Amelia Garvey qualifies for US Open

By Neville Idour

Lydia Ko will have New Zealand company at the United States Open next month as Cantabrian Amelia Garvey has qualified for the 78th edition to be played at the famous Pebble Beach links in California from July 6-9.

This will be Garvey’s third US Open having narrowly missed the cut previously. There were 2107 entries for this year’s event so qualifying was no cup of tea. Garvey has not played Pebble

Beach but has walked a few of the holes and is looking forward to the experience.

Garvey is still one of the longest strikers on the Epson Tour ranking 15th in distance last year. She has booked practice rounds with Ko and Lexi Thompson, one of the longest hitters, so is keen to see how she compares.

“It should be fun,” Garvey said.

The qualifier was played in Pittsburgh following her previous event in Kansas where she struck the ball well for a top 30 finish. Garvey and caddie Jamie

Tipper were then faced with a five hour drive to Oklahoma then two flights to Pittsburgh, finally arriving at lunchtime for a practice round.

Garvey was a little off the pace after a first round 73 which left her fourth two shots behind the leader. But looking to gain one of the two qualifying spots available, an outstanding second round 70, with three consecutive birdies on the back nine saw her into a four-person playoff which she won with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

The course was a very tough and hilly one with thick rough and firm fast greens, very much akin to a US Open setup.

Garvey said: “It was brutal.”

Consequently she did make a few bogeys. However her swing was in good shape and she was striking the ball nicely. She was in position for birdies many times with her putts on line but on several occasions they came up short.

Tipper said: “It is a dream come true for us both to be at the US Open at one of the world’s most iconic courses.” The celebrations were brief as they were faced with a 6am flight back to Oklahoma then a massive 18 hour drive to Orlando. Thankfully this was followed by a week off from the Epson Tour although a missed cut the following week wasn’t in the recipe. Despite that Garvey feels her game is better than some of her results have shown. Who said the life of a Pro golfer was easy? Garvey says “It is a matter of survival at times but I am loving it.”