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LEBANON, Pa. - As Central Pennsylvania continues to deal with near-record heat, the first 18 of 54 holes at the 62nd Pennsylvania Golf Association's (PAGA) Junior Girls' Championship was completed on Monday at Lebanon Country Club. Alexandra Engart (RiverCrest GC & Preserve) sits atop the leaderboard after carding a two-under 70 in the first round. Engart, who will join the golf team at Division 1 Monmouth University in the fall, has a one-stroke cushion over Susquehanna Country Club's Hannah Rabb, who fired a one-under and has finished as the runner-up at this event for the last three years.
Engart started the day strong, with birdies on holes No. 2, 4, and six -- while the only trouble spot on the back nine was a bogey on hole 11. She birdied the difficult par-four 17th after a solid tee shot into the middle of the fairway led to a nice fade to within three feet of the hole to open up the one-stroke advantage
"I felt like I was hitting my driver really well and I hit a lot of fairways to put myself in good positions," said Engart, who is playing in the PAGA Junior Girls' Championship for the fourth time. "I had a great feel for the greens and I feel I have some great course knowledge from my past experiences. I know where you can miss it, where you can be aggressive, so I feel like I've come a long way since the first year. My game has improved a lot, especially the mental side, which helps. So many good players that I know have won this event so a win would mean a lot to me."
Rabb, who remains just one stroke back with 36 holes left to go, also birdied 17 but bogeyed three holes on the back nine after a mistake-free front nine. Behind her are three players tied for third after shooting even-par 72's: Madison Koshko (Centre Hills Country Club), Cora Hirz (Lake Shore Country Club), and Alaina Carson (GAP Youth on Course). The trio has plenty of PIAA plaudits to their names, as Koshko was this year's AA state champion, Hirz was fifth in that tournament, and Carson was tied for third in the AAA tourney.
Also still in the hunt is reigning PIAA AAA champion Mya Morgan (Nemacolin Country Club) and Kate Roberts (PAGA Individual Member) at one-over.
The 62nd PAGA Junior Girls' Championship continues on Tuesday, June 24 with rounds two and three.
Update- Due to the forecasted high temperatures, the Pennsylvania Golf Associaiton has decided to shorten the tournament to 36-holes. Players will play the final 18-holes Tuesday morning.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Lebanon Country Club for the hospitality shown during today's round. Additional thanks go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event as the title sponsor of the PAGA.
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