Greenwood, Ind. – Julia Porter’s chip in on 16 for eagle gave her a one-shot lead on the first day of the Indiana PGA Women’s Open at Hickory Stick Golf Club.
“My short game was really good today,” said Porter, a senior at Butler University. “I was fighting my swing a little bit on the front nine, but I had a lot of up-and-downs.”
After an almost six hour round in the mid-nineties, even par looked like it would hold at the top of the leader board. But with only a few groups left on the course, Porter shook things up, coming in with a two-under par 69, beating the heat as well as the rest of the field.
“I’ve always been told my best golf was yet to come,” said Porter. “I was a stand out in my area, which was a very small town, but never in the state. It would be huge to win this tournament.”
Also in the hunt is Carlee Cossell, a junior from Illinois State University, who fired a one-under par 70.
“I’ve played in these tournaments for six years,” said Cossell. “It would be really special to win.”
Porter and Cossell will play together tomorrow in the final group.
Breanna Patz, who was four-under par on the front nine, finished tied for third with Michelle Nash and Rachael Pruett who shot even-par 71s.