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GoDuke.com Q&A With Women's Golfer Amanda Blumenherst
9/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
DURHAM, N.C. - The reigning National Player of the Year in women's golf, sophomore Amanda Blumenherst sat down this week with GoDuke.com to talk about her very busy summer of 2006. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native played in three LPGA events, including the U.S. Open, the Curtis Cup, Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship and the U.S. Women's Amateur. She leads the top-ranked Blue Devils in 2006, which open the season on Sept. 15 at the Mason Rudolph Championship.
GoDuke.com: Seems like you had a pretty busy summer, overall how was it?
Amanda Blumenherst: It was great. All of the traveling and tournaments made it go by really fast, but it was also a lot of fun.
GD: This summer you played in your first two LPGA Tournaments. You missed the cut in the first one, but in the second one you played very well. How was that experience?
AB: It was an amazing experience especially because it really prepared me for the U.S. Open. Especially in the Wegman's, the second one I played in, I played really well, and it's the number two watched field for spectators. It was definitely a great transition for me to go from the Wegman's to the Open because it gave me great practice playing with large crowds and also how to play under those conditions.
GD: Let's talk about the U.S. Open a little bit. You finished in a tie as the low amateur. How much of a thrill was that?
AB: It was great. I was kind of lucky because I teed off at 6:30 a.m., so I was the first group in. I was able to finish, and it really almost put the pressure on the girls later in the day because I was already done, and I went all the way from 19th place to 10th place in the low amateur. It was an amazing experience, I was really proud of how I played, and I had a lot of fun.
GD: How hard was it to fight the adversity of the weather and not knowing the first day if you were even going to play? Was that a good experience for you?
AB: Well, it definitely toughens you mentally. The first day I got up, and I was at the course by 5:45 a.m. and didn't leave until 4:30 that afternoon, but I didn't even play one hole because of the fog delay. That definitely wears on you a little, but it also toughens you for other tournaments and experiences, and everyone has to go through it.
GD: The next trip you took was to Japan with Team USA. How was that trip?
AB: It was a blast! I had so much fun. It was definitely a tournament, but it was also a little bit of a vacation too because I was with a great group of kids. There was a group of eight guys and four girls from the U.S. It was a great experience because going over to Japan is so much different than even Mexico or even Europe. It's just a completely different culture, so playing in Japan was fun but also just being there was great.
GD: How much different was Japan from the U.S.? Tell us a little bit about your experience there.
AB: The golf course was pretty much the same; it could have been in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. It almost looked like a Northeast coast course, but it was very hot and humid. It was like Florida in the middle of the summer with no breeze. It was really warm, but besides that the course was the same.
GD: What about the people and the food?
AB: What was really different was that the women there are definitely treated differently, which was a big shock for us because while we were over there it seemed like guys would always be served first. It was just kind of different to be there and see that. Also, I was the tallest girl there, and I even towered over some of the boys, which was pretty funny. They were all very nice, and the technology there was surprising, too. All of the doors were automatic so that was kind of cool.
GD: Was the next trip the Curtis Cup?
AB: Yes, it was the Curtis Cup.
GD: So, how was the experience playing with Team USA in that?
AB: It was great. Being in Bandon Dunes was just beautiful; it was great on the ocean. It was extremely windy during our practice session, but then during the tournament it wasn't too bad. It was a great course, and it is just an amazing experience being able to represent the United States because golf is such an individual sport that when you're able to represent your country it's a great feeling.
GD: How about playing match play? How do you like that compared to college or regular tournament play?
AB: I'm definitely a stroke play person. That's what I prefer. Match play is something you have to get used to. I don't play it very often, so it does take practice and a different mindset also. That threw me a little. The next tournament was the U.S. Amateur. I always play well in the stroke play but then when the match play comes, I always feel kind of cheated or something because I play well but still lose.
GD: Right, but that last round you shot pretty well, your opponent just played great.
AB: I was upset, obviously, that I lost, but I didn't feel like I gave it away by any means. I mean I hit my driver perfect, I had 33 on the backside, and I had four birdies in five holes. She just made birdies on the same holes, so it's not like I gave it away. It was just luck of the draw.
GD: Did you have any time at all to relax and spend time with your family?
AB: I had a week at the lake in Indiana with my family, and then I also had two weeks after the U.S. Amateur at home at the pool.
GD: Did they have the Blumenherst Open this summer?
AB: Yes, we did, and it was the first time my group won. It was my great-grandma, my grandma, my aunt, my five-year-old cousin, and myself.
GD: That's great. Now, after your busy summer, are you excited about going in for your sophomore season?
AB: Definitely. I want to keep the momentum going from last year.
GD: What about school? I know you were an Academic All-America last year. Does it take you a little bit to get adjusted going back to school again or is it something you enjoy?
AB: It definitely took me a little to get back in the mode because I know how much work it takes, so that's always a little daunting. I love going to school; it's the homework part I'm not that crazy about, but I definitely look forward to it.
GD: Do you have any idea yet what you want to major in?
AB: I'm pretty sure it's going to be history.
GD: Any ideas besides, of course, professional golfing, what your career might be or what you want to do?
AB: I want to do the tour and then maybe have a family. If something happened and that didn't work out, I'd either want to be a teacher, even though my mom says you can't live on that budget, or I'm not sure. Definitely golf so far.
Players Mentioned
PLAYER
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