The glamorous life at Woodmont
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
June 16, 2009
Wie, O'Neal draw fans but come up short
Playing lead roles in U.S. Women's Open Sectional qualifying Monday at Woodmont Country Club were Michelle Wie and the fabulous navel of Blair O'Neal.
Wie, arguably the most recognizable women's golfer in the world, despite her failure to win an LPGA tournament, and O'Neal, a struggling mini-tour pro, who owes her fame to her looks, her minimalist attire, and the Golf Channel reality show, Big Break Prince William Island, were an eye-catching duo as they played 36 holes together Monday.
But despite drawing the most onlookers, neither qualified. In a strong field of 111 players, many who competed Sunday in the LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock, neither was among 30 qualifiers. While Wie (71-74 - 145) imploded with four bogeys on her last five holes and missed a playoff by a shot, O'Neal (80-75 - 155) was never in contention.
"It was really rough," said O'Neal, 28, a former player at Arizona State. "I really struggled on the first 18. It was like I wasn't even there. It was like I was on the outside, looking in."
Or, perhaps, like watching herself on television, which she can do a lot these days as one of four survivors on The Big Break. The show has brought sudden recognition for O'Neal, something she doesn't shy away from. Her revealing Web site (www.blairgolf.com) describes O'Neal as "Sexy. Athletic. Unstoppable."
"[Big Break] called me over the summer and said they were picking contestants," said O'Neal. "They asked me if I was chosen if I would do it. I was like, 'Of course I would.'"
Among name players who qualified for the Open, July 9-12, at Saucon Valley (Bethlehem, Pa.), were Kris Tschetter (69-71 - 140) and former major championship winner, Brandie Burton (71-72 - 143). Not as fortunate were Natalie Gulbis (75-71 - 146), and another from the glamour brigade, Australia's Anna Rawson (68-78 - 146).
Foreign players took the top four slots including medalists Carolina Llano of Colombia (69-68 - 137) and Jimin Kang of Japan (67-70 - 137), who finished six-under-par. Of the 30 qualifiers, nine were from South Korea.
The lone amateur to qualify was Auburn rising senior Candace Schepperle (68-76 - 144), who got through a 10-player playoff for eight slots. Schepperle arrived at Woodmont Monday as an alternate, not knowing if she would be able to play. She was on the ropes on the second playoff hole after missing the fairway badly. She needed a brilliant flop shot to within three feet to survive.
"I'm glad I got to play today," said Schepperle. "I wasn't an alternate here (New Jersey was her assigned site). I just showed up and I was able to play. So it's been a long day."
It was a long final nine for Wie, 20, who tied for 23rd at Bulle Rock and was solid through the first 27 holes Monday (3-under-par). But on her final nine (South front nine), Wie made five bogeys, including four straight.
The bogey run began at No. 5, where she pushed her drive behind a tree. At No. 6, she three-putted from 30 feet. At No. 7, Wie hooked her 3-wood drive into the trees. At the par-3 eighth, after a badly-pulled tee shot into greenside rough, Wie bladed a chip across the green and into a bunker from where she did well to save a bogey.
Afterward, Wie declined to speak to reporters.
"Michelle's ball striking is getting better and better and her short game's fantastic," said Angela Jerman, who played with Wie Monday. "She's doing good. With her talent, it's just a matter of time."
