MONTICELLO – The opening round of the IWGA Women’s Amateur Championship saw higher scores than usual due to chilly and windy conditions Tuesday at Tippecanoe Country Club in Monticello. Indianapolis’ Julia Potter led the field with a 2-over-par, 74 and put herself in a good position to claim her third Women’s Am title.
Potter, a Penn High School grad and standout while at the University of Missouri, won her first two IWGA titles back-to-back in 2007 and 2008, and sits one shot ahead of Trish Witherby of Richmond and Rachel Welker of Terre Haute, both at three-over.

There are over a half-dozen area players in the field of 84, but just one, Kari Bellville of Granger, is within striking distance of Potter.

Bellville, also a Penn graduate and current member of the University of Notre Dame golf team, is currently at five-over with her 77 Tuesday and sits tied for seventh overall.

Melanie DeGroff of Elkhart is tied for 32nd after her 82 on the Tippy course. The 51-year-old is currently two shots better than Brenna Sherwood, also of Elkhart, and Heather Gladfelter of Goshen. Sherwood is a Memorial grad and current golfer for IPFW while Gladfelter, a Goshen High School product, currently competes with Drury University.

A trio of Lingenfelter sisters are also taking part in the tournament. The pride of Rochester, the family of 10 children has Kovenant currently at 16-over, 88 and in 59th place. Kovenant will be a senior at Rochester High School this fall.

Kinley Lingenfelter, an incoming sophomore at RHS, is tied for 77th overall at 22-over, 94 while Karsten Lingenfelter, twin sister of Kovenant, was one shot back of Kinley with a 95.

IUPUI sophomore and Manchester High School graduate Lindsey Budnik is tied for 67th with her round of 91.

For a complete leaderboard and information on the IGWA Amateur Championship, visit the Web site.