Emma Talley will play in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship next month in Connecticut after claiming one of eight available spots in qualifying action Monday in West Lafayette, Ind.

Talley carded a 2-over par 74 at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, tying her for runner-up honors and easily making the field for the national tournament, which will be played July 21-25 at the Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford, Conn.

Taking medalist honors in Monday’s qualifier was Julie Yang of Phoenix, Ariz., who fired a 1-under 71.

Talley tied with Michigan State signee Caroline Powers of Bowling Green, Ohio, for second place. They were five shots ahead of the next competitor.

Talley shot an even-par 36 on the front side of the Kampen Course. She overcame a double-bogey on No. 1 with birdies on Nos. 4 and 6. She needed just 13 putts on the first nine holes.

However, a three-putt on No. 11 resulted in a bogey and put her 1-over. Talley missed the green on the par-3 17th hole and finished the back side at 2-over 38.

However, that was still good enough for her to qualify for the U.S. Girls Junior with relative ease against the rest of the field.

The course was set up at 6,070 yards for the qualifying tournament.

It’s the second time Talley has qualified for the event. She also played in the U.S. Girls Junior two years ago in Charlotte, N.C.

The U.S. Girls Junior is the highlight of Talley’s July golf schedule. Established in 1949, the U.S. Girls Junior annually draws the finest young female players from not only the United States, but from many foreign countries.

Talley, who will be a freshman at Caldwell County High School, will travel to Wales, Wisc., next week for the AJGA Future Legends event July 8-11.

Following the U.S. Girls Junior, Talley will visit Memphis for the AJGA Standard Financial Junior Championship which will be played at TPC Southwind July 28-31.

Once school starts in August, Talley will turn her attention to defending her regional championship. Talley has claimed three straight regional titles and finished in the top five of the state tournament each of the past two years. She is Kentucky’s reigning Miss Golf.

Emma is a daughter of Dan and Jennifer Talley.