Wie falters, shoots 75
at Women’s Amateur
After a strong start, the teen
goes 5 over on the back nine
ERIE, Pa. >> Michelle Wie failed to build on a fast start yesterday in the U.S. Women's Amateur, playing the back nine in 5 over en route to a 3-over 75 in the first round of stroke-play qualifying.
"I'm not even close to satisfied," the 14-year-old from Hawaii said. "It was one of those rounds where you got off to a good start, start making birdies, then I don't know what happened after that."
Wie, the 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links champion, was tied for 24th, seven strokes behind leader Tania Elosegui of Spain.
Wie fared the best of four Hawaii golfers in the event.
Bridget Dwyer of Kailua shot a 78 and is tied for 55th; Shayna Miyajima of Wailuku posted a 79 and is tied for 73rd; and Mari Chun of Pearl City shot an 84 and is tied for 136th.
The top 64 players after the second round of qualifying today will advance to match play.
Wie snap-hooked tee shots on Nos. 10 and 18, three-putted the 11th green and missed two other greens on the back nine on the Donald Ross-designed Kahkwa Club course.
"I've been working on my swing and it felt really good in the beginning, but then I lost it," Wie said.
Elosegui was one of only six players to break par.
Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., who made history by qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open as a 12-year-old in 2001, was a stroke back after a 69.
Amie Cochran of Torrance, Calif., opened with a 70, and Gina Umeck of Redlands, Calif.; Jennifer Hong of Windermere, Fla.; and Nicole Cutler of Cherry Hills Village, Colo., shot 71s.
