Northwestern University Athletics
Kaitlin Park Finishes Birdie-Birdie In First-Ever LPGA Event
7/24/2015 10:23:00 PM | Women's Golf
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Kaitlin Park wrapped up her first-ever LPGA event with a pair of birdies, two of four she carded during Friday's second round, finishing 36 holes at the 2015 Meijer LPGA Classic with a 6-over 148, six shots ahead of the next-closest amateur in the field at Blythefield Country Club.
A chip-in eagle at the par-5 eighth highlighted her first round on Thursday en route to a 3-over 74, a score she matched on Friday.
Park earned her spot in the field by firing an even-par 72 on June 23 at Blythefield to secure one of two sponsor exemptions to compete in championship play. While she worked to stay levelheaded in preparation over the last several weeks, balancing practice with a full-time internship at sports and entertainment marketing firm Intersport, Park admitted to nerves.
"I've dreamed of this moment of playing in the LPGA since I was in the eighth grade," she said. "To play on this stage, with these girls, I was feeling a lot of things; I was excited, I was freaking out."
But the nerves subsided once the 2013 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and three-time All-Big Ten honoree got to Blythefield and the comfort of the course.
"The one thing that surprised me was that I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be on the course," said Park. "I got to the first tee, and the night before I was thinking I'd just have to get it over with and I'd be fine, but I had no problem. I went up there like it was any other tournament, and I competed. It was cool to see how I've grown over the years, and feel like I had every right to be here and compete with these girls."
In fact, the nervousness of the actual competition was nothing compared to what the Tustin, California, native experienced during Wednesday's practice round.
"I played a couple of holes during my practice round with Inbee Park, who happens to be No. 1 (in the Rolex World Women's Golf Rankings) and for the first few holes I was so nervous. I think I was more nervous playing with her for five holes than my first tee-off today."
Park's group on Thursday and Friday included tour pros Marina Alex and Laetitia Beck, who competed collegiately at Vanderbilt and Duke, respectively.
"I expected it to be really intense," she said. "But the girls I played with, they're not so removed from college golf themselves and they were great. I had little conversations here and there with them."
A chip-in eagle at the par-5 eighth highlighted her first round on Thursday en route to a 3-over 74, a score she matched on Friday.
Park earned her spot in the field by firing an even-par 72 on June 23 at Blythefield to secure one of two sponsor exemptions to compete in championship play. While she worked to stay levelheaded in preparation over the last several weeks, balancing practice with a full-time internship at sports and entertainment marketing firm Intersport, Park admitted to nerves.
"I've dreamed of this moment of playing in the LPGA since I was in the eighth grade," she said. "To play on this stage, with these girls, I was feeling a lot of things; I was excited, I was freaking out."
But the nerves subsided once the 2013 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and three-time All-Big Ten honoree got to Blythefield and the comfort of the course.
"The one thing that surprised me was that I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be on the course," said Park. "I got to the first tee, and the night before I was thinking I'd just have to get it over with and I'd be fine, but I had no problem. I went up there like it was any other tournament, and I competed. It was cool to see how I've grown over the years, and feel like I had every right to be here and compete with these girls."
In fact, the nervousness of the actual competition was nothing compared to what the Tustin, California, native experienced during Wednesday's practice round.
"I played a couple of holes during my practice round with Inbee Park, who happens to be No. 1 (in the Rolex World Women's Golf Rankings) and for the first few holes I was so nervous. I think I was more nervous playing with her for five holes than my first tee-off today."
Park's group on Thursday and Friday included tour pros Marina Alex and Laetitia Beck, who competed collegiately at Vanderbilt and Duke, respectively.
"I expected it to be really intense," she said. "But the girls I played with, they're not so removed from college golf themselves and they were great. I had little conversations here and there with them."
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