Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh is looking to add another date to her already packed schedule when she tees up at U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying at Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club on Tuesday.
The Wake Forest talent tackled the same venue 12 months ago, coming up just two shots shy of qualifying, but has since enjoyed her first taste of Major action having playing all four rounds at last year’s AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie.
Walsh has kicked on in 2022 and after guiding the Deacs past Florida State in the ACC Championship, and earning her second call-up to the GB&I Curtis Cup team ahead of battle in June, Walsh is hoping to keep up the momentum and earn a start at Pine Needles for the U.S. Women’s Open.
“It’s been busy but I’m loving it,” says Walsh, who’s also flat out studying for her final exams at Wake.
“The US Open qualifier next week could add another stop between Nationals and Curtis Cup, and then home middle of June for the domestic season.
“But I’m looking forward to playing Mid Pines at Pinehurst. I played the qualifier at the same course last year and missed out by two. I know the course, it’s a nice course, I know I can play well on it so it’s just a case of giving it a try and seeing what happens.”
Walsh is still buzzing after playing a pivotal role in Wake Forest’s victory over Florida State, a team they lost out to in the semi-finals of the ACC’s last year.
“That win against Florida State was sweet,” she laughed. “They beat us in the semi-finals last year so it was nice to get some revenge over them. It was a great week.”
The NCAA regionals are announced on Wednesday and with six regions across the USA, Wake Forest will learn exactly where they’re sent to compete with the top-4 teams from each region going on to the National Finals.
And after gaining revenge over Florida State, Walsh will have similar feelings on her mind when she returns to the Curtis Cup for another crack at the USA at Merion, Pennsylvania from 10-12 June.
Walsh is one of six players returning to this year’s team of eight with the memory of a hard-fought defeat last time out at Conwy in Wales still fresh on her mind.
“Curtis Cup 2021 at Conwy will always be one of the very best weeks of my life,” said Walsh. “It was an experience like no other and a week I’ll never forget.
“It will be exciting to bring some of the things I learned from the week last year to Merion and hopefully we can make sure the result goes in our favour this time around.”
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