Morton Fires 70 to Take Early Lead at MN State Junior Girls' Championship

BLAINE, Minn. - A late birdie Tuesday helped Amelia Morton move to the top of the leaderboard at the 79th Minnesota State Junior Girls' Championship, shooting 1-under 70 at Victory Links Golf Course.

The recent Maple Grove High School graduate and University of St. Thomas commit will take a one-stroke lead over Selena Wu to Wednesday's second round.

An early bogey to begin her round Tuesday put Morton quickly at 1-over for the championship, but she would draw even following her first birdie of the round at the par-4 ninth.

Carrying momentum to the back nine, Morton converted her birdie opportunity at the 10th to move into red figures.

Carding a second bogey of the round at the 13th, Morton rebounded by rolling in her third birdie of the round at the par-5 16th to finish alone atop the leaderboard at 1-under 70.

Tallying a runner-up finish at the Class AAA championship June 12 at Bunker Hills Golf Club, Morton looks to improve on a fourth-place finish a season ago at Hastings Golf Club.

Runner-up a season ago, Wu bounced back from a triple bogey during her front nine Tuesday by sinking three consecutive birdies to close out her front nine at even par.

A steady Wu then carded nine consecutive pars during her inward nine to finish the opening round in second place at even par 71.

Annika Hendrickson, Briana Simek, Ava Hanneman, Sonja Johnson, Kieley Hanson and Alyssa Raghueveer will each begin Wednesday's second round in a share of third place after each opened the championship with a round of 2-over 73.

The second round of the 79th Minnesota State Junior Girls' Championship is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday at Victory Links Golf Course.