Local golfer matches event’s best score ever
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After a redshirt freshman year at the University of Virginia, Oakton’s Lauren Greenlief entered the summer with little idea how her new golf swing would hold up under tournament pressure.
With her victory in the Virginias Women’s Stroke Play Championship, Greenlief’s rebuilt swing has passed a major test.
Not only did Greenlief (72-68-70 – 210) win the tournament at Richmond’s Meadowbrook Country Club, the 18-year-old matched the best score ever in the 32-year event, and fired her career-low round.
“It’s awesome to see it all pay off,” said Greenlief. “The new swing has given me so much more consistency, and with that, more confidence.”
Greenlief, a former standout at Oakton High, was not recruited to play at Virginia, but earned a slot on the team with an even-par tryout at Birdwood Golf Course. To unlock her potential, however, Virginia coach Kim Lewellen convinced Greenlief she needed major changes.
In February, Greenlief began repairing her swing with a more powerful wrist cock. Then came the painstaking process of slotting the club in the proper plane.
“The first three weeks or so were frustrating,” said Greenlief, a member at International. “It was two to two-and-a-half months before I started playing well.”
Near the end of the school season, Greenlief’s scoring average in practice rounds dropped from the 77-78 range to 72-73. The new swing had provided a power boost.
“I used to be more outside-in and faded the ball,” said Greenlief. “Now that I’m on plane, I’m drawing the ball more, hitting my driver 25 yards further, my irons 15 yards more.”
With her newfound ball-striking ability, Greenlief is giving herself more birdie opportunities, In Wednesday’s second round, she hit 16 greens on her way to her career-best round (68), which gave her a two-stroke lead over defending champion Kristen Simpson (Norfolk) and a four-stroke edge on 2007 winner Sarah Hurwich (Potomac Falls).
That put Greenlief in familiar company in the final round as she was paired with Virginia teammate Simpson and former Oakton High teammate, Amanda Steinhagen (Oak Hill), who began the final round four strokes back.
Steinhagen, a senior this fall at Oakton, fired a 68 in the final round to apply pressure. But Greenlief was immune thanks to three birdies on the first four holes. On each, Greenlief hit irons to within two feet of the cup.
“Being in that position, I was a little nervous,” said Greenlief. “But then I started with three tap-in birdies. After that, I felt pretty relaxed.”
Notes: Greenlief’s 210 matched the tournament’s 54-hole record set in 1991 by Vikki Valentine (Virginia Beach).
Junior Open Qualifiers
The Washington area will be well represented, with five players in the U.S. Junior Amateur, July 20-25, at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.
Burtonsville’s Denny McCarthy, a member at Argyle and a junior this fall at Georgetown Prep, was the medalist in sectional qualifying last Tuesday at the U.S. Naval Academy, firing a 142, to qualify for the second time. Fairfax’s Tyler Wingo (146), a junior at Paul VI, earned the other qualifying slot.
In sectional qualifying Thursday at Worthington Manor, Clarksburg’s Sean Bosdosh (Covenant Life) took medalist honors with a 141 to earn his first berth in the Junior Amateur. Rockville’s Ben Warnquist (DeMatha) grabbed his first slot with a 145, while Bethesda’s Wes Strang (Georgetown Prep) rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to nail down his second straight berth.
