Talented Teens Perform With Sister Group At Porter Cup

LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — Last summer, as she watched her older sister on the green, she 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 16, returned to Niagara Falls Country Club and birdied seven times Wednesday to post a 5-under 65 and take 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 card at the Porter Cup, having tied for second with Weber last year at 8-over par a year ago.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Alexa broke par in her first round, finishing alone in third place at 1-under. The precocious teens from Queens, New York, were excited to be in the final group together on Saturday.

“It’s great to have my sister by my side,” Amélie said. “We play together almost every day. It’s great to play with her because she’s very effective under pressure and makes me win every putt. She’s always very competitive in a fun way.”

“But I’m not going to let her down. I’m going to let her know that I’m her big sister.”

“I’m really proud of both of us,” Alexa said, with the same confidence despite being a few inches shorter than her sister. “But I have high hopes for myself. I’m pretty pumped.”

Amélie has allowed her sister to borrow her favorite caddy, Leo, 18, who played golf in high school. Her mother, Jenny, carries Amélie’s bag.

“My brother usually caddys for me, but lately I’ve been lending him to my sister because he can help her calm down,” Amélie said. “I like having my mom here because she’s not very emotional. She keeps things under control 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 chess champions at a young age. Inspired by their mother’s musical background and their brother’s ballet dancing, the girls have gained some online fame for their singing. Amelie even wrote a book about mental toughness at age 12.

“We allowed them to explore different activities from a young age, which allowed them to grow in different ways,” says pharmacist Jenny Phung. “We didn’t limit them to chess or a particular sport.”

Over time, golf became the sisters’ favorite activity. They still play chess, but not in tournaments, and singing is now limited to “carpool karaoke,” Amélie says.

After winning junior tournaments and qualifying for the national Drive, Chip and Putt championships, the Phung sisters were hailed as “extremely talented individuals” by PGA teaching professional Bob Bigonette.

“It’s hard to say at such a young age how great they’re going to be, but Alexa is the best I’ve ever met. And I’ve met some really good ones,” Bigonette told PGA.com a few years ago. “She rarely misses a shot. Her fundamentals need work, but she’s as natural a gift as I’ve ever seen.”

Inspired by her sister’s strong performance and impressed by the Maid of the Mist boat ride on her first visit to Niagara Falls last summer, Alexa welcomed the invitation to compete in this year’s Porter Cup. And with her father Tam, an electrical engineer, tagging along with the sisters and their caddies, it’s become a family outing.

“It’s nice to be back,” Amélie said. “The whole area is really picturesque. I love the people here. Everyone is very polite. We like good things, especially my dad. And the course is always in great shape.”

“I’m really excited,” Jenny added. “Even though the journey can be stressful, it’s a great time for family bonding. And it will bring back great memories at the end.”