By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Alice Chen heads to college this week. But before getting started with her academic and athletic careers at Furman University, the Montgomery High School graduate put together another outstanding summer on the golf course.
Chen played in a pair of prestigious national events — the US Women’s Amateur Public Links in Dupont, Wash., as well as the Trusted Choice Big I National Championship in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Chen made a great run at a title in both events, but came up just a bit short.
At the U.S, Women’s Amateur Public Links, Chen advanced to the match-play segment after a strong performance in the stroke play portion of the tournament. She opened with a win over 11-year-old Lucy Li on the 19th hole. In the next round, Chen fell to her good friend and fellow New Jersey player Cindy Ha, 2 and 1.
”You have to go through the qualifying process just to get into the tournament and there are many across the country,” Chen said. “Then once you get in you are one of 156 that qualify. From that 156 there are two days of stroke play to qualify for match play. I was seeded in the mid 30s. The cut was at 5-over an I shot plus-1.
”My first match was against Lucy Li, who this year became the youngest player to have qualified for the Women’s U.S. Open. That was a lot of fun and an exciting match.”
Chen was in the unique position of playing a match against a player who had made national headlines earlier this summer.
”It was interesting because either win or lose it is kind of tough,” she said. “If you lose to 11-year-old it is tough and if you win people say well you beat an 11-year-old. But Lucy is a great player and it was such a good competition. We had great sportsmanship. She is 11 and has had so much experience. Her game is solid and well rounded. She hits the ball straight and good and plays fearless.
”There really is no margin for error in any match play. She was 1-up from the start and it went back and forth. We were all square going to 16 and I made birdie on 16 and then 17 bogey so we were all square and both shot par on 18. On the 19th hole, I knew she birdied that first hole in the morning. I shot a good second shot and rolled to within 7-feet from the pin. She chips on and chips to 4-feet. So I had to make the putt to win. I was so relieved when it went in.”
In the next round Chen lost to Ha, who went on to make the semifinals at the tournament.
At the Big I, which was four rounds of stroke play, Chen led for three rounds before Rachel Dai of Georgia rallied for a two stroke victory. Chen fired a 2-over par for the four rounds of the tournament.
”That was my fourth time playing at the Big I and it was a great experience,” Chen said. “I think with any tournament there are lessons that you learn that will help you later on as you play. I think I learned some lessons in that tournament that will help me later.”
Chen also had a successful summer playing in tournaments in New Jersey.
She reached the semifinals of match play at the New Jersey Women’s Amateur, where she lost to Taylor Totland on the 19th hole. Totland and Chen will be teammates this coming season at Furman.
Chen won the New Jersey Women’s Public Links and finished second by one stroke to Christina Parsells in the New Jersey Junior Girls Championship.
For Chen, it was another solid summer on the golf course, highlighted by playing in the USGA event.
”This was my fifth USGA event and any USGA event is special,” she said. “The whole process of qualifying is such an honor. That week my dad was on the bag and that was lot of fun. It is always special for me when I play in a tournament and my dad is on the bag. So that whole week with the qualifying and the match play was a lot of fun.
”I think at the Big I tournament I learned some lessons. I was a little disappointed but know I am where I am supposed to be and I know I can take lessons from that experience. I played in eight tournaments this summer. Now I have a couple days left in the summer and I am getting ready to head to school. I am seeing some people before I leave and getting packed and getting ready to leave.”
And then Chen will embark on the next phase of her golf career as a member of the Furman program.
”I am so excited,” she said. “The golf season is in the fall and spring so I will be busy. I have met everybody on the team and I love every girl on the team. It is going to be a lot of fun.”
