Michelle Wie Makes
History at Cedarbrook.
June 14, 2005
Belle Vernon, Pa.
-- Fifteen-year-old Michelle Wie of Honolulu, Hawaii, Tuesday (June
14) became the first female to qualify for an adult “male”
championship conducted by the United States Golf Association when
she shot a 36-hole total of 1-over-par 145 (71-74) at Cedarbrook
Golf Course (Gold Course), qualifying her for the 2005 U.S. Amateur
Public Links championship. She tied for medalist honors with
Artie
Fink
Jr. of Altoona, Pa.
Wie and Fink, who narrowly missed qualifying last year, gained the
two spots awarded to the 78-player field. Wie missed a 6-foot putt
for birdie on the final hole that would have given her medalist
honors, but she wasn’t too disappointed since she earned a chance to
chase her dream of one day playing in the Masters Tournament.
“I was disappointed I missed that putt, but I qualified and I’m
going (to the APL) and that’s what’s important,” said Wie, who shot
71 to lead the field after here first round over the 6,771-yard
course. “I think I’m going to be the underdog there.”
The Amateur Public Links championship is scheduled from July 11-16
at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. The winner of the
championship has historically been invited to play in the Masters
Tournament, a men’s event.
“The Masters is the first tournament I ever saw on television,” said
Wie. “The course is so pretty.”
Wie tied for 13th in her first U.S. Women’s Open, in
2004. She won the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at the age
of 13, becoming the youngest to win a USGA adult championship.
She will compete in the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open next week (June
23-26) at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.,
a suburb of Denver.
The APL is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by
the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. One of those
championships is the U.S. Open, being contested this week at
Pinehurst Resort (No. 2) Course in North Carolina.
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