LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — Watching greenside last summer as her elder sister nearly became the youngest champion in Porter Cup history, Alexa Phung told a tournament official, "I can beat these girls."
Well, maybe all but one.
Amelie Phung, now aged 16, returned to Niagara Falls Country Club and made seven birdies Wednesday to post a 5-under par score 65 and establish a three-shot lead over 18-year-old Canadian Ella Weber after the first round of play in the women's tournament. It was Phung's first red number at the Porter Cup, after she tied for second place with Weber last year at 8-over a year ago.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Alexa broke par in her debut round, standing alone in third at 1-under. The precocious teens from Queens, New York were excited about the prospect of contending together in the final group Saturday.
"It's great to have my sister around," Amelie said. "We play with each other almost every day. She's great to play with because she's so clutch under pressure and makes me earn every putt. Always very competitive in a fun way.
"But I'm not going to let up on her. I'm going to let her know I'm Big Sister."
"I'm really proud of both of us," said Alexa, carrying equal confidence despite standing a few inches shorter than her sister. "But I have high hopes for myself. I'm pretty pumped up"
Amelie has allowed her sister to borrow her preferred caddie, 18-year-old brother Leo, who played high school golf. Mom Jenny is carrying Amelie's bag.
"My brother usually caddies me but lately I’ve been letting my sister borrow him because he can help calm her down," Amelie said. "I like having my mom out here because she’s not very emotional. She keeps it contained and it’s nice to have someone steady like that on the bag."
Golf is just one of the Phung sisters' many talents. Both became champion chess players at a young age. Inspired by their mother's musical background and brother's ballet dancing, the girls gained a measure of online fame for their singing. Amelie even wrote a book about mental toughness at age 12.
"We allowed them to explore different activities when they were young, and that allowed them to bloom in different ways," said Jenny Phung, who works as a pharmacist. "Not just limiting them to chess or a particular sport."
Over time golf has emerged as the favored activity for both sisters. They still play chess, but not at tournaments, and singing has lately been limited to "carpool karaoke," Amelie said.
Winning junior tournaments and qualified for Drive, Chip and Putt National Championships, the Phung sisters were praised as "immensely talented individuals," by PGA teaching professional Bob Bigonette.
"It’s hard to tell at such an early age how great they will be, but Alexa is the best I’ve ever met. And I have met some pretty good ones,” Bigonette told PGA.com a few years back. "She rarely misses a shot. Her fundamentals need work, but it is as natural a gift as I’ve ever seen.”
Inspired by here sister's strong performance and awed by the Maid of the Mist boat ride in her first Niagara Falls visit last summer, Alexa appreciated the invitation to play in this year's Porter Cup. And with father Tam, an electrical engineer, following the sisters and their caddies, it's become a family outing.
"It's nice to be back," Amelie said. "The entire area up here is really quaint. I love the people up here. Everyone is so polite. We love the good, especially my dad. And the course is always in great shape."
"Very delighted," Jenny added. "Even though it can be stressful on the course, it's a great family bonding event. And that will bring good memories in the end."
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.