Category Archives: Amateur Golf

Apr
7
2016
Aces galore at Masters Par-3 Contest
By Stephanie Wei under Amateur Golf

It was an eventful afternoon Wednesday before the first round of the Masters. The annual Par-3 Contest presented the usual great photo opportunities with players having fun with their friends and family, and apparently, many aces — a record nine hole-in-ones were made this year (see list below).

Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas, who were playing together, along with defending champion Jordan Spieth, recorded consecutive aces on no. 4. Crazy stuff, right?!?

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Oct
28
2015
“Creating a Women-Friendly Golf Course”
By Stephanie Wei under Amateur Golf

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I wrote a story for Northern California Golf Association’s Magazine on setting up golf courses to suit women better, not to mention juniors and seniors. Even if you’re not a woman, it’s worth the read (especially for design/architect buffs) — it might make you think about tee positioning like you never have before!

Seriously, it might not sound like the most compelling topic in the world, but it was really interesting to report on this and talk to course consultant experts, like Arthur Little, as well as golf course operators, like Ben Cowan-Dewar, who is the man behind Cabot Links and business partners with Mike Keiser.

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Oct
21
2015
Mid-am champ raises $25K in three days to fund practice for Masters
By Stephanie Wei under Amateur Golf

schmitz-sammy

By capturing the U.S. Mid-Amateur, Sammy Schmitz earned a spot in the field for next year’s Masters. Schmitz, a 35-year-old regional director for a health care company in Wisconsin, is allowed to practice at Augusta National this winter, but of course he has to pay for the expenses.

On Sunday his wife Natalie set up a GoFundMe page for her husband to raise money to help with the costs. 

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May
20
2014
11-year-old qualifies for U.S. Women’s Open
By Stephanie Wei under Amateur Golf
Wunderkind!

Wunderkind!

Lucy Li made history on Monday as the youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. The 11-year-old won the sectional qualifier at Half Moon Bay in California, posting rounds of 74-68 (and beating the second-place competitor by seven strokes).

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Jan
30
2014
Pros weigh in on R&A decision to allow rangefinders for its amateur events
By Stephanie Wei under Amateur Golf
Lasers approved!
The R&A, one of golf’s governing bodies, announced on Monday the approval of distance measuring devices — or most commonly known as rangefinders or lasers, etc. — for their amateur championships in 2014, including the British Amateur. Your move, USGA! 

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Jan
22
2014
Golf brass announces introduction of the Latin America Championship
By Stephanie Wei under Amateur Golf
We're growing golf!
Following the template started in 2009 when the organizations created the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), the Masters Tournament, along with the R&A and the USGA, announced the formation of the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC), which will debut in 2015.

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Sep
8
2013
Americans run away with Walker Cup
By Stephanie Wei under Amateur Golf
For the win!

For the win!

This is going to be sweet and short — and my apologies, I’ll update later tonight or tomorrow (more likely the latter). Turns out golf is an *extremely* grueling sport to play and cover. All that walking up-and-down hills! Or perhaps I’m an idiot who is out of shape? I was somewhat reluctant in being convinced to go to the ER to be treated for dehydration and heat exhaustion (and run some tests just to be safe, so thanks to the colleagues who looked out for me). Good news is I feel much better after they gave me oxygen and an IV of fluids, etc.

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Sep
7
2013
Saturday’s Top Five at the 2013 Walker Cup
By Stephanie Wei under Amateur Golf
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Michael Weaver: This kid is good

This is the first Walker Cup I’ve ever covered or attended, but it’s not the first time I’ve seen National Golf Links of America, which, as longtime readers know is my favorite course, and I highly encourage anyone in the area to attend on Sunday — no ropes, great golf, amazing course, the up-and-coming young stars, etc.

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