GAINESVILLE, Va. – Amanda Sambach of Charlotte, North Carolina, jumped into the lead after the second round of the 30th Rolex Girls Junior Championship. The four-time AJGA champion opened the tournament with consecutive rounds of 2-under-par 70 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club to give herself a one-stroke lead at 4-under-par 140.
The Rolex Girls Junior Championship is one of the most prestigious events on the AJGA schedule. The tournament boasts several high-profile champions, including Kellee Booth, Brittany Lang, Inbee Park, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Ariya Jutanugarn and Alison Lee. In addition to its notable past champions, the all-girls Invitational is known for its distinguished host venues, which includes LPGA International, Long Cove Club, The Country Club of North Carolina, Promontory Club, Dalhousie Golf Club and Concession Golf Club.
Sambach made a bogey on No. 4 but bounced back with a birdie on No. 7. After making the turn at even-par 36, she made a bogey on No.10, but then she quickly moved up to the top of the leaderboard with three birdies on Nos. 11, 12, and 14.
The 2021 grad earned three AJGA victories in 2019 at the Callaway Golf / Ollie Schniederjans Junior Classic presented by UHY LLP CPA's, the AJGA Girls Championship and the PING Junior Solheim Cup. She had one victory in 2020 at the AJGA Junior Open presented by VisitFayettevilleNC.com. Sambach is No. 37 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and is committed to play golf at the University of Virginia in the fall.
Catherine Rao of Camarillo, California, and Alexa Pano of Lake Worth, Florida, are T2 at 3-under-par 141.
Rao owns one AJGA victory at the 2018 AJGA Junior All-Star at Wood Ranch. She had a strong 2020 with a fourth-place finish at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship and a T3 finish at The PING Invitational to round out her year. Rao is No. 10 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
Pano has two AJGA victories, one being the 2019 Rolex Girls Junior Championship. She is a four-time first-team Rolex Junior All American and is No. 39 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
Grace Summerhays of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Catherine Park of Irvine, California, are T4 at 1-under-par 143.
Summerhays finished T8 at the 2020 Rolex Girls Junior Championship. Of her last eight AJGA tournament appearances, Summerhays owns five top-10 finishes. The Arizona native is No. 29 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
Park has one AJGA victory at the 2019 Se Ri Pak Junior Championship and seven top-10 AJGA finishes. The California native is No. 35 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
Third-round tee times will run from 7 - 10:50 a.m. off No. 1 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on Thursday, June 17.
About Rolex
Rolex and Golf
Rolex is committed to the permanent quest for excellence in all its endeavors and has been a long-term supporter of golf in its pursuit of the same. The brand’s enduring relationship with the sport began more than 50 years ago, in 1967, when Arnold Palmer, joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, became the brand’s first golfing Testimonees. Known together as The Big Three, these legendary players changed the face of golf forever, and their partnership with Rolex marked the beginning of a relationship based on the shared commitment to continuous improvement and unwavering precision. Since then, the affiliation has grown and flourished, permeating every level of the game worldwide. From elite players and golf legends, to all the game’s Major championships, where success represents the pinnacle of achievement in the sport, as well as the foremost professional tours and worldwide amateur championships, Rolex is ever-present. In 2021 Rolex further deepened its support by becoming a Worldwide Partner of The Ryder Cup, to act as Official Timekeeper at every iteration of the sport’s pre-eminent team competition. The Swiss manufacturer’s support for the game is built on a strong sense of integrity and respect for tradition that promote the continuity of expertise and transfer of knowledge, and an understanding of the importance of investing in the sport’s development for future generations.
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex, a Swiss watch manufacture headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products. Its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 500 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, Rolex is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.