2026 Girls Junior Day 1 Recap

LEBANON, Pa. – Wildwood Golf Club’s Alyssa Zhang leads the field at the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) 63^rd Junior Girls’ Championship after the first 18 of 54 holes at Lebanon Country Club. Zhang finished her round with a five-under 67 (one of just four players to shoot par or better) and currently leads Myra Tomer (Cobblestone Creek Country Club) and Madison Koshko (Centre Hills Country Club) by a single stroke. 

Zhang put together an exceptional front nine which included five birdies (on holes No. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8) and pars the rest of the way for a 31 at the turn. She added a birdie on 10 and the only trouble spot was a bogey on 15.

 “On the front nine I was just sticking it closer to the pin and was able to make more putts,” said Zhang. “On the back I left myself with more downhill putts so I couldn’t just whack it and hope it goes in. I had to play more conservatively. But overall, I just played boring golf. I hit fairways and then I hit the greens and then it was usually a one or two-putt. I was really consistent and didn’t make that many mistakes.” 

Zhang finished in 19^th place at last year’s Junior Girls’ Championship and is in prime position to greatly improve on that as she heads into the final 36 holes on Tuesday.

 “It would mean so much to win,” said Zhang. “It feels like I haven’t won a tournament in so long. I didn’t play very well here last year so coming back and getting some revenge on this golf course would be really fun. I’m super excited for tomorrow. I’ll give it my all and see what I can do.” 

As mentioned, Myra Tomer (13^th place in 2025) and Madison Koshko (runner-up last year) are also within striking distance after shooting -4 (68) on Monday. Tomer birdied six holes (1, 2, 5, 7, 13, and 17) while Koshko birdied five (2, 4, 10, 16, and 18) as both remain in the hunt.

 Kiersten Bodge (Overbrook Golf Club) shot an even-par 72 and is five strokes back of the lead, while Jillian Burks (White Manor Country Club) rounds out the top five and sits at +1 (73).

 This year’s champion earns an automatic exemption into the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship, held July 13-18 at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C.

 Complete results for Monday can be found here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12367887739721396119

 The 63^rd PAGA Junior Girls’ Championship continues on Tuesday, June 30 with rounds two and three. 

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.