Sofia Rivera Fires 69 in U.S. Junior Girls First Round

Sofia Rivera of St. Augustine opened the U.S. Junior Girls Amateur with a solid 3‑under‑par 69 on July 13 at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina. The Florida Times‑Union’s 2025 high‑school girls player of the year posted six birdies, tying for sixth place despite being six strokes behind Australian leader Amelia Harris. Harris surged with birdies on her final six holes, carding an 8‑under 28 on the back nine to take the early lead.

Birdie‑Bogey Pattern and Closing Stretch

On the front nine, Rivera collected birdies at holes 2, 4 and 9. The middle section saw her trade a birdie at the 10th for a bogey at the 13th, then swap another birdie at the 12th for a bogey at the 15th. She finished strong with a birdie on the par‑4 18th, sealing a respectable round.

Up Next: Match Play Prep

Rivera tees off from the 10th hole at 12:55 p.m. on July 14, three strokes clear of the cut line that guarantees a spot in match play. The top 64 performers will advance to the second round on July 15, giving her a comfortable buffer heading into the next round. Her uncle, two‑time PGA Tour winner Russell Knox, continues to serve as her caddie for the event.

Background and Future Events

The 18‑year‑old has already made a name for herself on the national stage. She teamed with Sahana Chokshi of Jacksonville at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Four‑Ball and recently became the youngest player in First Coast history to qualify for a U.S. Women’s Open, competing at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. Her 2025 recognition as the Florida Times‑Union high‑school girls player of the year underscores the rise of a promising talent who is quickly moving up the competitive ladder.

As she moves through the tournament, the focus will be on tightening up the front‑back nine transition and minimizing bogeys. If she can maintain the birdie frequency shown on the front nine while limiting the recent bogey streaks, she could climb into the top three and set up a more favorable match‑play showdown. The experience gained at this level will certainly aid her preparations for upcoming USGA events later in the year.