McCurdy's Opening Round Delayed By Weather

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, COLORADO – Amanda McCurdy’s opening round at the 60th U.S. Women’s Open was delayed by weather twice on Thursday with the final delay ending her day with two holes left to play while standing four-over par. “I don’t know how I can complain,” noted the El Dorado native. “It’s my first U.S. Women’s Open and I feel like I made some not so smart mistakes and left a few out there. I don’t like being four over with two to play but I feel pretty good going back out there tomorrow. I’m not real happy with the way I played but I can’t complain much about it either.” McCurdy was most impressive off the tee hitting 12 of 13 fairways and her lone miss on number seven (which turned out to be her last hole) was just three inches off the fairway in the intermediate cut. Her ball striking was solid as well as she hit nine of 16 greens in regulation. “I was striking it pretty consistent and I don’t miss the ball much left or right, (straight) is what I usually do.” The frustrating part of the day for McCurdy was putting as the putts just didn’t seem to fall most notably a short par putts on 14 and 18 as well as birdie putts on 17 and one. “My putting just wasn’t aggressive at all and very timid which is something I need to work on in the morning before I get started. That is really the only thing I can complain about today.” But not all her putts were bad as several nice long lag putts set up par putts, which she rammed home when needed. The round got off to an interesting start as the U.S.G.A. starter introduced “Amanda McCurdy from El Dorado, Arizona.” After bogeying the first two holes, which could be attributed to nerves, Amanda settled down with a beautiful pitch from the rough below the hole on the 179-yard par-3 12th that hit the bottom of the flagstick on one hop and stopped two feet from the hole. After sinking the downhill par putt, Amanda smiled and her body gesture implied “it’s about time”. The highlight of the round Thursday was her lone birdie on the 187 yard par-3 15th. After a beautiful approach to the middle of the green, which was pin-high, Amanda drained the 20-foot putt to the delight of the crowd. “It was nice. I wish I had made a few more but I’ll the opportunity to add two more when I finish this round out in the morning.” Play was suspended twice during McCurdy’s round as the first delay of an hour and 15 minutes came after her tee shot on 14. The second and final delay came at 7:10 p.m., which halted play for the day. McCurdy was one of 48 golfers still on the course when play was called and those golfers will finish their round at 7:00 a.m. McCurdy’s second round will begin as scheduled, weather permitting, at 8:17 a.m. off the historic first tee. McCurdy currently is tied in 55th place and is also tied as the fifth lowest amateur. Angela Stanford, amateur Brittany Lang, and Karine Icher are currently tied for the lead at two-under par. Following the completion of round two the field will be cut to the top 60 players and ties along with those within 10 shots of the lead.
Divots: Several people from or with Arkansas ties followed McCurdy’s group on Thursday which almost gave her as big a gallery as Denver native and playing partner Jill McGill……Course superintendent Michael Burke told the Rocky Mountain News, “The greens are probably going to be a little slower than we keep them for our membership.” The greens are being mowed down to seven sixty-fourths of an inch and should roll around 11 on the Stimpmeter…..There are seven players in the field with the last name of Kim and four Parks…..The Rocky Mountain News polled 20 media members of which 15 responded that Annika Sorenstam will win this week. Only 11 of those polled think she will win the Grand Slam this year……Amateur Morgan Pressel started off on fire playing her first eight holes (she started on the back nine) in five-under-par but finished her round going double-bogey, bogey for an even par 71…. Dina Ammaccapane made a nine on the par-4 18th hole, one of 15 “others” recorded on the hole so far in round one. The 18th has played to an average of 4.727 and is the only hole which has not been birdied yet…More information on the U.S. Women’s Open as well as live scoring can be found at its’ official web site http://www.uswomensopen.com.