Her U.S. Amateur Sights Higher, Refreshed Klein Starts On Target : Golf: Studio City teen wins opening match, 4 and 2. A year ago, busy schedule led to early exit from prestigious women’s tournament.

Emilee Klein was happy simply to qualify for her first U.S. Women’s Amateur championship last year.

She had just won the Girls’ Junior title and was working on a two-week golf binge when she showed up in Hutchinson, Kan., for the U.S. Amateur.

Klein, of Studio City, fared well during qualifying, finishing one stroke behind the leader, but her busy itinerary caught up with her and she fell in the second round. Still, she was grateful for the experience.

This year, Klein will be grateful only for a championship. After defeating Tina Trimble of Houston, 4 and 2, Wednesday in the opening round of match play at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, she is well on her way.

“I was real tired last year,” said Klein, 18, who tied Trans National champion Debbie Parks for medalist honors in qualifying at one-under-par 143. “It was a tough road, going two full weeks without a day off. I was ready to go home.

“I’m not ready to go home now. I’m playing well; I feel fresh. If I lose this year, it won’t be because I’m tired. It’ll be because somebody was better than me. I have to go out there and just play my heart out.”

Trimble was 1 up after six holes, but the momentum quickly shifted. Klein drew even with a par on the par-five seventh hole, then sank consecutive birdie putts of 12 and six feet on the next two holes to take command.

“(Trimble) was playing very steady so I had to do something,” Klein said of her birdies at eight and nine. “I started to play aggressively and it worked.”

Trimble fell apart on the back nine with bogeys at the 14th and 15th. The match ended on the next hole when Klein pitched within four feet of the cup and Trimble hit into the surrounding water.

Klein, a graduate of Notre Dame High who is due at Arizona State on Monday for freshman orientation, advances to face teammate-to-be Wendy Ward today in the second round. Ward, a sophomore at Arizona State, beat Emma Rundle of San Antonio, 5 and 4.

The first round was not so kind to another area golfer, Heidi Voorhees of North Hollywood. Voorhees, a finalist last year, was ousted by Debbie Doniger of Greenwich, Conn., 5 and 4.

“I don’t know what happened,” said a dejected Voorhees, who will be a junior at USC in the fall. “I didn’t hit them badly. They just weren’t dropping for me this week.”