Watertown, Connecticut (July 8, 2024) – Highlighted by a hole-in-one on the par-3 15th hole Yvette O’Brien has jumped out to a commanding first round lead at the 3rd Connecticut Girls’ Junior.
Already 4 under on her round O’Brien, the 2022 Connecticut Girls’ Junior winner, stepped to the tee on the 134-yard par-3 15th at Watertown Golf Club looking to continue her stellar day. With a light breeze blowing O’Brien lofted a nine iron high into the warm summer air and watched as the ball slammed into the cup for a hole-in-one.
“I took a little bit off of my nine iron. I swung at about 80% and then it dunked in so that was pretty cool,” Yvette O’Brien said of her third career ace and second in competition.
With the ace, O’Brien jumped to 6 under which is where she finished the day signing for a 6 under 65. O’Brien will now carry a three-shot lead into the second round.
O’Brien (EClub of Connecticut) jump-started her day with a birdie on the opening par-5 and then moved to 2 under with a birdie on the par-3 fourth. After making the turn in 2 under 34 the TCU commit found another gear converting birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 setting the stage for her hole-in-one on No. 15.
However, with two rounds still remaining O’Brien isn’t getting ahead of herself saying, “You can’t win the tournament on day one. But you can lose it for sure, and I’m just going to stay patient out there and take it one shot at a time.”
Juyeon Pauk (YOC Connecticut) made a late move with two birdies on the back nine to finish 3 under and she will begin day two in second place. Junxi Guo (EClub of Connecticut) is in third place at level par, Zorah Williams (Stonington CC) is in fourth place at 1 over while defending champion Annie Dai (Fairview Farm) and Arabella Lopez (Redding CC) share fifth at 3 over.
The 3rd Connecticut Girls’ Junior will continue on Tuesday with the second round slated to begin at 10 a.m. before play concludes with the final round on Wednesday.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Girls’ Junior Amateur 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.
