Colorado University Athletics
Miller Set To Compete At 123rd U.S. Women's Amateur Championship
August 06, 2023 | Women's Golf
Morgan Miller's putter got hot at the right time this summer, so much so it punched her a ticket to the most prestigious amateur event of the year.
Miller will compete at the 123rd U.S. Women's Amateur, which begins Monday, Aug. 7, at the Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles.
The tournament consists of two rounds of stroke play (Monday and Tuesday). The top 64 move on to match play over the next four days, culminating with a champion crowned on Aug. 13.
"It's the biggest tournament of the year besides the Augusta National Tournament so I'm really excited about it," Miller said.
Miller was originally a first alternate into the field, after tying for fifth at the Colorado Golf Association qualifier with a 1-under-par, 71, on June 21 at the Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster. She got the call last week that a spot had opened up for her to participate.
Just getting to that point was a feat in itself, she made a furious comeback late in the qualifier just to get to a playoff for the final spot or one of two alternate positions.
Miller was 2-over through 14 holes, but had the advantage of being among the last golfers on the course during the round. She got a peak at the leaderboard and knew what she had to do from there.
"I looked at the leaderboard and the cut was 1-under and I'm sitting here with four holes left and am like 'I gotta do something if I want a chance'," Miller said.
She began the four-hole stretch sinking a 30-foot putt for birdie at No. 15. Miller made par at No. 16, meaning she needed to finish with birdies on her final two holes to join the playoff.
On No. 17, a par 3, Miller found herself with another long-range putt, from about 35-40 feet out, but made that as well to stay in contention with a birdie. That left the 501-yard par 5 No. 18.
Two solid shots got her into striking distance near the green, but a misstep with her chip onto the green left her with her back against the wall.
"I had a chance at an up and down for birdie but I did not hit the chip well and was left with a 55-footer," Miller said. "So it's not like I was giving myself very good chances."
However, Miller was up to the challenge. She drilled the 55-footer, her third long putt in four holes, to finish at 1-under.
"I knew I had to make the putt and I just made sure I got the putt to the hole and they all went in which was fortunate for me," Miller said. "But that doesn't happen every day, let alone a lot, I was very fortunate to have my putter running hot the last four holes."
With five golfers qualifying for the Amateur out of the CGA event, Miller joined three others in a playoff for the final spot.
Cory Lopez of Mexico would take the final spot with a birdie on the first playoff hole, but Miller snagged first alternate with a par on the second playoff hole, a par 3 which the others bogeyed.
Miller is hoping the U.S. Amateur can serve as a continuation on what was a solid freshman season at Colorado and what will be an even better sophomore campaign. She was second on the team in stroke average at 75.79 and led the Buffaloes with nine rounds of even-par or better.
Additionally, Miller placed third at the 76th CGA Women's Stroke Play Championship in July. In January, Miller won the 90th Doherty Women's Amateur Championship in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Miller won't be alone at the U.S. Amateur. Colorado Associate Head Coach Madeleine Sheils will serve as her caddie this week.
"This is such a good field and especially having Maddie on the bag, I think it's going to be really helpful," Miller said. "To experience that together will be so much fun and I'm just planning on having a fun time. I'm just going to try my best and see what happens."
Miller begins her quest Monday teeing off from the back nine at Bel-Air CC at 8:42 a.m. MT and is paired with American Sienna Lyford and Canadian Brooke Rivers. That same trio will begin the second round on Tuesday from the No. 1 tee at 1:57 p.m. MT.
Players Mentioned
