Amateur Proves Her Place at US Open

Fearless 18-year-old Uribe sits near the lead after opening day
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 27, 2008 9:03 AM CDT
Amateur Proves Her Place at US Open
Ji Young Oh of South Korea acknowledges the gallery Thursday, June 26, 2008 as she finishes the first round of the U.S. Women's Open golf championship in first place with 6-under-67.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Lorena Ochoa may be the young golfing sensation who helped to edge Annika Sorenstam out of the limelight, but now she finds herself impressed by a new youthful challenger. Maria Jose Uribe, the 18-year-old reigning Amateur champion, finished the first day of the US Women's Open only two strokes off the lead in a tie for fourth place, the Washington Post reports.

"I like the aggressiveness," Ochoa said. "She's not afraid, and that's important." After the first day, Pat Hurst and Ji Young Oh are tied at the top with 67, followed by Song-Hee Kim (68), and three others, including Uribe, at 69. Ochoa finished at par-73. Another notable, Michelle Wie, struggled with an 81 and will need a great round to make the cut. (More golf stories.)

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