When Bridget Dwyer steps up to the first tee today at the 104th
U.S. Women’s Amateur, she will be playing for a lot more than
just a prestigious trophy. Dwyer, who recently graduated from UCLA,
has been preparing for this week for the last four years, ever
since the United States Golf Association awarded the Kahkwa Club in
Erie, Pa., the amateur championship. And though it’s been a
long wait, Dwyer isn’t ready to rush through the last amateur
tournament of her life. Because when she smacks her first drive,
she will not only be playing for herself, but for her father, who
was raised in Erie, and the memory of her grandmother, who passed
away several months ago. “For me, this has a lot of
meaning,” Dwyer said. “We knew about it four years ago,
and we were kind of planning for me to make this.” One person
who was banking on the Bruin to make the loop around Kahkwa was
Dwyer’s grandmother. She even had a front row seat. During
her practice rounds, Dwyer occasionally glanced over to a house on
the golf course that used to be occupied by her grandmother, and
did her best to keep her emotions intact. “I had to take deep
breaths,” Dwyer said. “She was holding on just for me
to make the event. It’s kind of cool, she’ll be
watching from above.” Watching from the spectator ropes will
be a large contingent of Dwyer’s family, many of whom used to
caddy at Kahkwa. And even though Dwyer didn’t grow up on
Kahkwa’s fairways, the encouragement she’ll be
receiving from her gallery will ensure that her last amateur
championship will most likely be her best. “My fan club will
be pretty big,” Dwyer said. “I love it when people
watch me. I’ll have a great time no matter where I
finish.” Dwyer fully intends on turning professional upon
completing the tournament and would have already made the jump to
the pros had Erie not played host to this year’s U.S.
Amateur.
MAYORKAS KEEPING BUSY: Less than 24 hours after
finishing play at her first LPGA tournament, Charlotte Mayorkas
will also be teeing off in the U.S. Amateur, looking to improve on
her top-16 finish from last year. Mayorkas will be joined by a
former and current Bruin at Kahkwa. Gina Umeck, a member of last
year’s NCAA Championship squad, and Amie Cochran, a
nationally heralded top-three recruit headed for Westwood this
fall, also qualified for the amateur.
MEN’S GOLFERS QUALIFY: Former Bruin Steve
Conway, sophomore Chris Heintz and incoming freshman Brandon
Christianson all qualified for the U.S. Amateur. The amateur
championship will be held from August 16-22 at Winged
Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
POUCHER AT THE PACIFIC: John Poucher led a
contingent of Bruins at the Pacific Coast Amateur this past week,
finishing in a tie for 20th place at 6-over par at Eugene Country
Club in Eugene, Ore. Former Bruin Spencer Levin finished in a tie
for first and was defeated in a three-way playoff.