Jennifer Peng sets records in U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Berkeley Hall

Jennifer Peng set multiple scoring records on Sunday en route to earning medalist honors in the 34th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

The 25-year-old from California fired a 6-under-par 66 on the North Course at Berkeley Hall Club – the lowest 18-hole score in championship history – for a 36-hole total of 8-under 136.

Her 136 total broke the previous 36-hole scoring record set by two-time champion Julia Potter-Bobb in 2019 at Forest Hills G.C. in Flagstaff, Ariz., by two strokes. Peng, who earned the No. 1 seed for match play that begins on Monday, finished eight strokes clear of 2018 champion Shannon Johnson, of North Easton, Mass., and Jamie Freedman, of Aventura, Fla., both of whom finished at even-par 144.

The cut for match play came at 15-over 149, with five players vying for the final spot in the match-play draw.

Peng, who shared the 18-hole first-round lead with Johnson and Sarah Gallagher after shooting 2-under 70 on Saturday, took advantage of scoring opportunities early on Sunday. Starting on the 10th tee, she birded the first two holes and picked up a third on the par-3 14th.

“It was an unbelievable day. I was just out there having a good time; putts were dropping, and I got lucky on a couple shots. I haven’t played like this in years,” Peng said.

For the second consecutive day, she made an eagle 3 on the par-5 15th – this time without the need for her putter. After hitting her second into the front-right greenside bunker, Peng holed out her third.

“It bounced on the green, had the perfect break and went right in. We were all shocked,” said Peng, a 2018 Yale University graduate who recently relocated back to her native San Diego after working in New York City following college. “I can’t remember the last time I had an eagle in tournament play and now here I did it on the same hole.”

After trading a pair of birdies and bogeys on her second nine, Peng capped her round by rolling in a 50-foot putt for birdie on the 373-yard, par-4 ninth.

Three-time U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur champion Lara Tennant shot 74-71 to earn the No. 4 seed, while Lana Weant, of Lubbock Texas, finished 73-72 to earn the No. 5 seed. Tennant, 54, of Portland Oregon, carded the lone under-par round of the morning wave, and one of only three on the day.

The round of 64 was Monday followed by two rounds of match play both Tuesday and Wednesday before the 18-hole championship match on Thursday at 9 a.m. Spectators are welcome to attend, and admission is free.