Stephanie Kyriacou and Doey Choi have qualified for next month’s US Women’s Amateur Championship with impressive rounds early this morning.
Choi made amends for missing out on qualification last year, firing an even-par 72 at the Saticoy Club in California.
Kyriacou, meanwhile, carded a four-under-par 67 at the Westhaven Club in Franklin Tennessee to qualify for the fabled championship at her first attempt.
It was the first competitive golf for the pair since being part of the NSW women’s team which successfully defended their Australian Interstate crown last month.
Kyriacou was in control all day and said she felt qualification was never in doubt. She said a change to her regular practice routine was the key to her impressive performance.
“I’ve been playing really well, and I played well at Interstate,” Kyriacou said. "But I have been practising on the course more than I usually do since then.”
“I was pretty confident with my game, so I wasn’t too stressed.”
In contrast, Choi said her qualification was a grind.
“I had a chat to Johnny (coach) before I came over, and we talked about staying patient, and that’s what I did today,” Choi said.
“This course was brutal. I knew it was going to be tough, and scores weren’t going to be low, I just tried to hit every fairway and every green.”
The Golf NSW High Performance pair now have a few weeks to prepare for the Women’s Amateur, beginning with this week’s National Camp in Houston, Texas.
After the camp, it’s the North and South Women’s Amateur in South Carolina, the Canadian Amateur, then the US Women’s Amateur which will be played at the Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Mississippi, beginning on August 6th.
“I’ve never been to Mississippi,” Kyriacou said, "I’m so keen!”