Locals crowd leaderboard

For the second year in a row, Spokane’s Chessey Thomas finished the first round of stroke play qualifying tied for the lead at the Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship.

Thomas, a St. George’s graduate who golfs for the University of Tennessee, shot an even-par 71 Monday in Victoria, B.C., good for a tie with Kyla Inaba of Kelowna, B.C.

She was joined by recent Lewis and Clark graduates Megan Haase and Sydney Kersten near the top of the leaderboard. Haase is in third place, one stroke behind Thomas and Inaba, and Kersten is tied for …

For the second year in a row, Spokane’s Chessey Thomas finished the first round of stroke play qualifying tied for the lead at the Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship.

Thomas, a St. George’s graduate who golfs for the University of Tennessee, shot an even-par 71 Monday in Victoria, B.C., good for a tie with Kyla Inaba of Kelowna, B.C.

She was joined by recent Lewis and Clark graduates Megan Haase and Sydney Kersten near the top of the leaderboard. Haase is in third place, one stroke behind Thomas and Inaba, and Kersten is tied for fourth place at 5-over 76.

Thomas had six birdies on the day to help offset four bogeys and one double-bogey.

All competitors will play 18 more holes of stroke play today to determine the match play field.

• Derek Bayley of Rathdrum shot a 2-over 74, good for a tie for 31st place, and Ferris product Eric Ansett shot a 13-over 85 on the first day of stroke play qualifying at the U.S. Junior Amateur in Stratham, N.H. The low 64 scores after today’s round advance to match play.