Yachun Chang, 17, Chinese Taipei
- Attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
- Has signed to play her college golf at the University of Arizona this fall
- Quarterfinalist in the 2016 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship
- Has played in two professional events in her native Chinese Taipei
Lei (Angelina) Ye, 16, People’s Republic of China
- Has two American Junior Golf Association victories, including the 2018 Annika Invitational
- Played in the 2018 Symetra Tour’s Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, finishing tied for seventh
- Attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
- Has verbally committed to attend Stanford University in 2019
Path to semifinals:
- 3 and 1 victory over Whitney Britton/Avery French
- 3 and 2 victory over Lauren Gomez/Olivia Yun
- 3 and 2 victory over Ty Akabane/Briana Chacon
Megan Furtney, 17, of Chicago, Ill.
- Has verbally committed to play her college golf at Duke University in the fall of 2019
- With partner Erica Shepherd, shot a 61 in qualifying to make the field, the lowest sectional qualifying score in the championship’s history
- In 2016 lost in the Round of 32 in both the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (with partner Julia Parker) and U.S. Girls’ Junior
- Had a partial finger amputation after a freak accident, causing her to miss the entire 2017 summer golf season
Erica Shepherd, 17, of Greenwood, Ind.
- Has verbally committed to play her college golf at Duke University in the fall of 2019
- Won the 2017 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship
- Is playing in her seventh USGA championship
- Her full name is Erica Leigh Shepherd. The “Leigh” comes from Leigh Anne Hardin, the 1998 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion. Leigh is a close family friend and mentor to Erica.
- Qualified for the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open and will be playing in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open as an exempt player for winning the 2017 U.S. Girls’ Junior
Path to semifinals:
- 3 and 1 victory over Alexandra Swayne/Sarah Willis
- 2 and 1 victory over Haley Moore/Gigi Stoll
- 2 and 1 victory over Momoka Kobori/Hira Naveed
Katrina Prendergast, 20, Sparks, Nev.
- Junior at Colorado State University
- Set a school record as a freshman with a 73.69 scoring average
- Majoring in business administration with a concentration in management
- Won two individual Nevada 4A state championships in high school
- Advanced to the Round of 16 in last year’s championship
- Likes to hike, swim, wakeboard, play basketball, run and snowboard
- Will be competing in next week’s NCAA Division I regionals in Austin, Texas, as an individual
Ellen Secor, 20, Portland, Ore.
- Sophomore at Colorado State University
- Majoring in business administration
- Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 3
- Advanced to the Round of 16 in last year’s championship
- Will be competing in next week’s NCAA Division I regionals in Austin, Texas, as an individual
Path to semifinals:
- 4 and 2 victory over Calynne Rosholt/Chandler Rosholt
- 4 and 2 victory over Hailey Borja/Chayse Gomez
- 1 up victory over Katherine Gravel-Coursol/Paige Nelson
Leila Dizon, 18, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Graduates from Marlborough High School this spring and will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall
- Advanced to the Round of 64 in last year’s U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship
- Advanced to the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals (14-15 division) at Augusta National Golf Club in 2015
- Volunteer coach for The First Tee of Greater Pasadena
Irene Kim, 17, La Palma, Calif.
- Kim is playing in her first USGA championship
- Won the CIF-Southern Section individual girls title in 2017
- Has committed to attend Northwestern University in the fall of 2019
Path to semifinals:
- 2 and 1 victory over Lauren Peter/Lindsay May
- 2 up victory over Yoonju (Mary) Shin/Jennifer Cai
- 1 up victory over Izzy M. Pellot/Chloe Schiavone
Compiled by Julia Pine, manager of championship communications for the USGA. Email her at jpine@usga.org.
