Bowling Green, Fla - Kylie Chung of Cumming, Georgia, leads The Ninja Invitational Hosted by Janet Xiyu Lin after firing an impressive 7-under-par 66 in the first round.
This field features top junior girls from five countries and 14 states. It includes 53 past AJGA Champions and six Rolex Junior All Americans. Leading the field is Clairey Lin (No.3) who is the returning champion of this event. This field also features 14 committed college players.
Chung started her strong day with a birdie on the par-5 No.4 and added another birdie on No.8. She made the turn bogey-free and continued to build momentum with birdies on Nos. 10, 12 and 13. Despite her strong performance, Chung remained one stroke behind in second place as she entered the final three holes. She then birdied Nos. 16 and 18 to cap a strong round and take the lead outright.
Chung is currently No.31 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings. She already has three AJGA victories and is seeking her first invitational win.
"I think my plan is to continue to hit fairways...If I can do that, I should be able to hit the green and hopefully make the putt."
Following Chung, Alexandra Snyder of Orlando, Florida and Sahana Chokshi of Jacksonville, Florida are one-back tied for second place with a score of 6-under par.
After navigating the difficult par-4 No.2 with a birdie, there was no looking back for Snyder. She added six more birdies during the round and carded just one bogey to finish one stroke behind the leader.
Snyder is a 2025 Rolex Junior All-American and Wyndham Cup participant. She enters the event with three AJGA victories and three top-15 finishes in invitationals in 2026. She is seeking her signature AJGA invitational win this weekend.
Chokshi began her round on the back nine , starting on the par-4 No.12. She opened with consistent play, making a birdie on her first hole and remaining bogey-free through the turn to No. 1. Chokshi then carded an eagle on the par-5 No.5 to continue her strong play and put herself in position for a strong weekend.
Chokshi is committed to Vanderbilt University and is No. 120 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
Rounding out the top five are Clairey Lin of Palos Verdes Estates, California and Alisa Davidova of Roanoake, Virginia , who are tied for fourth at five-under par. Lin, the defending champion had a strong day with a bogey free round. Starting on the par-5 No.1, she birdied the first hole and maintained her momentum throughout the round. She is looking to become the first back-to-back champion of the event.
Davidova had a stellar bogey-free round. She began with birdies on Nos.4, 6 and 9 on the front nine. As she made the turn, she birdied Nos. 10 and 12 to highlight her scorecard.
About Janet Xiyu Lin
Janet Xiyu Lin has emerged as one of the most accomplished players in women’s golf, with 29 career top-10s and 85 top-25 finishes. Turning professional in 2011, she quickly made her mark on the CLPGA and LET before joining the LPGA Tour, where she has been a consistent contender for over a decade. Lin has represented China in three Olympic Games, finishing T4 at the 2016 Rio Olympics, T9 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and capturing a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the second Chinese woman to earn an Olympic medal in golf. She has also been a key contributor on Team China at the International Crown in 2016 and 2023. Known for her consistency, competitiveness, and ability to perform on the world stage, Lin continues to be a trailblazer for Chinese golf and an inspiration to aspiring players worldwide.
About The Janet Lin Pathways Project
In the second year of the event, tournament host Janet Xiyu Lin is thrilled to announce her newest initiative, The Janet Lin Pathways Project, during a welcome dinner for the tournament field. The project aims to create greater opportunities for young golfers by providing support for elite junior tournaments and training, as well as mentorship, international competition, and educational opportunities. Through partnerships and events in the U.S. and Asia, the project seeks to help talented young players gain access to the experiences and resources needed to advance their golf careers.