Former FIU Golfer MacLaren Tees Up in Her First U.S. Women's Open

FIU Athletics

Story Links

MIAMI (July 11, 2017) -- Former FIU golf star Meghan MacLaren earned a spot in the 2017 United States Women's Open, which starts this weekend. MacLaren has a 2:09 p.m. Eastern tee time off of the first hole, paired with American Kyung Kim and Australian amateur and current Colorado Buffalo Robyn Choi in one of the last threesomes to tee off in the opening day of play. The 156-player field will play at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in the 72-hole championship. MacLaren won one of six spots after a playoff from the qualifier in Buckinghamshire, England on June 5, 2017, by tying for third with a two-round 145. This was the only European qualifier for the U.S. Open."Qualifying was one of the most draining, but rewarding days I think I've ever had on the course," said MacLaren. "Conditions were seriously tough with the wind and the course set up. It was almost a strange situation for me because I got off to an awesome start, so I kind of knew from quite early on that I had a very good chance of qualifying, but with so few spots available, I could afford very few mistakes. I don't think I could keep the smile off my face as I realized what it actually meant. Having some of my family there, especially my sister, to celebrate that moment was really cool. Knowing that I wanted to eventually play in America was one of the reasons I decided to go to FIU in the first place, so it's nice to have that decision working in my favor now."
 
MacLaren captured two Conference Player of the Year awards and three medalist honors, and was named All-Conference four times and Player of the Week eight times in her four years at FIU. The Cambridge, England, native was the second player in Conference ...

Read More