girls started the day off at 7:00am. It was a tight race for most of the day, with only one player coming in under par. Audrey Rischer of Columbia, MO put together a bogey-free front nine to push herself ahead on the leaderboard early. Despite carding two bogies on the back nine, she was still able to remain under par. Rischer came in at two-under (-2) par to claim the Medalist honors and a spot in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur. Sitting behind her on the leaderboard, Madelyn Young of Mount Carmel, IL came in at one-over (+1) par. A back and forth round, Young still managed to return a score lower than her competitors and claim the second qualifying spot for the girls. Two players found themselves just outside the qualifying line, but still able to clench an alternate position. Page Bowman of Springfield, MO and Ashley Kirkland of Newburgh, IN came into the clubhouse with a score of two-over (+2) par. To determine who would be the first alternate and who would be the second alternate, a playoff was held. Only one hole was needed, as Kirkland would roll her putt in for birdie to win the hole and secure the first alternate spot. 

The first group of boys went off at 9:01am and the last tee time was at 1:03pm. Much like the girls, it was a tight race out on the course with players moving up and down the leaderboard til the bitter end. Coming in with one of the earlier groups of boys, Thomas Quinn of Hannibal, MO put up a strong round. A bogey-free front nine and two birdies on the back brought Quinn to three-under (-3) par and on top of the leaderboard. All that was left to do for Quinn was to wait and see how everyone else finished. Henry Robards of Jacksonville, FL put together a round of two-under (-2) par. Though it was an up and down round, he did make five birdies and an eagle on the par five, Hole 10. Robards then, just like Quinn, had to sit and wait it out to see how the players behind him came into the clubhouse. Coming in in the third to last group, Gaige Lewis of Springfield, MO put together a round to tie Quinn in the clubhouse. With five birdies on the day, Lewis finished at three-uner (-3) par. Following in the group behind Lewis, Bryson Hughes of St. Johns, FL decided to get a taste of the lead as well by putting up five birdies and finishing at three-under (-3) par. Quinn, Lewis, and Hughes all qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur as Co-Medalists. Robards fell into the first alternate spot with this result. William Bomkamp of Chesterfield, MO carded a round of one-under (-1) par to claim the second alternate position. 

Audrey Rischer and Madelyn Young will compete at Eisenhower Golf Club at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO on July 17-22. Should someone be unable to attend, Ashley Kirkland followed by Page Bowman will take their place. Thomas Quinn, Gaige Lewis, and Bryson Hughes will compete at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, SC on July 24-29. Should someone be unable to attend, Henry Robards followed by William Bomkamp will take their place.