Canadian Hopes Fly High For U.S. Women’s Amateur At Portland Golf Club
The Downhill 180 Yard 12Th At Portland Golf Club Is Called Bridge And Is Protected By Four Green Side Bunkers - Image Credit Alfie Lau
by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf
It may be the most prestigious amateur title in U.S. women’s golf, but don’t tell that to the myriad of Canadian women who will be trying to hoist the Robert Cox Cup at Portland Golf Club on August 16.
Smiths Falls, ON’s Brooke Henderson came agonizingly close to winning last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur, leading for much of the 36-hole final against Kristen Gillman of Austin, TX before Gillman won six of the final 10 holes to beat Henderson 2-up.
Henderson had a 3-up lead after 26 holes and was leading as late as the 31st hole before the 16-year-old Texan rained down three birdies in the final five holes to win going away.
Henderson won’t be able to avenge that defeat, having turned pro late in 2014, but that doesn’t mean a full crew of Canadians, notably British Columbians, won’t be trying to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur as it returns to the Pacific Northwest for the first time since 2008.
While the registration deadline is July 1 and qualifiers to get into the tournament won’t be played until July 6 at the earliest, there’s a good chance many local products will be trying to take the extra step Henderson couldn’t take last year.
Oregon State senior Anica Yoo, who played her high school golf at Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam, will have a home course advantage, as she would have seen the 6,360-yard Portland Golf Club many times during her collegiate career.
Port Coquitlam's Anica Yoo Will Be One To Watch In The 2015 U.S. Women's Amateur
image courtesy Oregon State University
Yoo, who recently finished eighth at the Pac-12 Championships, will be looking to complete her amateur career with a flourish.
Another couple of BC girls who look like they’ll be taking on Portland’s tight, tree-lined fairways and devilishly fast greens are Surrey sisters Taylor and Michelle Kim.
Taylor, a sophomore at Kent State University, played last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur, missing the Match Play segment of the tournament after rounds of 78 and 76, and will have another year of experience under her belt. Younger sister Michelle, recently named to Golf Canada’s Development Team, also appears to be a local golfer to watch.
With Portland Golf Club a scant six-hour drive from Vancouver, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some other promising local golfers, such as Richmond’s Alisha Lau, Nanaimo’s Shirin Anjarwalla, and Surrey’s Hannah Lee take their best shot at winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Portland Golf Club is actually hosting one of 19 qualifiers into the Aug. 10-16 tournament on July 14 and showed off the course to the USGA and the media recently. The 101-year-old course won’t beat you down in length, but if you can’t putt, it will be a long day.
Our tour guides for the day were two of Oregon’s most accomplished am.ateur golfers. Marcia Fisher has competed in 23 USGA championships, including two U.S. Women’s Amateurs, 12 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs and 9 U.S Senior Amateurs and is a 7-time Oregon State Amateur champion.
Joining her was Felicia Johnston, who played for Oregon State from 1992-96 and coached women’s golf for three seasons at Northern Arizona University and another seven seasons at Portland State, where she was named Big Sky Coach of the Year five times.
Fisher doesn’t hit her drives long but only missed one fairway the whole day. Once she got on or near the green, her silky smooth putting stroke consistently came through and showed why she’s often in contention at USGA events.
Marcia Fisher, Left, And Felicia Johnston, Right, Are Two Long Time Accomplished Oregon Amateur Golfers Who Will Have A Home Course Advantage At Portland Golf Club
Image Courtesy Alfie Lau
Fisher is under no illusions that she can beat the young up-and-coming 'whippersnappers' at Portland Country Club, but part of her giving back to the sport is if she can muster up a field of 81 or more competitors for the July 14 qualifier, that will ensure more qualifying spots into the August tournament out of Portland.
“The biggest thing I’ve taken away from competing at these USGA championships is the friendships I’ve made,” said Fisher. “It’s a very humbling experience to play with so many accomplished golfers and I’ve been lucky enough to make a lot of friends.”
Johnston could well make the field in August because she still hits the ball a mile and has a short game which will keep her competitive. Fisher and Johnston’s advice is to make hay on the four par-5s on the course, three of which are on the back nine. The 489-yard 5th is reachable for most players while the 505-yard 10th is also an eagle opportunity.
The 535-yard 15th is perhaps the toughest of the par-5s at Portland Golf Club and the closing 522-yard 18th is uphill to a tricky green. A birdie or eagle on the last may be what’s needed during both the stroke and match play segments of the U.S. Women’s Amateur come August.
According to Christina Lance, USGA Championship Communications contact, the greens will run between 11 and 11.5 on the Stimpmeter, with the rough coming in at between 1.5 and 2.5 inches.
Previous U.S. Amateur Women’s champions have included New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who won the title in 2012, two weeks prior to winning the Canadian Women’s Open in Coquitlam for the first time; Morgan Pressel in 2005, Danielle Kang, who won back-to-back in 2010 and 2011; and Kimberly Kim who won in 2006 at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon; and Amanda Blumenherst, who won in 2008 at Eugene Country Club in Oregon, the last time the U.S. Women’s Amateur was contested in Oregon.
For more information on 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur, go to www.uswamateur.org or www.portlandgolfclub.com. Tickets to the event are free and the Portland Golf Club has arranged for free shuttles to and from the course from Washington Square, a local shopping centre.
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