Powers Completes First Day At US Open Golf Championship

June 26, 2008

EDINA, Minn. – Playing with professionals as an amateur in the U.S. Open Golf Championship is a situation which could cause some nervousness, even for a college golfer. Kansas junior-to-be Emily Powers experienced what it was like to tee it up in our nation’s championship tournament on Thursday as she competed in the first round grouped with two professionals.

Powers struggled on the front nine of the Interlachen Country Club course, but responded exceptionally well on the back nine to fire an eight-over par 81 on the opening day on one of the nation’s biggest stages for women’s golf.

Powers was eight over par on the front nine with two double-bogeys, but played the back nine to even par, recording two birdies to close the day on a great note.

She opened the round with double bogeys on the first and third holes and bogeyed four more holes on the front nine. Powers then righted herself with four straight pars to open the back nine. She then recorded a birdie on the 185-yard par-three 14th hole to go one-under on the backside.

After consecutive bogeys on 15 and 16, Powers parred 17 before closing her round with a birdie on the 530-yard, par-five 18th hole to close the back nine with a 37.

Powers is tied with Michelle Wie towards the back of the pack. Powers will begin her second round on Friday at 2:31 p.m. She is grouped with professionals Hee Young Park and Janell Howland. Park shot a three-over par 76 and Howland carded a five-over 78 on the first day.

ESPN is broadcasting the first two rounds of the championship, including Friday’s action from 2-6 p.m. NBC will carry the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday from 2-5 p.m.

Real-time scoring is available through the tournament’s web site at uswomensopen.com.