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Amelia Garvey is off to an impressive start to her big debut at the US Women’s Open, finishing her first round just three shots behind the leader on Thursday (Friday New Zealand time).
However, she was eclipsed by American Amy Olson, who hit a superb hole in one at par three 16 to finish day one as the clubhouse leader.
Garvey is competing as an amateur at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, and is one under par after shooting 70, including four birdies to make up for bogeys on the third, eighth and 11th holes.
Eric Gay / AP
Kiwi amateur Amelia Garvey is competing in her first specialty.
The 20-year-old Cantabrian lives in the United States and aspires to turn professional after finishing her degree at the University of Southern California.
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Birdies on 15 and 16 led her to tie seventh on a congested leaderboard, two shots short of the leader, but she finished tied for 12 after Olson made another clean shot with her hole in one.
Olson is chasing her first big hit and is the outright leader after shooting a 67 before the second round.
Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Lydia Ko is lower on the leader board.
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, Thai Moriya Jutanugarn, South Korea’s A Lim Kim and Filipino Yuka Saso are tied for second at three under par.
Meanwhile, Garvey’s compatriot, former world number one Lydia Ko, finished her pairs of rounds, one shot behind Garvey and tied for 24th.
Ko’s first round was much more erratic. He had three birdies, an eagle, three bogies and a double bogey.
