Rochester

Rochester High graduate heads back to U.S. Women’s Amateur

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo provided by OhioStateBuckeyes.com Rochester High graduate and current Ohio State University golfer Amy Meier qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Aug. 6-12. Photo provided by OhioStateBuckeyes.com Rochester High graduate and current Ohio State University golfer Amy Meier qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Aug. 6-12.

It’s a golf tournament that brings the greatest female amateurs in the world together, and Amy Meier is in the field.

The 2009 Rochester High graduate qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur championship, slated for Aug. 6-12 at The Country Club in Cleveland.

This is her third straight time in the tournament, and after her best finish yet last season, she’s hoping that experience propels her even further.

“Having been there before, and last year going as far as I went, it was a big eye-opener for me to see that I can really compete with these girls,” Meier said. “It’s kind of stressful for a tournament of this magnitude, but I think what I did last year was stay more patient, and just know that my round isn’t going to rise and fall on one shot.”

There were a record 1,123 entries to play in the Amateur. Only 156 players made the field.

The first two rounds are stroke play. The top 64 players are then seeded and advance to a match play tournament.

Last season, Meier advanced to the match play portion and lost in the round of 32.

“We don’t really play match play in college,” the Ohio State University senior said. “The difference is, you’re playing your opponent, and it doesn’t matter what you shoot, just as long as you beat your opponent. I actually like it and have done well in it. It’s more of a strategy game, because you almost have to read what your opponent is doing to gauge what you’re going to do.”

This could be Meier’s final amateur event, because she plans to pursue a professional career after finishing her senior season at Ohio State.

She was voted All-Big Ten last season and has been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week three times.

At Rochester, she won the 2008 Division 1 state championship.

“I just want to take my game to the next level before I turn professional. I’ve been working on my game a lot and learned a lot. I’m just ready to step it up a couple notches and go on,” she said. “Golf is one of those funny games where you can get so mad at yourself and then the next day want to do it all over again. It’s a constant improvement thing.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.