Stevens Is Medalist At Michigan Girls Junior Amateur

Sophie Stevens Medalist Again at Michigan Girls’ Junior State Amateur

  EAST LANSING – Sophie Stevens of Highland is the stroke play medalist and top seed for match play for the second consecutive year in the Michigan Girls’ Junior State Amateur Championship.

  Stevens, 16 and home-schooled, shot a 4-under 68 for a two-day 7-under 137 total and secured medalist honors by six shots.

  Last year’s overall runner-up in the championship, Kate Brody of Grand Blanc, shot a 71 for 143 and will be the No. 2 seed.

  Bridget Boczar of Canton, the GAM Junior Kickoff champion this summer, and Elise Fennell of Caledonia each shot second consecutive 72 scores for 144 and tied for third. Laura Liu of Rochester Hills was next with a 73 for 145.

  The defending overall champion, Lauren Timpf of Macomb, missed the cut into the 16-golfer match play bracket following a 78 for 158.

  Two rounds of matches Wednesday and Thursday will determine this year’s overall champion. Brackets are available at GAM.org.

  The 15-and-under division also starts an eight-golfer match play bracket Wednesday and they will be led by co-medalists Lillian O’Grady of Grand Rapids, who shot 74 for 148, and Diya Brar of Seattle, who shot 73.

    Stevens said she was excited about being medalist for a second consecutive year and had a plan for match play.

  “I will be trying to hit as many fairways and greens as I can and make some putts, kind of stay consistent and try to make as many birdies as I can,” she said.

  She made four birdies in her round, including an approach shot on No. 14, and said she was comfortable on the course.

   “I hit a lot of good solid irons, which really helped today,” she said. “I had some good irons Monday but there were more in the middle of the green and not really close to the pin. I hit a lot more shots close to the pin today, which really helped.”

   Stevens, who played in the U.S. Junior Girls’ Amateur recently, said she picked up a new putting method while competing on the road.

  “It has helped my putting a lot,” she said. “I kind of pick a spot in the middle of the putt and try to roll my ball over that. I’m sticking with it right now and kind of experimenting with it, too.”