Stephanie Kono leads US Public Links qualifiers

Stephanie Kono made six birdies Tuesday in a four-under-par 68 to earn medalist (leading qualifier) honours at the US Women’s Amateur Public Links championship.
The 19-year-old Kono, who completed her freshman year at UCLA in the spring, ended the stroke-play qualifying at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Massachusetts at six-under 138.
Annie Park, 14, is second at 139.
Also moving into match play are USC stand-outs Lizette Salas (T-8) and Golfweek’s Women’s Player of the Year Jennifer Song (T-12), 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Kimberly Kim (T-25), and Auburn All-Americans Cydney Clanton (T-8) and Candace Schepperle (T-29).
Song was last year’s runner-up. Salas was last year’s joint leading qualifier for the match-play stages.
LEADING QUALIFIERS.
Par 144 (2x72) 6,627yd
1. Stephanie Kono 70-68--138
2. Annie Park 70-69--139
3. Whitney Neuhauser 71-69--140
4. Brittany Altomare 71-70--141
4. Alice Kim 69-72--141
4. Joanna Coe 70-71--141
4. Caroline Kim 72-69--141
8. Lizette Salas 68-74--142
8. Cydney Clanton 69-73--142
8. Sara-Maude Juneau 69-73--142
8. Leanne Bowditch 71-71--142
Sixty-four qualifiers down to and including 152