Lemont native Lauren Beaudreau brings confidence to US Women’s Am
Lemont native, a former state champ at Benet, starts U.S. Women’s Amateur with confidence
Lauren Beaudreau went into her third U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship this week with confidence, both due to the way she has played recently and her experience at last year’s event.
Beaudreau, a Lemont native and Benet graduate who is headed into her sophomore season at Notre Dame, made it to the round of 32 at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in Mississippi.
“I’m really excited,” Beaudreau said. “Last year, I played really well in stroke play, and then in the first round of match play I had one of my best rounds in a long time. I had five birdies in 11 holes or something like that.
“It was a confidence booster, and I’m looking forward to trying to make it further this year.”
This year’s tournament was set to begin with two rounds of stroke play Monday and Tuesday at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. The field of 128 will be cut in half for a 64-player match-play tournament beginning Wednesday.
For Beaudreau, getting to match play is the first goal. Then she can have fun.
“Match play is one of my favorite ways to play,” she said. “I feel like I’m a more aggressive player in match play. I’m not trying to avoid a big number out there because if that happens, it’s not a huge deal — it’s just one hole.
“So I can attack pins and go for birdies and take more chances. I like playing head-tohead with someone, and I feel like it’s more exciting and a lot more can happen.”
Beaudreau, the 2019 Class 2A state champion for Benet, cracked the starting lineup right away at Notre Dame. She played in all four of the Irish’s fall events, averaging 74.82 and finishing tied for 25th at the Minnesota Invitational.
She appeared ready for a huge spring as she set a Notre Dame record for lowest 54-hole score with a 10-under-par 206 at the Westbrook Invitational in February.
That was the only event the Irish played in the spring, however, before the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I didn’t even know until my coach told me afterward that it was a record,” Beaudreau said. “It was really exciting. I played really well. The course set up well for me. Driving is one of the strong parts of my game, and I got to use my driver a lot there.
“I played decent in the fall, but I worked hard in the offseason and made a couple minor swing changes. I was really happy with where I was in the spring, so it was a bummer to have the season canceled. But I’ve carried that good form over to the summer.”
Beaudreau finished 23rd at the Michigan PGA Women’s Open and made the cut at the North and South Amateur and the Western Women’s Amateur, both matchplay events.
“I got some good practice in at those events with the style I’m going to see at the U.S. Amateur,” she said. “I’m really happy with how I’m playing going into this. The courses are always set up hard for USGA events, so I just want to go out there and avoid those bad spots on the course and take advantage of the birdie opportunities I get.”