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Amelia Garvey has reevaluated her goals and dares to dream after making an impressive start to her grand debut at the US Women’s Open.
Competing as an amateur at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Garvey loaded a par 70 in the first round to sit just three shots behind leader Amy Olson.
Eric Gay / AP
Amelia Garvey is three shots behind the leader after the first round of the US Women’s Open.
The American stole the show after hitting a superb hole in one at par three 16. However, with four birdies to make up for bogeys on the third, eighth and eleventh holes, Garvey has a jump in his stride after proving that He was not intimidated by the occasion.
“I mean, I’m not here just to make the cut right now,” the 20-year-old Cantabrian said. “I put in a good number. I’m only three shots behind. Eyes on the prize, I guess.
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“Three shots is nothing in this game, especially with three rounds to play. I’m not trying to get ahead or anything, but I have sat down with my caddy, and the first goal is to make the weekend. But there is nothing to me. stop putting another good number tomorrow. “
It was a stressful start to the day, as Garvey revealed that his caddy had to run to the field at 5.30am (local time) to fix a broken putter.
Eric Gay / AP
Kiwi amateur Amelia Garvey is competing in her first specialty.
“We get everything in 2020, don’t we?” Garvey joked.
When the tee came, there was no sign of nervousness as Garvey birdied his first hole, in addition to birdies on the seventh, 15th and 16th, to finish tied for 12th.
Hot on Garvey’s heels was his partner Kiwi and former world number one Lydia Ko, who finished the day on par.
The pair shared a practice round Wednesday, which Garvey said did wonders for their confidence.
“The last time I played with her was when I got the Lydia Ko scholarship before I went to college (three years ago), so she was just telling me how my game is, I really need to support myself,” Garvey said. “So today was a huge confidence boost.
Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Lydia Ko is lower on the leader board.
“Obviously I had some nerves playing with her too, so it was a good way to prepare for the first round. But yeah, it was a lot of fun. It was just me and her, so I had to pick her brain a bit and just enjoy it with her. “.
Ko’s first round was much more erratic. He made three birdies, an eagle, three bogies and a double bogey, but did enough to stay in contention on a congested field.
“Overall, I thought I actually hit the ball pretty good,” Ko said. “I drove one in the water too, but I did a couple of three putts, but in that case I carried some unnecessary bogeys or doubles.
“The greens are rolling quite well so I think I need to work on speed a bit. But other than that it’s obviously nice to be able to finish with a birdie last to get back to par.
Meanwhile, Olson is chasing her first big hit and is the outright leader after shooting a 67-under-four.
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, Thai Moriya Jutanugarn, South Korea’s A Lim Kim and Filipino Yuka Saso are tied for second at three under par.
