A day after her 21st birthday, Amelia Garvey has played her first round of golf as a professional player and it was at the US Women’s Open no less, where she carded a 3-over 74 to be still in the hunt after the opening day.
After turning professional just a week ago, Kiwi Garvey set herself for this event to be her welcome to the ranks and she picked a tough course for a welcome with only 14 players shooting under par on the opening day.
Garvey herself started with some nerves, missing the fairway on the first and then three-putting to finish with a bogey six. She dropped another shot on five before a birdie on the 6th steadied the ship and the nerves.
After turning for home on 1-over Garvey held to par until the par-three 15th where she missed the hole to the right and had to settle for a bogey. She then had bogeys on 16 and 17 before a birdie on the last steadied the ship to finish tied for 54th on 3-over par, seven shots behind the leaders.
All of this on the day after her 21st birthday where she celebrated quietly with a practice round alongside one of her best friends, ANA Inspiration winner Patty Tavatanakit. She also practiced alongside fellow Kiwi Lydia Ko who shot an even-par 71 in the first round.
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Garvey will tee off in the same group as today but at a much later time of 8.03am NZT and coverage begins on Sky Sport 6 at 9am on Saturday.