Nicole Morales survived difficult conditions during the opening round of the U.S. Junior Girls Championship at Lake Merced Golf 
Club in Daly City, Calif., shooting a 2-over 74. The 16-year-old from South Salem is tied for fourth place.
She finished with five bogeys and three birdies in winds that gusted to 23 mph during the round. Temperatures hovered in the 50s.
The low 64 players after tomorrow’s second round of stroke play advance to match play. Morales has made it to match play in this event in each of the previous two years. The junior-to-be at John Jay also made it to the Round of 16 at last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur.
