Zalsman, Cantonis (66) First-Round Leaders in Oklahoma

Amelie Zalsman, 16, and Charlotte Cantonis, 18, carded a bogey-free, 5-under 66 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 10th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. 

Cantonis and Zalsman, from Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla., respectively, carded five birdies in total, including back-to-back birdies from Zalsman on holes 6 and 7, followed by a third consecutive birdie for the side by Cantonis on No. 8. 

“There were up and down moments for both of us throughout the round, and we definitely saved each other on a couple of holes,” said Zalsman. “But I think our teamwork was just great today.”

Off the course, Cantonis is set to join Auburn University this fall while Zalsman, a member of the U.S. National Junior Team, attends a boarding school in the Bahamas.

Twin sisters Janae and Jasmine Leovao fired a round of 4-under-par 67, finishing as the solo side in second. The duo was two strokes back of the leaders through 16, when Jasmine hooked her drive into the first cut. She quickly recovered, hitting a 3-wood to seven feet and sinking the birdie putt. 

“That was my best shot of the day,” said Jasmine. “I thought Janae was in perfect position, so I just thought I’d hit it and see what happens.”

The Leovao twins, from Oceanside, Calif., are currently attending Long Beach State University and have quickly made a name for themselves. Last year, Jasmine made history as the back-to-back Big West individual champion while sister Janae earned First Team All-Big West honors after competing in the lineup in every event during the season.

On a day that featured a significant breeze, four sides finished the first round in a tie for third place at 3 under par, including the mid-am pair of Megan Buck and Shannon Johnson and the Florida duo of Catherine Andino and Nicole Sardinha. 

“Trying to judge the wind and how the ball was going to release made it very challenging,” said Buck. “It was playing tough. It was hard to get the ball really close to the hole. If we had any birdie look, that was a positive today.”

Oregon natives Natalie Yen and Asia Young were also among the sides at 3-under-par 68. The duo competed in last year’s Four-Ball and intend to lean on that experience this week.

“I think we're ready. We’ve played a lot more together and have become really good friends,” said Young. “It feels great to keep playing as a team. There’s no pressure – it's like ‘we’re in this together.’”

Notable

• Nicole Iniakov, Mi Li and Anna Ritter are all competing as solo players in the championship, with their partners unable to participate. Ritter was the low solo side, finishing 2 over par on her own ball.

• Meredith Finger is the daughter of Matt Finger, who partnered with Michael Korcuba in the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and lost, 6 and 5, to defending champions Nathan Smith and Todd White in the Round of 32.

• Only two sides recorded bogey-free rounds, and both were in the same foursome: Megan Buck and Shannon Johnson, Amelie Zalsman and Charlotte Cantonis.

• One of last year's medalists, Katelyn Lehigh, of Loveland, Colo., is competing this week alongside a new partner, Amelia Garibaldi, of Stockton, Calif. The Fresno State teammates finished among the sides at 3 under par. Lehigh played with older sister, Lauren, last year. 

• Fourteen-year-old Harlow Gregory, of Norman, Okla., hit the championship’s opening tee shot. 

• Skylar Dean and Reagan Ramage were disqualified following a violation of Rule 4.1.

Quotable

• “We learned a lot about course management, where to hit for certain pins, stuff like that. Oh, and we’re decked out in gear.” – Meadow Tian on training with the Ohio National State Team and the accompanying apparel package  

• “Without them we wouldn’t be the team we are, they are awesome. And they help us stay grounded.” – Catherine Andino on having her mother and playing partner Nicole Sardinha’s father caddying for them this week

• “Both of us are in the golf industry. Shannon is a sales rep for PING in the Boston area, and I do mostly club fitting in a local retail shop in Boston as well. We are around golf all the time.” – Megan Buck on her and playing partner and fellow mid-amateur Shannon Johnson’s careers off the golf course

• “We’re just trying to go out there and have fun. We’re not going pro anytime soon, obviously, so we are just treating this as not having to be at work. Really just trying to enjoy ourselves and not put too much pressure on the outcome.” – Shannon Johnson on her and Megan Buck’s approach to the week

• “It was funny actually, because when [Jasmine] was standing over the ball, I was saying ‘This is about to be the most insane birdie,’ and then I called it,” – Janae Leovao on watching twin sister Jasmine hit a recovery shot after a hooked drive on No. 17