Elayna Bowser Leads Michigan Women’s Amateur After First

Dearborn’s Elayna Bowser Leads After First Round of the Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship

  SPRING LAKE – Dearborn’s Elayna Bowser set the first-round pace in the 103rd Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship presented by Carl’s Golfland.

  The recent Loyola of Chicago graduate who plans to turn professional this fall, and last year’s runner-up in the championship, shot a 1-under 71 Monday to top the field at Spring Lake Country Club.

  A second round will be played Tuesday to determine the low 32 scorers through 36 holes. Those players will be seeded by score and advance to match play starting Wednesday. The tournament continues with single elimination match play through Friday afternoon to determine a champion.

  Bowser, who last year lost in the championship match to Kerri Parks of Flushing in 19 holes, had a two-shot lead on a trio of golfers.

  Spring Lake member Anna Kramer, a University of Indianapolis golfer and the 2016 GAM Champion, shot 73 to open, as did Natalie Samdal of Caledonia and Julia Stevenson of Highland.

  Kaitlin Ifkovits of Grosse Pointe and Danielle Staskowski of Clarkston were next with 74s, and another Spring Lake member, Kayla Krueger, and Lilia Henkel of Grand Rapids carded 75s.

  RESULTS: First round scores can be found at gam.org.