Ashley out to make a solid debut at US Girls’ Junior C’ship

PETALING JAYA: National golfer Ashley Lau Jen Wen is aiming for a fruitful three-week competition stint in the United States starting with a solid show in her US Girls’ Junior championship debut.

The 18-year-old from Bintulu secured a spot in the Under-18 tournament beginning today at the Poppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach in California, through one of its 40 qualifying sites from June 11-28.

She shot a par-72 for joint third placing to be one of the 10 players to advance from the Vista Valley Country Club on June 26.

The 156-player US Girls’ Junior consists of two days of stroke play, with the leading 64 competitors advancing into the match play knockout rounds.

Current top LPGA Tour stars – Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand (2011), Lexi Thompson of the United States (2008) and Park In-bee of South Korea (2002) – are among the notable former champions.

Ashley will be looking to go one better than national squad teammate Natasha Andrea Oon, who made it to the last 32 of the match play stage in Augusta, Missouri, last year.

“It’s a dream come true getting to compete in one of the biggest Under18 tournaments in the world,” said Ashley.

“But I really don’t expect anything much as it’s my first time and I’m competing against the best girls in the world. I would love to advance to the match play first.”

Ashley will take on some of the world’s best players of the age group, including defending champion Erica Shepherd of the US.

Ashley has warmed up perfectly by winning two tournaments in the Future Golf Champions (FCG) series in California – the FCG Challenge Cup at Pala Mesa Resorts on June 28 and the FCG International Junior Golf Championship at Sycuan Golf Resort on July 6.

Last Friday, Ashley finished a creditable fourth in the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego.

But Ashley reckons she faces a different challenge altogether in Pebble Beach.

“There will be familiar faces, but there will be stronger players too. It’s been a tiring few weeks of nonstop golf but I’m hoping to end my stint nicely.”

Ashley will return home to prepare for the Asian Games in Jakarta from Aug 18-Sept 2. After the Asiad, she will fly to the US to begin her freshman year at the University of Michigan, where she’s taken up a golf scholarship.