It may be the United States Women’s Amateur, but it’s drawing an international contingent from the qualifying held Monday in Colorado.
Of the five golfers who earned spots in the national tournament, one is from the Philippines, another from Ireland and a third from Canada. Throw in two Coloradans, and you have a very geographically-diverse group.
And each player knows the magnitude of the event.
“This will be the biggest (non-team) tournament I”˜ve played in, for sure,” said Sarah Faller, a qualifier from Ireland who plays for the University of Denver. “The U.S. Am — it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Faller, Kristin Walla of Aspen and Stephanie Simich of Canada shot 4-over-par 75 Monday at Green Gables Country Club to share medalist honors in the qualifying, which drew 38 entrants. Joining them at the U.S. Women’s Amateur will be two players who shot 76: Becca Huffer of Denver and Texas Tech golfer Beverly Mendoza, a native of the Philippines. (Pictured are, from left, Simich, Faller and Walla.)
The national tournament will be contested Aug. 9-16 at Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club.
Huffer will be playing in her second U.S. Women’s Amateur — and 11th USGA championship, including five U.S. Girls’ Juniors and four U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links. She’s advanced to match play six times in her first 10 USGA tournaments.
“USGA events are always a lot of fun,” said the Notre Dame golfer, who made it to the second round of match play in the U.S. Women’s Publinks last month. “They’re always great tournaments to play in, and the Women’s Am is the top one for amateurs as far as the USGA goes.”
On the other end of the spectrum is Faller, who had never even tried to qualify for a USGA event before Monday.
“I’m pretty happy,” said the junior-to-be at DU. “I’ve played this course every day for the last two weeks (in preparation for Monday). I know every pin position, every tee box. I was ready to go.”
For Walla, the 2008 CWGA Match Play champion, Monday was likely her final chance to earn a berth in the U.S. Women’s Amateur as she tentatively plans to turn pro by the fall. She’s looking to be a golf instructor in La Quinta, Calif., beginning in October, then possibly at trying to qualify for the Futures Tour.
Qualifying for the Women’s Amateur “was a big focus for me this summer,” said the 2009 University of Texas graduate. “It was a big reason for me to stay amateur this summer.”
Walla went almost a full year without playing a golf tournament, but got back into the swing starting in late May. And now she’ll compete in her third USGA championship after qualifying for a couple of Women’s Publinks previously.
“In a lot of ways, I feel my game is as good as it’s ever been,” she said. “I feel like I’m finally out of winter mode.”
Simich has played three seasons of college golf at the University of Colorado, but said she won’t be going back for her senior season. She’ll work on her game back home in the Toronto area with the hopes of turning pro in a year or so. In the meantime, the Women’s Amateur should be a good measuring stick for her game.
“USGA events are definitely the ones everyone strives to be in in order to compete against the best,” she said.
Green Gables certainly proved a good test, as well. With its small, fast greens, the course yielded only 12 scores under 80 on Monday.
“The greens are so small, we have a joke when we play here as a team (DU) that if you hit two greens in a row you’re on fire,” Faller said. “You seem to miss every second green, and even when you hit greens, it’s hard putting. You’re scrambling constantly.”
Added Walla: “It’s a very fair course, but it’s not a course you can relax on any shot. Every shot you’ve got to pick your target and know where you can miss and where you can’t miss it.”
U.S WOMEN’S AMATEUR QUALIFYING
At Par-71 Green Gables CC in Denver
QUALIFIERS
Kristin Walla, Aspen, Colo. 36-39″”75
Stephanie Simich, Canada 39-36″”75
Sarah Faller, Denver, Colo. 36-39″”75
Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. 36-40–76
Beverly Mendoza, Lubbock, Texas 37-39″”76
ALTERNATES (IN ORDER)
Anna Christenson, Oro Valley, Ariz. 39-38–77
Emily Talley, Boulder, Colo. 37-40–77
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Bethany Buchner, Loveland, Colo. 40-38–78
Janet Moore, Greenwood Village, Colo. 40-38–78
Anna Schultz, Rockwall, Texas 38-40–78
Calli Ringsby, Denver, Colo. 39-40–79
Melissa Martin, Grand Junction, Colo. 38-41–79
Bryce Schroeder, Pueblo, Colo. 39-41–80
Mo Gronning, Aurora, Colo. 41-39–80
Chanet Fiorina, Santa Fe, N.M. 42-39–81
Sammi Stevens, Hereford, Texas 40-41–81
Shannon Lubar, Littleton, Colo. 41-40–81
Paige Osterloo, Rapid City, S.D. 41-40–81
Gina Marie Larson, Longmont, Colo. 42-39–81
Katie Moats, Wheat Ridge, Colo. 41-40–81
Paige Spiranac, Monument, Colo. 41-40–81
Pamela Burneski, Canada 41-41–82
Alexandra Thompson, Boise, Idaho 41-42–83
Shannon Lutynski, Castle Rock, Colo. 40-43–83
Ariana Patterson, Carmel, Calif. 44-39–83
Alison Whitaker, Australia 41-42–83
Loren Forney, Grand Junction, Colo. 39-44–83
Dana Zamprelli, Larkspur, Colo. 45-39–84
Mandy Preston, Eagle, Colo. 42-43–85
Trish Gibbens, Caldwell, Idaho 45-41–86
Molly Dorans, Erie, Colo. 42-45–87
Katherine Scott, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 45-43–88
Chance Forbes, Evergreen, Colo. 42-48–90
Amy Hodgkinson, Mead, Colo. 45-46–91
Taylor Buck, Littleton, Colo. 47-47–94
Leslie McGetrick, Highlands Ranch, Colo. WD
Joanna Ringsby, Denver, Colo. WD
Viviana Vazquez Vera, Mexico NS
