Ha Edges Ku In Junior Girls' Championship

By Fred Behringer

TRENTON, N.J. Cindy Ha of Valley Brook Golf Course emerged from a crowd at the top of the leaderboard to claim a one stroke victory over Hana Ku of Basking Ridge Country Club in the 57th NJSGA Junior Girls’ Championship July 11-12th at Trenton Country Club.

The long-hitting Ha, a 14-year-old sophomore at Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, often hit wedges into the par-4 greens at the Trenton course, which covered 5,493 yards from the red tees. She managed two rounds of 75 for a 150 total in the 36-hole event, while Ku followed her opening 78 with a sparkling 73 on a day when a steady breeze and frequent stops for water helped the players overcome the temperature in the mid-90s as they carried their bags up and down the hilly course.

Taylor Totland of Trump National–Colts Neck paired a 78 and 74 to place third at 152, one stroke behind Ku. Noelle Maertz of Hyatt Hills and Abby Lim of Overpeck tied for fourth at 154.

Lim, who set the pace on the first day with a 1-under par 71, lost her lead immediately when she took a triple bogey on the first hole of the second round while Ha converted a one-foot putt for birdie. Lim got the lead back with a birdie on the second hole but lost it with a double bogey on the third, and Ha was in command.

Defending champion Alexandra Hershberger of Twin Brooks could not make a charge after shooting 77 in the first round and tied for sixth.