12 year old qualifies for US Women's Open

Qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open was as easy as a 2-foot putt for 12-year-old Morgan Pressel.

Pressel shot a 2-under par 70 at a tournament Monday at Bear Lakes Country Club, and the seventh-grader qualified for the U.S. Women's Open on May 31 at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

She is among the youngest to qualify for the event. Beverly Klass was 10 years old when she played in the 1967 U.S. Women's Open.

"There were no expectations on me to qualify," Pressel said Monday. "I just went out there for experience. I thought I could do fairly well."

Pressel, of Boca Raton, said she was nervous on the first tee, but quickly settled down.

"Sitting there, shaking over my driver on the first tee, it was like "Yikes!" said Pressel, who is 5-foot-3 and averages about 230 yards off the tee.

Despite some trouble on the final two holes, Pressel played a solid round, according to her mother Kathy.

"She's a very mature individual, especially when it comes to her golf," she said. "She handles herself very well on the golf course."

Morgan hugged her mother and the rest of her family members after the round. She also thanked her caddie and uncle, Aaron Krickstein, who was once a ranked tennis player.

Morgan has received constant calls from friends and reporters, and anticipates a busy school day Tuesday.

"It'll be interesting to see what everyone thinks," Pressel said.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page