Selina Zeng knew she was in for quite the experience when she showed up for the U.S. Girls Junior championship at Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.
Zeng, who will be a junior at Hinsdale Central this fall, still was amazed at the organization and perks at the event, hosted July 20-25 by the USGA.
When she was arrived, she was taken on a tour of the club, which included a players-only lounge stocked with drinks, popcorn and ice cream. She was given her own caddie to help guide her around the course, the first time she had used that benefit.
“I was treated completely different than at any of my other tournaments,” Zeng said. “It was a lot more formal and I remember thinking that I had never been in a tournament like this, where I was going to be such an underdog. I knew if I didn’t play well I could finish dead last.”
Zeng tried to temper her expectations at the 150-player tournament, but was still hoping she could make the cut of 64 following two rounds of stroke play. The par-70 course played 6,020 yards. Zeng said an average par-72 high school course is around 5,200 yards.
She started strong in Round 1, registering a birdie on the second hole and playing the first four holes 1-under-par. But Zeng struggled on the back nine, especially the final four holes where she dropped four shots to card a 5-over 75.
“We got caught in for a two- or three-hour rain delay and I saw I was on the cut line and I kind of psyched myself out,” Zeng said. “I went back out there and didn’t play well. Something went loose in my swing and I wasn’t converting up-and-downs.”
Despite the disappointing finish, Zeng was in the running to make the cut if she could improve in Round 2. She started on the troublesome back and, while she made two birdies, she also had four bogeys.
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She wound up improving by a stroke, shooting a 74 for a two-day total of 149. Unfortunately for Zeng, the cut wound up at 147.
None of the other players from Illinois — Lauren Beaudreau of Lemont, Megan Furtney of South Elgin and Binny Lee of Chicago — survived the cut.
Eun Jeong Seong, of Korea, won the trophy in match play, 3-and-2 over Angel Yin, of Arcadia, Calif.
“It was a little frustrating, but not too much because it was my first championship,” Zeng said. “The biggest thing I took away was experience and confidence. It was by far the biggest tournament I had ever been in.”
Having experienced such a prestigious tournament, Zeng can’t wait for her next crack. Since she’s only 15, the Oak Brook resident will have two more shots to qualify for the USGA Girls Junior.
She should be in great shape, considering how far she’s come from last year.
“We rebuilt her swing and putting stroke in the offseason,” said her coach, John Perna of Players Service. “She’s technically more sound and when you combine that with her playing with better players, it’s led to a lot of success. She almost made match play, having no experience in a tournament like that. She’ll have a big head start over the other girls next year.”
“I cannot wait,” she said. “Everyone was more than accommodating and I can’t wait to get back in this tournament. Next year is in (Boone Valley) Arizona and I’m looking forward to it.”
Zeng is finished with her summer schedule and will spend the next couple weeks preparing for the high school season. The Red Devils are coming off their first state championship and had only one senior in the lineup last year at Hickory Point Golf Club in Decatur.
Rob Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.