A Teenager Carded One of the Lowest Nine-Hole Scores in USGA History

Twenty-eight. That's not a typo. It's not a score from a scramble or a video game, either.

It's what Australian teenager Amelia Harris shot on her back nine Monday at the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at Old Chatham Golf Club, stringing together eight birdies over her final nine holes to produce one of the lowest nine-hole scores in USGA history.

To put Harris' back-nine blitz into perspective, only two other known players have ever posted a 28 over nine holes in a USGA event—Tom Kite at the 2012 U.S. Senior Open and Kenny Perry at the 2015 U.S. Senior Open.

Harris also set a new benchmark in the women's game, eclipsing the previous lowest known nine-hole score in a women's USGA championship: the 29s carded by Christina Kim at the 2001 U.S. Girls' Junior, where she went on to shoot the championship's first-ever 62, and Chella Choi during the 2015 U.S. Women's Open.

In other words, the 18-year-old didn't just have a hot streak—she produced a round that stands alone in women's USGA history.

"I just couldn't miss a putt on the back nine," Harris said after her electric performance. "Coming through the turn, I had missed a really short putt on No. 9 and thought to myself, 'Oh, I don't want to do that anymore.' So, I don't really have many words other than I putted the ball really well and got lucky on some shots."

Harris made the turn at 1-under par after an up-and-down front nine that included two birdies and a bogey. Then everything clicked. Birdies quickly fell on holes 10 and 11, she made a par on the 12th before continuing her birdie streak on her final six holes—for an astonishing run of eight birdies in her final nine holes to sign for a 9-under 63.

The 18-year-old from Queensland, Australia, is a budding star in amateur golf, and name to definitely watch for the next few years. Earlier this year, she captured the Australian Women's Amateur Championship, cementing herself as one of Australia's brightest young talents. Her next stop is the college ranks, where she'll join the University of South Carolina's roster this fall.

The U.S. Girls' Junior has long been a crystal ball for the future of women's golf. Champions and competitors have gone on to become major champions and world No. 1s—the list includes names like Inbee Park, Minjee Lee and Rose Zhang.

Stroke play concludes Wednesday before the field is cut to the low 64 players, who advance to match play. From there, it's win or go home until a 36-hole championship match determines the winner.

Fans can follow live scoring, match results and championship updates throughout the week here.