Vo Shares Co-Medalist Honors at U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.—Colorado rising sophomore Natalie Vo earned co-medalist honors with a share of the 36-hole lead at the 73rd U.S. Girls' Junior Championship, following her bogey-free 5-under, 68, on Tuesday.

Vo and Japan's Saki Baba both finished tied atop the leader board with a two-day score of 7-under par, 139.

The championship, held at The Club at Olde Stone, is playing at par 73 and 6,485 yards. The field of 156 will be narrowed down to 64 and the format will shift to match play on Wednesday for the remainder of the championship.

Vo turned in the lowest score of the day and matched Canada's Lauren Zaretsky's first-round 68 for the lowest round in stroke play. It was Vo's lowest round in 32 tournament rounds as a freshman, posting a 76.29 scoring average last season.

"I've been able to play with some of the best players in the world [in college]," Vo told USGA.org. "I feel like that helped me [for this championship]."

The San Jose, Calif., native, was Tuesday's early leader in the clubhouse. She started even through her first three holes, before closing with three birdies in the next six holes to go out at 3-under, 34. She started the back nine going par, birdie, par to get to 4-under on the day. Vo closed the day's scoring with her fifth birdie of the day at the 410-yard Par 4 15th.

Vo put herself within striking distance on Monday, shooting a first-round 71 (2-under). She carded four birdies in the opening round and was just three strokes off the lead.

It is Vo's first time advancing to the match play in three previous USGA events (two U.S. Girls' Juniors and a U.S. Women's Armature).

"It brings a lot of pressure just in general because it's such a big event," Vo added. "But I'm definitely confident going into match play."

Wednesday will start with a nine-player playoff to determine the last seven spots in the field of 64 for match play.   

Both the Semifinal and Championship Matches will be televised on the Golf Channel.