Crofton’s Elyse Smidinger, the lone amateur in the field, fired a second-round 69 to make the cut in the Challenge at Musket Ridge, a first-year event on the Symetra Tour. The final round is Sunday in Myersville, Maryland. / File photo by Kevin Dunleavy
Chantilly graduate Jenny Suh (69-68 – 137) is tied for third place, four shots back in the Challenge at Musket Ridge, a first-year Symetra Tour event in Myersville, Maryland. Suh, who has finished in the top three the last two weeks ranks No. 11 on the Symetra money list. Players who finish the year in the top 10 advance to the LPGA.
Suh, who played at Furman and Alabama, will try to run down leader Misun Cho (69-64 – 133) of South Korea. With four birdies each on both nines, Cho matched her career-low round. The Pepperdine graduate is a two-time winner on the Symetra Tour, both victories coming in 2009. A thyroid condition held her back the following two years.
Recent Arundel graduate and two-time Maryland public schools champion Elyse Smidinger (75-69 – 144) rebounded with a strong second round to make the cut by four shots. Smidinger, the only amateur in the field, is a freshman this fall at Denver.
Another local, Ashley Greer (72-72 – 144) of Hagerstown, also made the cut in her first Symetra Tour event in two years. Former University of Virginia standout Whitney Neuhauser (74-67 – 141) also had a stellar second round. The Charlottesville native turned pro after her graduation in 2010.
