Harwinton, Connecticut (June 23, 2026) – Shawna Aurora (eClub of Connecticut) set the pace at Fairview Farm Golf Course on Tuesday, carding a 3-under-par 6on9 to claim medalist honors at the 5th Connecticut Girls’ Junior presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop.
Aurora’s round was the low score of the day by a single stroke, as Emory University commit Juyeon Paek (Lyman Orchard) finished at 2-under 70 to earn the two-seed in the now set quarterfinal field.
In third place was Georgia State commit Arabella Lopez (Redding CC) checking in at 2-over 74 in third, followed by Sophia Potvin (YOC Connecticut), Nina Dahl (Club at River Oaks), and Caroline Cleary (Lake of Isles GC), all of whom posted 4-over 76s to share fourth.
Maddie Chang (Ridgefield GC) at 5-over 77 and Sadie Lee (Tashua Knolls GC) at 7-over 79 rounded out the bracket.
Aurora played a nearly flawless round of golf, recording just one bogey on the par-4 17th while converting birdies on Nos. 3, 9, 13, and 18.
Talking after the round, Aurora spoke about the impact of her early birdie.
“Birding an early hole, I don’t like it,” Shawna Aurora said. “It just sets a weird mood, but I just settled in with consistent drives. I (also) felt really comfortable around the greens.”
The shot of the day, by her own account, came on the par-4 15th. After a tee shot that drifted into an adjacent fairway with no line to the pin, Aurora striped a blind 9-iron from 130 yards to inside of seven feet, setting up a par to keep her round bogey-free.
Despite not converting her birdie on No. 15, Aurora successfully navigated a tricky adjustment on the greens. She had played a practice round at Fairview Farm GC on Monday in faster conditions, but overnight rain slowed the surfaces considerably come Tuesday morning.
“I like playing fast greens, but after the rain it kind of slowed everything down,” she said. “Adjusting to the greens was something I did very well today.”
Weather, in general, doesn’t seem to rattle her. Aurora said she actually welcomes the elements.
“I like playing in the bad weather; I prefer straight bad weather. It’s something that I know affects other players, but growing up, I loved playing in the rain. Once it affects me, then it’s like, okay, I gotta get back into my groove, my rhythm.”
Now turning her attention to match play, Aurora said the format actually suits her mindset even better than stroke play.
“I like match play better because a certain hole doesn’t define you,” she said. “You can have a blow-up, you can get a nine, but (then you) just move on. The mindset is just to be comfortable with what you’re doing. If you’re uncomfortable with a shot, back off. Play solid.”
Aurora will enter Wednesday’s quarterfinal matches as the top seed and will be on the tee at 8 a.m. in the first match. Following the quarterfinals on Wednesday morning will be the semifinals in the afternoon. The week will then wrap up with the championship match at 8 a.m. on Thursday morning.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Girls’ Junior Amateur presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
