Meghan Vogt found success in the first USGA qualifying tournament in which she’s ever competed as the Broomfield resident on Tuesday shared medalist honors and earned a berth in one of the most prestigious girls tournament there is, the U.S. Girls’ Junior.
The 16-year-old matched her career low round by shooting a 2-under-par 70 and finished in a three-way tie for first place out of a field of 33 at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie.
Joining Vogt in advancing from Colorado National to the U.S. Girls’ Junior will be two international players, Annabelle Ackroyd of Canada and Ela Anacona of Argentina, both of whom also shot 70.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior will be held at Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach, Calif., July 16-21.
“It was my first USGA qualifier,” said Vogt, a junior-to-be at Broomfield High School. “Matching my lowest round ever felt pretty good. I was the second tee time off and there were 11 groups behind me. Coming in at 2 under was stressful because I wanted to get one of the spots and I knew there were a lot of good girls out there. So it feels really good to actually qualify for it.”
Vogt, the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour’s 2017 Girls Player of the Year, made six birdies and four birdies in Tuesday’s round. She drained birdie putts of 30 and 20 feet, and several from short distance.
“A United States Golf Association (event). I know it’s just a qualifier, but I’m proud of myself,” Vogt said. “I went into the day feeling really good on the range, the way I was hitting it.
“My putting has been really, really good the last few days. I was also hitting my wedges really well. So when I gave myself an opportunity for a wedge into the green, I’d use it to my advantage and knock it close and make the putt.”
Meanwhile, Ackroyd finished the day with five birdies and three bogeys, while Anacona carded three birdies and one bogey.
Two players in the field who qualified for the 2017 U.S. Girls’ Junior didn’t earn back-to-back trips as Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village fired a 72 and Nebraskan Shelby Poynter a 76. Also coming up short was 2017 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Girls Player of the Year Hailey Schalk of Erie. Playing on her home course on Tuesday, Schalk posted a 72.
U.S. Girls’ Junior
At Par-72 Colorado National GC in Erie
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Meghan Vogt, Broomfield 70
Annabelle Ackroyd, Canada 70
Ela Anacona, Argentina 70
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Malak Bouraeda, Southlake, Texas 71
Amy Chitkoksoong, Aurora 71
For all the scores from Tuesday, CLICK HERE.
