Furnish scores two birdies in opening round of USGA Junior Championships

Cedar Rapids Jefferson golfer Megan Furnish scored two birdies on the back nine to card a 7-over-par 79 Monday in the first round of the United States Golf Association Girls' Junior Championships at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club.

Furnish was out in 41 and in with a 38. The senior-to-be, who has verbally committed to play golf at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., shot even par on the South Course's four par-5 holes. She scored her first birdie on the 451-yard par-5 No. 10 hole. Her second birdie came on No. 14, a 131-yard par-3.

As of 4:01 p.m., Furnish, 17, was tied for 101st with seven others in the field consisting of more than 150 players. The top 64 players after two rounds qualify for a bracketed match-play competition.

Furnish, the only Iowan to make the event, will tee off for the second round at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, playing with Casey Danielson of Osceola, Wis., and Ally Shin of Canada again. Danielson shot 2-over-par 74 in the first round, while Shin had an 85.