A pair of golfers from the same Ohio hometown, one a college senior and the other a freshman-to-be, share the lead after Wednesday’s first round of the Sally Championship at Oceanside Country Club in Ormond Beach.
Two-time defending winner Kary Hollenbaugh and 17-year-old Mia Hammond each shot 6-under-par 66 and lead the field by four shots after Day 1 of the tournament’s 100th anniversary edition. Both golfers are from New Albany, just outside Columbus.
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Hammond, who will become a Duke Blue Devil in the fall of 2026, got to 6 under with a day-ending flourish — she eagled the par-5 17th and birdied the par-4 18th. The rest of her day included four birdies and a lone bogey.
Mia Hammond shot 66 Wednesday to share the Sally lead after 18 holes.
Hammond made news this past summer when she won a professional event on the LPGA’s feeder league, the Epson Tour, in Toledo. She was the first amateur in five years to win on that tour.
Hollenbaugh, an Ohio State senior, made the turn in 4-under 32 (four birdies, no bogeys) before an eventful incoming nine, which included four birdies and a pair of bogeys.
Palm Coast’s Alexandra Gazzoli, a sophomore at Florida State, birdied the closing hole to finish at 2-under 70 and shares third place with 17-year-old Krishny Elwin of Orlando.
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Three others from the 96-player field were also under par Wednesday and share fifth place — Amelie Zalsman, Hsin Chun Liao and Nancy Cox.
The two leaders tee off one group apart for Thursday’s second round, both from the 10th tee. Hollenbaugh has a 9:21 tee time, while Hammond is in the 9:30 group.
All scores and tee times are available here.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 2-time Sally champ Kary Hollenbaugh shares 18-hole lead at 6-under 66
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