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Kareen Larson Qualifies for U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur
Two-time Utah Women’s Four-Ball champ and TalonsCove GC General Manager Kareen Larson won medalist honors at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Sectional qualifier to earn a spot in the 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, held Sept. 30-Oct. 5, 2023, at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, AZ.
The one-day qualifier was held Aug. 17, at Boulder City Golf Course. There were six states, as well as Canada, represented in the tournament.
Larson will be making her first trip to the national event and can’t wait for the opportunity.
The U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur will be Kareen Larson’s first USGA national championship experience. Photo: SNGA
“It’s going to be a fun time,” she said. “I just turned 50 in March so this is my first big event. I’m excited.”
She said her game wasn’t in tip-top shape but she hung in.
“I was chipping well and getting up and down,” she said. “My putting was also good and really made a big difference.”
With it being a one-day event, she knew the pressure would be on.
“The one-day qualifying is way harder than a two-day event,” she said. “You just don’t have the time to make up for any mistakes. You’ve just got the one chance.” She finished her round fairly early and then played a waiting game.
“I knew anything could happen,” she said. “We saw the scoring through the 14th hole but a lot of players still had the par-5 coming in and No. 18 wasn’t playing that long. It just turned into a waiting game.”
It gave her a chance to reflect on her round.
“Yeah, I did think back,” she said. “I lipped out a putt for birdie on the last par-5 and thought…if I had just made that putt. But I’m happy with the way I played. All you can do is give it your best and see what happens.”
Utah’s Nuny Kham-one Khamken also played in the national qualifier finishing (+8).
U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Qualifier recap story written by Bill Bowman. Photos by Fairways Media and Southern Nevada Golf Association. Click here for final leaderboard from Boulder City Golf Course.