Alternate Has Good Luck, Bad Shots

Amateur Karly Mills of nearby McMinnville got a phone call at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday from the United States Golf Association.

The message: Be at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club early Thursday morning because you might be playing in the U.S. Women’s Open.

Mills showed up and was the final addition to the field of 150.

Mills was selected because Caroline Keggi of Scottsdale, Ariz., withdrew with a rotator cuff injury.

The USGA was unable to reach Debbi Koyama of Monrovia, Calif., who would have been the next alternate added to the field.

Mills was first alternate in sectional qualifying at Pumpkin Ridge.

She had a 9-over-par 80.

“I was nervous but not as nervous as I thought I’d be,” she said. “I just hit some horrible shots.”

Happy birthday

One day after her 20th birthday, Jenny Chuasiriporn shot a 1-under 70 to be the low-scoring amateur in the first round.

Chuasiriporn, who will be a junior this fall at Duke University, had tried and failed twice before to qualify for the Open.

“The first two times I tried I just got completely nervous,” she said. “This time, my brother caddied for me again. He caddied for me the first time. And I wasn’t nervous at all. That was a good thing for me because I’d been working at keeping my confidence up.”

A psychology major, she plans to turn pro after finishing college.

The 1996 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, Kelli Kuehne, finished at even-par 71.

Sorenstam shock

Annika Sorenstam’s quest to become the first golfer to win three consecutive U.S. Women’s Open titles has created quite a stir among golf fans.

Some feel a third-straight win might inject some much-needed interest into the LPGA Tour.

But Tracy Hanson, who played a practice round with Sorenstam on Wednesday, isn’t among those caught up in a three-peat frenzy. “I really haven’t even thought about it,” Hanson said after shooting a 75, two shots better than Sorenstam. “I’m out here trying to play my own game. I’m not worrying about her, although I’d like to stop her myself.”

Despite her disappointment, Sorenstam, known for her politeness, came to the media tent.

“I can shoot 5-under on this course,” she said. “That’s what I’ve got to tell myself anyway, and who knows what will happen. But mentally I think I can do it.”

Annika wasn’t even the leading Sorenstam. Her sister, Charlotta, finished at 5-over 76.

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