UA golfer calms nerves, qualifies

BY MARTY COOK

Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/230223/

ROGERS — As it turned out, Lucy Nunn had nothing to worry about.

Nunn, thinking she needed par to qualify, got up-and-down from 130 yards on the par-5 18 th hole. The par gave Nunn, a junior at Arkansas, a 2-under-par 70 and a spot in the Northwest Arkansas Championship, which begins Friday at Pinnacle Country Club.

Nunn and Jimin Jeong, who shot 71, were the two players to earn spots during Monday qualifying. Jeong had to sweat while watching Laurie Brower try a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18 th that would have forced a playoff.

Little Rock’s Audra Burks shot a 2-over 74, making bogeys on the last two holes in an attempt to score low enough to qualify. Lady Razorback Kristin Ingram shot 81.

Nunn had to sweat the last three holes, especially her adventurous 18 th. Nunn knew she was in position to earn a spot, and the knowledge made her nervous.

“I’m a little shaky,” Nunn said. “I have no words.”

She scrambled for a par on the 16 th and then made bogey on the 17 th. Nunn drove into the rough on the 18 th, and to her chagrin, she topped the ball on her second shot and advanced it only 25 yards.

Instead of panicking, Nunn played a consecutive third shot and then hit her approach within 8 feet. She made the putt for par, clinching a spot in the tournament.

“It happens; it was kind of funny,” Nunn said of her topped second shot. “Stuff happens. I told my dad, ‘Let’s minimize this error.’”

Nunn said she was helped by her Lady Razorbacks teammates, who followed her Monday and gave encouragement. Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor was among those watching Nunn’s struggles down the stretch.

“She was making me nervous,” Estes-Taylor said. “These girls are going to kill me. They’re giving me gray hair.”

Nunn said she was excited to earn a spot in the Northwest Arkansas Championship after failing to qualify a year ago when she shot 80. The tournament keeps two spots open in Monday qualifying for Lady Razorbacks.

Nunn said she played well Monday until the last three holes.

“I was really consistent,” Nunn said. “If I missed the fairway, I was really close. If I missed a green, I was really close. I gave myself tons of opportunities to make birdies.”

Nunn said she hasn’t given any thought to what her goals in the main event are or will be. She was just ecstatic when she learned her score got her in, bending over and holding her head in her hands while her college teammates cheered.

“I’m pretty pumped up about it,” Nunn said. “I’m playing really well, so I’m excited about it. I haven’t thought past what’s for dinner.”

Burks played the main tournament a year ago on a sponsor’s exemption. She didn’t get an exemption this year but stands a good chance to get into the tournament as an alternate.

Burks is the only member of the LPGA with Arkansas ties, although Lady Razorbacks standout Stacy Lewis is attempting to earn her way on the tour. Lewis and model-turned-golfer Anna Rawson of Australia got the sponsor’s exemptions this week.

“It’s disappointing to have to try to Monday qualify,” said Burks, who declined to expand on her feelings. “I feel very much unappreciated.” Monday’s qualifying (a ) Lucy Nunn......................................... 70 Jimin Jeong............................................ 71

FAILED TO QUALIFY Laurie Brower......................................... 72 Nicole Jeray............................................. 72 Beth Allen................................................ 72 Hannah Jun............................................. 73 Amy Yang................................................ 73 Audra Burks............................................ 74 Cindy Pasechnik...................................... 75 Angela Jerman........................................ 75 Kristen Samp.......................................... 75 Jeanne Cho-Hunicke............................... 75 Eunjung............................................... Yi 75 Anna Grzebien......................................... 77 Nicole Hage............................................. 77 Amy Read................................................ 78 Jean Bartholomew.................................. 78 (a ) Kristin Ingram................................... 81 a-denotes amateur