Yan Takes Early Lead at 106th Iowa Women’s Amateur; Lynch and Grimes Pace Senior Championship
Fresh off her victory at the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship, Ames’ Yinuo Yan (above) carried her momentum into the opening round of the 106th Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship at Hyperion Field Club, carding a five-under-par 67 to take the first-round lead.
Yan’s impressive round featured four birdies, an eagle, and just one bogey. Her eagle came on her 10th hole of the day, providing a key spark during a challenging afternoon of hot and humid conditions.
“I feel like I had great momentum coming into today,” Yan said. “I didn’t see my eagle go in, but my playing partners saw it. I’m just going to try and keep doing the best I can out there.”
Fellow Ames golfer Keeley Marx sits in second after an opening-round 70 (-2). Marx’s round included three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 15th hole, helping overcome a late double bogey and a lone bogey.
“I had a really solid day,” Marx said. “I just tried to stay patient. It was brutal out there with the heat. A lot of water helped (me today).”
Tied for third at one-under-par 71 are Bella Petersen and Ainsley Wilson. Wilson credited accuracy off the tee as one of the keys to navigating Hyperion Field Club.
“This course is playing narrow and not too long,” Wilson said. “Hitting fairways is important. It can difficult out of the rough out there.”
In the 61st Iowa Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, Paige Lynch of Ames and Kelly Grimes of Altoona share the opening-round lead after each posted a nine-over-par 81.
Just one stroke back at 82 are Geri Huser of Altoona and Tish Boothe of Des Moines, who are tied for third heading into the second round.
In the Super Senior Division, Leighann Larocca (right) of Waukee battled the morning heat to post a 13-over-par 85 and take the early lead. Her round was highlighted by a birdie on the seventh hole.
“It was hot out there,” Larocca said. “The birdie on 7 was a surprise. It’s better to be lucky than good some days.”
Kathy Fortune of Rockwell City sits in second place in the Super Senior Division after an opening-round 87 (+15).
With two rounds remaining, competitors across all divisions will look to continue navigating the demanding conditions and the tight fairways of Hyperion Field Club as championship week continues in Johnston.