Girls Golf: Griffin opens with 78 at Optimist International Junior Golf Championships in Florida

Eaglecrest senior-to-be Jamie Griffin carded a 6-over-par 78 Thursday in the opening round of the 2012 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships.

Playing on the Palmer Course at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Griffin collected 11 pars, one birdie, five bogeys and one double bogey to put herself in a 9-way tie for 21st place among 122 golfers from around the world in the girls 15-18 age group. The tournament continues with three more rounds Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Griffin tees off at 8:51 a.m. ET Friday on the Squire Course.

In the opening round, Griffin played with Maria Edwards of Texarkana, Texas, Carly Goldstein of Coral Springs, Fla. and Victoria Chandra from Denpasar-Bali, Indonesia. Chandra and Goldstein had the best score of the foursome with matching 74s, while Edwards finished with an 84.

Colorado’s other qualifiers didn’t fare quite as well, as Thornton’s Sarah Hankins sits in 52nd after an 82, the same score as Boulder’s Kelly Moran.

Jordan Sunset of Boulder carded an 84, Loveland’s Kelsey Peterson finished with an 88, Denver’s Alexandria Trask carded a 97 and Boulder’s Megan McCambridge turned in a 98.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555