On May 4-5, 2019, 36 of the nation’s top-ranked junior girls teed it up on the River Course of Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA, the host of the LPGA Tour’s Pure Silk Championship played this May.
The event, the LPGA Pure Silk Championship Junior Invitational, was conducted by the Middle Atlantic PGA just weeks before the LPGA Tour Professionals walk the same fairways. All 36 players were invited to participate in the 2019 event, vying for the ultimate prize: an exemption into the Monday Qualifier for the LPGA Pure Silk Championship.
The event was shortened to 27 holes due to inclement weather.
Taking home the title and the exemption was future Virginia Tech Hokie, Rebecca DiNunzio (Norfolk, VA 2019), who fired a first round of 67 (-4) followed by an even par front nine on the final round for a total of four under for the tournament. DiNunzio made five birdies on day 1 followed by 9 straight pars on the front nine of her final round.
Firing birdies down the final nine holes of the tournament was Katherine Schuster (Kill Devil Hills, NC 2021), who finished just one stroke behind DiNunzio. Schuster’s first round of 70 (-1) followed by a two under par front nine in the final round made for an exciting finish to the event. During the final nine holes, Schuster charged forward with four birdies, which included a tap in birdie on the final hole of the tournament.
In third place was Vynie Chen (Centreville, VA 2020) who’s first round of 74 (+3) and even par final round secured her a solo third place finish for the tournament. Chen’s rounds featured a total of four birdies over the 27 holes.
DiNunzio will tee it up among professional golfers at the Monday Qualifier of the LPGA PureSilk Championship on Monday, May 20th. We look forward to watching Rebecca compete inside the ropes!
A special thanks to the Middle Atlantic PGA and the LPGA Pure Silk Championship for providing such an incredible opportunity for these young female golfers – who we hope to see on the inside the ropes of the LPGA Tour down the road!
Leave a Reply