West Virginian top qualifier in U.S. Girls’ Championship qualifier
By Jennifer Todd, P.J. Boatwright Intern • June 12, 2024
PITTSBURGH — Two golden tickets were on the line Tuesday at Shannopin Country Club, and the fight for those tickets and the right to play in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship did not disappoint.
Following an eventful 18-hole Sectional Qualifying Round, West Virginia native Kerri-Anne Cook, a rising freshman at Glenville State University, came out on top by shooting a 2-over 74 and defeating three other players in a one-hole playoff.
“I feel like my shots into the greens and around the greens were really good,” said Cook. “And my putting really helped me today.
“My driver was kind of rough towards the middle of my round, but I got it lined out for the last few holes.”
Canadian Nobelle Park finished second in the competition, also qualifying for the national championship in Tarzana, California July 15th-20th. Her twin sister, Kaprice, and Western Pennsylvania native Alyssa Zhang earned first and second alternate positions.
Throughout the day, leads constantly changed, as did the temperature, with girls switching from pullovers to shirts constantly as the wind picked up through the hilly terrain.
Ultimately, the challenging layout of Shannopin provided no under-par scores, but did result in a pressure-filled playoff, where Cook was able to find the winning touch.
“I tried to lay one just short of the green,” she said. “I had a lot of run outs, so I was just trying to keep it close to the green.”
Next, for Cook and Nobelle Park, is that much-coveted trip to California — a dream for amateur girl golfers throughout the country.
“I’ve played in tournaments like this a few times,” Cook said. “This, however, is the first time I’ve qualified for something big like this.”
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About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.