Alpharetta’s Emily Kurey, along with Roswellians Jessica Haigwood and Rinko Mitsunaga already knew they were three of the top junior golfers in Georgia. Now, after their showing yesterday in the first round of the Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge match, they can chalk up South Carolina as another state they’re taking over.

Thanks to their performances, team Georgia took a 10-2 lead after one round in the annual Junior Challenge match. The participants in the Challenge qualified by finishing in the top four in their state’s respective junior tournament. Georiga’s junior tournament was played at the Capital City Club in June. Haigwood took top honors in that while Kurey and Mitsunaga tied for second.

Haigwood proved her Georgia junior girls state championship was no fluke by posting the biggest win of the day in the match play event. Haigwood took down her opponent Chelsey Couch of Ware Shoals, SC, 6-and-5. In match play scoring, this means Haigwood had a 6-hole edge with only five holes remaining while playing the Harbor Club course in Greensboro, Ga.

Not to be outdone, Mitsunaga and Kurey both had impressive performances of their own. Both girls won their match 4-and-3. Mitsunaga defeated Easley, SC native Kristi Goodman while Kurey took down South Carolina junior girls state champion Lauren Dunbar.

The match play event is scored using the Nassau Format where one point is awarded to the person who is leading after every nine holes and one more point to the overall winner of the match for a total of three possible points earned per match. Mitsunaga, Kurey and Haigwood all earned three points for team Georgia.

The Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge match is a two round event that will conclude today. The North Fulton triumvirate, along with fourth teammate Rachel Dai of Suwanee, can clinch the challenge championship today by earning only two and a half points.

Three Locals to play in U.S. Women’s Amateur

In other ladies golf news, three skilled North Fulton golfers will be in Charlotte, N.C., this week to play in the 110th U.S. Women’s Amateur. Caitlin Pisciotta, Amira Alexander and Margaret Shirley all have qualified for the prestigious event. Shirley missed qualifying for the LPGA’s U.S. Women’s Open last year by one stroke.

The amateur will tee off tomorrow with two days of stroke play. On Wednesday, the field will be narrowed down to the top 64 players and the format of play will go from stroke to match. From Wedneday thru Sunday, the 64 remaining players will be narrowed down to one in single elimination match play.

The 110th U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion will be crowned on August 15. Past amateur champions include LPGA legend Juli Inkster and current LPGA star Morgan Pressel.