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We are down to just two competitors at the U.S. Girls' Junior and we couldn't have two more contrasting individuals. You have the much ballyhooed Kimberly Kim, who at 14 in 2006 became the youngest U.S. Women's Amateur champion in history. This will be her four USGA amateur championship final, but first in the U.S. Girls' Junior. She is a two-time runner-up at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship (2006 and 2009) and was a member of the victorious 2008 USA Curtis Cup team. She also was a member of the 2006 USA Women's World Amateur Team Championships squad. This is her sixth and final Girls' Junior. She is headed to the University of Denver in the fall.
Then you have Amy Anderson from the small town of Oxbow, N.D. She is playing just her second USGA championship, having reached the second round of match play at last year's Girls' Junior. She is 17 and headed to North Dakota State in the fall. She scored a 31 on her ACT, but she doesn't have the golf resume of Kim. She doesn't compete in AJGA events nor does she travel the country each and every summer. But this week she has shown mettle and the flair for the dramatic, holing out a chip on No. 18 in her semifinal match on Friday to force extra holes.
Either way, the storylines are remarkable.
The weather looks to be ideal for the final. The sun is up this morning and the forecast calls for a cool start and then warming up like yesterday. There is a 20 percent chance of a show this afternoon. It looks like a great day for golf.
A quick update on players who have reached three different USGA amateur championship finals.
Hall-of-Famer Carol Semple Thompson has played in three (U.S. Women's Amateur, U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur and USGA Senior Women's Amateur.
So has Philadelphia legend Jay Sigel (U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur).
Here are a two more: Danny Green (U.S. Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur, U.S. Amateur Public Links.
Vicki Goetze (U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, U.S. Girls' Junior and U.S. Women's Amateur)
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