Maddie Szeryk Opens Up Six-shot Lead At Halfway Mark Of B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship
Team Canada's Maddie Szeryk Is Setting A Strong Early Pace For The Rest Of The Field, Holding A 6-Shot Cushion Through 2 Rounds At The B.C. Women's Amateur In Vernon - Image Credit Golf Canada
By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf
Maddie Szeryk is right where many thought she would be halfway through the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship at Vernon Golf & Country Club. The 20-year-old dual citizen from Allan, Tex., shot a four-under 69 in Wednesday’s second round to grab a commanding six-shot lead.
Szeryk had two birdies on both sides in a bogey-free round that left her at seven-under par through 36 holes. Surrey’s Michelle Kim, the 2015 B.C. Women’s Amateur champion, is alone in second at one-under. Kim shot an even-par 73 on Wednesday.
Szeryk came to the event as the clear favourite. She is Canada’s top-ranked amateur at No. 29 in the world and is coming off an impressive junior year at Texas A&M University.
Earlier this month, Szeryk won the prestigious Women’s Western Amateur Championship near Chicago. She finished 13th at the NCAA Division 1 Championships in late May and earned first-team All-American honours.
Szeryk is one of four members of Golf Canada’s national women’s team competing this week in Vernon. All four players are inside the top five after two rounds.
Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee is alone in third place at even-par. Grace St-Germain of Ottawa is fourth at two-over and first-round leader Naomi Ko of Victoria is fifth at three-over. Ko, the reigning Canadian Junior Girls champion, struggled to an 80 Wednesday after opening with a four-under 69 on Tuesday.
CHIP SHOTS: Three-time champion Christina Proteau of Port Alberni moved into sixth place at four-over after shooting a two-under 71 Wednesday. . .The final group of Szeryk, Kim and Lee will tee off at 9 a.m. in Thursday’s third round.
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