After finishing Round 1 of stroke play on Saturday, 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Kelsey Chugg noted that the Meadow Course at Forest Highlands Golf Club is “definitely a short-game course.” Chugg, who had rounds of 71-74 in stroke play over the weekend, is also looking forward to the challenge the Meadow Course presents for match play. Chugg, of Salt Lake City, Utah, who boasts an 11-1 match-play record in her first two years in this championship, gets her chance along with 63 other players on Monday.
Here are three things to know for the Round of 64 and beyond.
Medal Magic
Julia Potter-Bobb, who completed two rounds of stroke play at 6-under-par 138 for the No. 1 seed, has earned medalist or co-medalist honors in this championship twice before, and on both occasions, she won. In her first start in 2013, Potter-Bobb earned the medal by five strokes at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, N.C., and went on to defeat Margaret (Shirley) Starosto in the final. In 2016, she shared the honors with Shannon Johnson, and defeated her co-medalist in the final at The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pa. On Saturday, Potter-Bobb discussed what being medalist can mean. “You go into match play knowing that no one beat you out here in stroke play, so that’s a big confidence booster. But clearly, people have won this not being medalist. It helps, but it’s not necessary for me or anyone else to succeed this week.” That being said, it certainly can’t hurt Potter-Bobb’s chances.
Showing its Teeth
Ryan Smith, the head professional of the Meadow Course, expects the challenge to ramp up for match play. “I think the players may be surprised a little bit; the course is going to play a lot different,” said Smith, who has worked at Forest Highlands since 2011. “The green speeds should stay consistent (just under 12 on the Stimpmeter), and things may even firm up a little. Players are going to have to think a lot more on their approach shots, because the hole locations are going to be in much tougher spots. They are going to have to really think about leaving it on the smart side of the hole, because if they miss on the short side, they’re going to be losing those holes.” Holes 17 and 18 provide a stern finish, with the par 3 playing as the fourth-hardest hole in Round 1 of stroke play, and the uphill, 359-yard 18th playing as the second-toughest hole overall in stroke play.
Fireworks on Tap?
While the challenge is stepped up, there will be opportunities to score as well. “There could be a lot of fireworks out there,” said Smith. “There have been one or two reachable par 4s so far, but there are two or three holes on each side that they could move up and make reachable.” The stretch of holes from 12-15 could prove pivotal in some matches. “The par-5 12th, depending on where they set the tee, is reachable for a lot of the players, followed by the downhill par-4 13th with an optional tee that’s reachable,” said Smith. “Then another par 5 at No. 14 followed by a 280-yard par 4, so you have a par 5, a short par 4, a par 5 and another short par 4. There’s some trouble on those holes, but if players are hitting good shots, we could see some eagles, and definitely some birdies.”
Ron Driscoll is the senior manager of editorial services for the USGA. Email him at rdriscoll@usga.org.
