USGA Mid-Amateur Champion Julia Potter started off her
season as medalist during the opening round of the IWGA Match Play Championship
at Heartland Crossing Golf Links. Potter
fired a 4-under-par 68, with an impressive 31 on the front nine.
“The key to my round today was my putting,” said Potter of
Indianapolis. “I played really
consistently today except for my double bogey on 10. 10 always seems to have my number, so I need
to keep that in mind tomorrow and not let it get in my head.”
Potter’s round consisted of seven birdies today coming on
the par-3, 2nd, the par-5 3rd, the par-4 4th,
the par-4, 7th, the par-4, 8th, the par-5, 13th,
and the par-4, 15th.
“This is my first event since the Mid-Am,” Potter said. “I am happy with how I played today. Obviously my goal is to win the event, but I
also hope to continue to make putts and play as consistently as I did today.”
Newburgh’s Kayla Katterhenry finished second today and just
one shot behind Potter with a 3-under-par 69.
Katterhenry claims the number two seed heading into the match play
portion of competition.
“Today my putter really saved me,” Katterherny said. “I had five putts in my first four
holes. Tomorrow I’m not going to think
about my round today or focus on score, but play each hole individually.”
After today, the field was cut to the top sixteen players
who will advance to match play. Martinsville’s
Jaclyn Schindler and Fishers’ Mary Ellen Romero claimed the 15th and
16th seeds after firing 6-over-par 78s.