Behind the Ropes

Jump to previous journal entriesStacy Lewis || Courtney Mahon || Lindsey Hinshaw || Ashley Medders || Amanda McCurdy
This is the first in a series of diary entries from Arkansas head women’s golf coach Kelley Hester about her experience with Amanda McCurdy at the U.S. Women’s Open. The U.S. Women’s Open takes place June 29-July 2, at Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I. McCurdy, who completed her eligibility in May, is making her second consecutive U.S. Women’s Open appearance and Hester is caddying for her. Check back in the coming days to follow Amanda and Kelley’s experience. Monday, June 26, 2006First Practice RoundUS Women’s OpenWe teed it up today at 1:50 here in soggy Newport, R.I. The conditions were so wet due to recent rain that spectators weren’t allowed on the course at all. It seemed odd for all of the grandstands to be empty but maybe it helped calm the nerves a little. Amanda started on No. 1, a medium length par 5. Next came the shortest par 4 on the course with the 297 yard, par 4 #2. Something was telling me that the course architect was trying to lull you into a false sense of security with these benign opening holes. The super long par 4s that U.S. Women’s Opens are known for started on No. 3 with a 395-yarder. From there Amanda had quite a few fairway woods into par 4s but the greens were soft and receptive because of all the rain. The pairing included a 16-year-old from Florida, Vicky Hurst, and recent UCLA graduate and all-American Charlotte Mayorkas. The wind was pretty calm on the front nine but as we turned to the seaside back nine, the wind definitely picked up. No doubt, the tournament will be determined on the scenic back nine come Sunday. All in all, we had a great opening practice round. The course is a tough test of golf but different from most U.S. Women’s Open courses. The links style layout is more like a British Open course than one in the states. Newport Country Club traditionally plays hard and fast this time of year but the rain has changed things tremendously. The length alone, measuring at a stout 6,616, par 71, will favor long hitters but if things dry out…who knows. Tomorrow will be maybe just a nine-hole day. We tee off the front again at 12:50 but I’m not sure who else will be in the pairing. We will let you know how it goes.Kelley