History was made at 7 a.m. AKDT when Pamela Chesla hit the opening tee ball of the 60th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. The Hope, Alaska, resident’s drive marked the first time a shot had been struck in a USGA championship in the Last Frontier, and with the beginning of play, Alaska became the 50th state to host a USGA championship.
While the venue and host state were new, the leader board had a familiar feel with three-time defending champion Lara Tennant at the top. She is joined at 2-over-par 74 by two-time runner-up Sue Wooster, 2019 quarterfinalist Lynne Cowan and championship newcomer Sherry Soto at the 5,762-yard Anchorage Golf Course.