Blair leads after Day 1 at Women's Am

LEHI — Fourteen-year-old Sirene Blair strolled around Thanksgiving Point Golf Club on Monday, showing no nerves or any other sign of being intimidated by the older and more experienced golfers with whom she's competing.

That's why the Elk Ridge Middle School student from South Jordan will tee off in today's second round of the 103rd Utah State Women's Amateur golf tournament with a two-shot lead after firing an opening-round, 2-under par 70 on Monday.

"I don't really worry about what other people are doing," Blair said. "I just focus on my game, stick to my routine and hit my shots."

Blair had two birdies on the front side, a double-bogey six on the tough par-4 sixth, and then came home with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14. Even though she did win the UGA Winter Champs in March, she said Monday's round on the long and difficult Thanksgiving Point layout was the best of her life.

"I was putting really well today, hitting good drives and consistent approach shots," Blair said.

Blair has a small cushion in the three-day, 54-hole event over BYU golf coach Sue Nyhus and Cougar freshman-to-be Anika Afoa. Both turned in an even-par 72 on Monday.

"The golf course is in excellent shape and the greens are holding, so that helped," said Nyhus, the Women's Amateur champion in 1985 and 1999.

Afoa also overcame a double-bogey with back-nine birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 to post her even-par score. Nyhus had two birdies and three bogeys for a front-side 37, but closed with a 35 on the back nine by also posting a birdie on the par-4 13th.

Three shots back, after firing 73s on Monday, are Colorado State senior-to-be Natalie Stone, Julie McMullin and three-time champion Lachell Poffenberger. Stone was minus-two at one point but came in with bogeys on Nos. 12, 16 and 17. Poffenberger survived a triple-bogey seven on No. 9 and bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18 by posting four birdies.

"The birdies are out there, it just comes down to course management — putting the ball where it has to be to score well," Poffenberger said.

Still in good position with opening-round 75s are Sadie Palmer and Kari Lawrence. Shooting 77 were Amanda Snyder, Aimee Williams, Dee Price and Monica Fox. At 78 are Emily Copier, Natalie Weber, Jordan Ulibarri, Deborah Rees, Lea Garner, Mikayla Williamson, Stephanie Fox and Carmen von Bothmer.

"The depth and quality of our field is getting better very fast," Nyhus said. "There are 30 players who could have a good week and win this."

One factor that could help those back in the pack is that the leaders tee off last today, around 9:30 a.m. On Monday, those who teed off later in the day had to deal with high winds, while those who played early had calm conditions.

e-mail: jimr@desnews.com