Kline makes U.S. Junior Amateur

Unionville grad to tee off at Inverness Club

Just 156 of the nation’s premier young golfers were able to qualify for the upcoming 72nd U.S. Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship, and Kennett Square’s Richie Kline is on the exclusive list.

A recent graduate at Unionville High School, Kline is scheduled to tee off at 1:31 p.m. from the famed Inverness Club in Toledo for round one on Monday. Following 36 holes of stroke play, which concludes on Tuesday, the field will be reduced to the low 64 scorers, and match play will begin on Wednesday.

The quarterfinals and semifinals are slated for Friday. The championship is scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on July 20.

“I’ve been playing golf ever since my dad introduced the game to me when I was only three years old,” Kline said. “Growing up as the youngest of four in my family, I have always been motivated to catch up with the big kids, whether in golf or any other competitions.

“In all that time, golf has taught me to control my emotions and maintain focus on the task at hand.”

During Kline’s high school career, Unionville captured the Ches-Mont league title all four years. The Indians won the PIAA 3A State Title in 2017 and were the runner-up in 2018.

UNIONVILLE’S COOLEY WINS NYC JR. OPEN

Another Unionville High standout is also having a noteworthy summer. Rising senior Jack Cooley grabbed medalist honors in the top age group at the New York City Junior Open last weekend at Marine Park Golf Course.

A Chadds Ford native, Cooley won the Boys 16-18 division on Sunday, carding a two-over-par 146 for the 36-hole event. He finished with two rounds of 73, good for a three-stroke victory over runner-up Elliot Zinser of Clover, S.C.

YAO MAKES CUT AT GIRLS’ JR. PGA

Berwyn’s Samantha Yao made the cut at this week’s Girls’ Junior PGA Championship in Hartford, Conn., and finished in 68th place in an elite field of 144.

A 2019 graduate of Conestoga High School, Yao fired a four-round round 72-hole score of 292, which is 12-over par at Keney Park Golf Course. Competitors from 36 states and seven countries were represented in the 44th annual stroke-play event held on July 9-12.

Yao made the 36-hole cut at fourover 72-72 and wrapped it up with a 73 and a 75 in the final two rounds. The 18-year-old Dartmouth recruit qualified for the Girls’ Jr. PGA by winning the Philadelphia Section Junior Championship on June 20th at Bellewood Golf Club in North Coventry.

PETE BANNAN — MNG FILE Richie Kline, here during a match for Unionville, is headed to the U.S. Junior Amateur.