Adela Cernousek (USGA Photo)
The opening day of the 79th United States Women’s Open Championship was a good day for the Southeastern Conference.
Adela Cernousek of Texas A&M, the recently crowned NCAA individual champion, fashioned a 1-under par 69 to put herself just one shot off the lead while Auburn alum Megan Schofill, the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, was one additional shot back after signing for an even-par 70 in her first-ever Women’s Open start.
Cernousek and Schofill both held their own on a day that blustery wins and cool temperatures made putting a treacherous exercise. Cernousek is currently ranked No. 20 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Women's Rankings. Schofill is ranked No. 6.
Cernousek’s scorecard for her first Women’s Open round featured three birdies and two bogeys. She spoke to the importance of putting the ball in the right place on the greens.
“ I think you have to hit the ball really well because the roughs are so thick. You want to be on the fairway on every shot to be able to stop the ball on the greens because the greens are so firm and have so many slopes.”
Cernousek noted the winds made club selection something beyond routine.
"It was tough with the wind," Cernousek said. "The wind was switching a lot today. We had some shots where we had to rethink a little bit more, where we had to be -- where we were a little indecisive. I think we were able to commit. Once we made a decision, we were able to commit to the shot, and I think that's why it was good.”
Schofill was a model of consistency for much of her journey. Starting at the first hole, she played her first four holes in even par before birdies at the fifth and ninth [both par fours) enabled her to make the turn in 2-under par 33. She bogeyed the 10th but rebounded with a birdie at the 11th.
On two occasions, her name was atop the leaderboard before she double-bogeyed No. 16.
Schofill acknowledged the challenge the greens presented.
“The greens definitely as the day went on, got pretty firm,” she said. “They were already really fast. But as the wind started picking up, I felt like they were releasing more. I found 18 really hard to hold with a mid-iron coming in. But I think hitting the fairway is super important just as much as hitting the greens.”
15-year-old Asterisk Talley and Pac-12 individual champion Catherine Park of USC also shot rounds of even par 70 and are T5 with Schofill.
Talley has acquired an incredible resume this year thus far, winning the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley and the 2024 U.S. Women's Four-Ball with partner Sarah Lim.
Amateur Julia Misemer got into the field Thursday afternoon when Stephanie Meadow withdrew. She became the 24th amateur in the starting field.
ABOUT THE U.S. Women's Open
The U.S. Women's Open is the biggest tournament in
women's golf and one of 14 national
championships conducted by the USGA. The
event is open to any female who has a USGA
Handicap Index not exceeding 4.4.
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