Mao Medals; Kraft and Kelly Also Advance to U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links

By Nick Hunter
nhunter23@hotmail.com

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. – Players at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Sectional didn’t have to contend with wet conditions for a change Friday – however, the blustery winds didn’t make things any easier at Inverwood Golf Course.

11 players began the day with winds howling, looking to earn one of three spots available for the 37th annual tournament which will take place June 17-22 at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla.

California native Briana Mao, who currently plays for the University of Virginia, carded an even par 72, despite the windy conditions to earn medalist honors and advance to Oklahoma, her fifth appearance at the Amateur Public Links Tournament.

“I played very steady today; on the front nine I had one bad hole but other than that it was very straight forward,” Mao said. “I hit a lot of greens and I played better on the back nine, I think I had six shots within six feet from the pin.”

Mao really had an impressive scorecard with her only blemish coming on the 334-yard, par-4 second hole which she found the hazard and ended up with a double bogey. Mao would go on to par her next 13 holes before a birdie on the 16th hole dropped her back to even. From there, one more par rounded out her day with a 72.

“My strong point today was ball striking and hitting my approach shots. Even though it was pretty windy today I was able to control my ball flight and shape (the ball) a bit,” Mao said. “The wind was tough; there were a couple of holes that were at least a 2-club difference. It made you really think about yardages today.”

Also joining Mao in Oklahoma is Laura Kraft who shot a 4-over par 76 to advance. Despite a bogey on the third hole, and another on the fourth, Kraft finished the front nine at 2-over par and found herself in good position at the turn.

For Kraft, Jamestown, N.D., the back nine began with a par on the 10th and 11th holes before a bogey on the 12th would drop her to 3-over for the round. She continued to battle as she would par the next three holes before a birdie on the 16th hole brought her back to 2-over par. But with back-to-back bogeys on the final two holes, Kraft’s afternoon would end at 4-over par 74.

“The wind was definitely a challenge. I started out a little rough by getting into some trouble in the trees but, along with my caddy, we stayed levelheaded and got back out there,” Kraft said. Asked about the strong aspect of her game at this point of the season, Kraft replied, “my irons have been solid for a while, especially after this season at school.” “I’ve played in this event before but I’ve never played well enough to move on so today I’m really excited to be playing in Oklahoma.”

The third and final qualifying spot goes to Forest Lake’s Betsy Kelly who also carded a 4-over par 76 to advance to Norman next month.

“I had a really bad start; I was 4-over through three holes. My driver was both left and right and I was thinking, ‘just let me get through the rest of the day,’” Kelly said.

Kelly opened her round with a bogey on the first hole, double bogey on the second and another bogey on the third hole. From there, she would finish the front nine with five pars and a birdie to limit the damage at only 3-over par through nine holes.

“My short game really saved me today. After those first three holes I played even par for the rest of my round. I missed greens here and there but I still was able to get up and down for par and it helped that I stuck a couple shots pretty close for birdie,” Kelly said.

On her back nine, Kelly would open with a par on ten and eleven before a double bogey on the par-3 12th hole put her at 5-over par. Kelly would recover with five pars and a birdie on the final five holes to finish at 4-over par 76.

“I played in the qualifier last year but didn’t make it, so it feels good to make the tournament this year – except I’m going to miss my brother’s graduation party so that’s a bummer,” Kelly said with a frown. 

Sarah Burnham, Maple Grove, Minn., and Cassandra Deeg, Hugo, Minn., finished as first and second alternates, respectively.

37th U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Sectional Qualifier
Inverwood Golf Course
Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
5,770 yards, par 72
1. Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif., 72
T2. Laura Kraft, Jamestown, N.D., 76 
T2. Betsy Kelly, Forest Lake, Minn., 76
T4. Sarah Burnham, Maple Grove, Minn., 78 (first alternate)
T4. Cassandra Deeg, Hugo, Minn., 78 (second alternate)

Did not qualify:
6. McKenzie Neisen, New Prague, Minn., 80
7. Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony, Minn., 81
8. Katie Ann Kesti, Red Wing, Minn., 84
9. Cassie Wurm, Hudson, Wisc., 86
10. Haliee Pieper, Watertown, S.D., 88
11. Haily Abel, Arvilla, N.D., 92