Keating, Na qualify for US Amateur

BY Liz White | US Womens Amateur Tour | 2008 US Women's Amateur | General | 08 Jul 2008

Victoria’s Stacey Keating has won her US Amateur sectional qualifying tournament in Colorado shooting an even par 72.

The outstanding result against a top quality field of 40, has catapulted the 21-year-old into one of the world’s toughest Amateur championships to be played next month. And in good news for Australia she will be joined by Adelaide’s Stephanie Na who also qualified today at a separate sectional event in Georgia.

“It was great to win today,” Keating said.

“I was one of the first ones out so it was a really long and nervous wait to see if I had made it through.”

Keating was happy with her game especially from tee to green.

“I hit it really well today, the only thing was that I didn’t get anything to drop but I didn’t make any three putts either which was key.”

“The greens had a lot of break in them and it is a fairly new course, it was pretty tricky out there.”

“I was lucky because I had a great caddy, who kept me very calm throughout the round, that helped me a lot.”

Royal Adelaide’s Stephanie Na also shot an even par score to finish equal fourth at the famous Horseshoe Bend course in Roswell, Georgia. The winning score was a four under round of 68.

“The course was playing really long today, we were back on most of the tees, so it was pretty tough,” she said.

Na started her round on the back nine and was playing a steady game until she hit the 18th – her ninth hole of the day.

“I had a double bogey but I knew I had to get over it,” she said.

“I told myself I was playing well so I kept my cool and then parred the first and had three birdies in a row.”

“I held it together and got it back and ended up square. I feel that I played much better than my score.”

Na said she was hitting the ball well but felt her short game needed a bit of work.

“Being with Karrie at the US Open and all the excitement around that we didn’t really get to practice much,” she said.

“I had a hit yesterday with Kristie (Smith) but I just need to do a bit more chipping. I am just a bit out of touch.”

“Today I made my bogeys when I got into trouble and I wasn’t able to get any up and downs.”

Unable to get her round going at all today was West Australia’s Kristie Smith. She played at the same course as Na and posted a disappointing 80 to finish out of qualifying contention.

While Na is taking a break from competitive golf until the North and South next week, Stacey Keating is getting straight back on the horse.

Tomorrow she will head to another Colorado Course, Buffalo Run, to contest the 54-hole Colorado Stroke Championships.

“It was my first look at the course today. After I finished my qualifying today I headed 20 minutes down the road to check out the course. It looks pretty good.”

Na is enjoying her first travelling trip solo.

“I am really loving it. It has been almost four weeks and it has gone so quickly. Everywhere we have been we have been so welcomed and well looked after, it has been a great time.”

Tomorrow she is going to practice with Kristie Smith and gear up for the North and South being played at Pinehurst from July 13.

“It’s another great tournament on a good golf course, it is just so much fun to play in these events.”

Kristie Smith will also play in the North and South and will be hoping to turn her fortunes around at Pinehurst. Her tour started on a positive note at the British Amateur last month where she made the matchplay but despite a long break couldn’t find her range today.

One of Australia’s leading amateurs, Smith is a great competitor and will no doubt be working hard with her Dad, former pro Wayne, to iron out the kinks in her game.

After the North and South, all three girls will then head off to Winnipeg in the Manitoba province of Canada, to contest the Canadian Amateur.

The event should be a great lead up for Na and Keating who will then contest one of the world’s most prestigious Amateur titles, the US Amateur at the Eugene Country Club in Oregon.

156 players will take to the course with the top 64 then moving on to the matchplay stage.

“It’s going to be a great experience, and I hope to do well,” Na said.