NZ amateur makes major impression
Amelia Garvey has reassessed her goals and is daring to dream after making an impressive start to her major debut at the US Women’s Open.
Competing as an amateur at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Garvey carded one-under par 70 in the first round to sit only three shots behind leader Amy Olson.
The American stole the show after sinking a superb hole in one on the par-three 16th. However, after making four birdies to offset bogeys on the third, eighth and 11th holes, Garvey has a spring in her step as the 20-year-old Cantabrian showed she was not overawed by the occasion.
‘‘I mean, I’m not just here to make the cut now,’’ Garvey said. ‘‘I’ve put a good number up. I’m only three shots behind. Eyes on the prize, I guess.
‘‘Three shots is nothing in this game, especially with three rounds to play. I’m not trying to get ahead of myself or anything, but I’ve just sat down with my caddie and the first goal is to make the weekend.’’
It was a stressful start to the day – Garvey’s caddie had to rush to the course at 5.30am (local time) to fix a broken putter. ‘‘We get everything in 2020, don’t we?’’ she said.
But there was little sign of nerves as Garvey birdied her opening hole, as well as making birdies on the seventh, 15th and 16th, to finish in a tie for 12th.
Nipping at Garvey’s heels was fellow Kiwi and former world No 1 Lydia Ko, who finished on even par.
The pair shared a practice round on Wednesday, which Garvey said did wonders for her confidence.
‘‘The last time I sort of played with her was when I did the Lydia Ko scholarship before I went off to college, so she was just telling me how my game is there, I just need to back myself really,’’ Garvey said.
Ko’s first round was more erratic. She hit three birdies, one eagle, three bogies and one double bogey but did enough to stay in contention in a congested field.
‘‘I thought I hit the ball pretty well,’’ Ko said. ‘‘I drove one in the water, too, but I had a couple threeputts but led to a few unnecessary bogeys or doubles in that case.
‘‘The greens are rolling pretty good, so I think I need to work on a little bit of speed work.’’
Meanwhile, Olson is chasing her first major success and is the outright leader after shooting a fourunder 67. Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn, South Korean A Lim Kim and Filipino Yuka Saso are tied for second on three-under.