Behind the Ropes

Jump to previous journal entriesStacy Lewis || Courtney Mahon || Lindsey Hinshaw || Ashley Medders || Amanda McCurdy || U.S. Open Monday || U.S. OpenTuesday || U.S. Open Thursday || U.S. Open Friday || U.S. Open Saturday

This is the third 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. Thursday, June 29, 2006First RoundUS Women’s OpenThank goodness for the internet…While a lot of players were stuck at the golf course all morning waiting for the green light from the USGA, we were back at the HoJo awaiting updates via the internet. Around 2:00 we headed to the course to get a little practice in, assuming that our 1:36 tee time plus the 7 hour fog delay would leave us at an 8:36 pm tee time that would never happen. The practice putting green was full of weary-eyed golfers who had been there since 6:00 am (the first scheduled tee time was 7:00 am). At 3:00 the officials announced that golf would wait until Friday, another 18 on Saturday, and then 36 on Sunday for those who make the cut. That will be a little tough on most caddies but I’ve been training for this so I’ll be just fine. Gradually the players finished with their practice and headed out but the spectators around the putting green (full of cocktails) were determined to get some autographs after putting in a full day of watching and waiting and hollered “Birdie Kim” (last year’s open champ) to every Asian golfer that walked by in hopes of a little interaction. Amanda got a few “Morgan Pressel’s” as she walked by and calmly told the spectators who she was and signed hats, purses, etc. before leaving. Tomorrow looks like a little more of the same. Hopefully the fog will move out but we will be anxiously awaiting updates in the morning before we prepare for another 1:36 tee time. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to actually play. Kelley