WSU’s Eneroth enjoys pro ride

When asked to grade her performance in her inaugural Ladies Professional Golf Association event, Amy Eneroth reluctantly gave herself a C-minus.

“Only because of the way I came back after that terrible start,” explained the 22-year-old Mead High School graduate and former standout at Washington State University, who kicked off her professional golf career Friday by shooting an opening-round 78 in the Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore.

But when it came to grading her overall first-time LPGA experience, Eneroth eagerly handed out an A.

“Even though I didn’t play that well, I looked around and saw all the players I’ve always looked up to and realized they’re really not that much better than me,” she said, after posting a 6-over-par total that included double bogeys on two of her first four holes and left her tied with three other golfers for 131st place in the $1.7 million event – and in need of a career round today to make the 36-hole cut and play Sunday.

“I beat a couple of them today, tied a few, and realized I have what it takes to make it out here. I’m just not as consistent as most of them are,” she said.

Eneroth, who finished her collegiate career at WSU this spring and plans to graduate next May with a degree in a sports management and a minor in business, is playing in the Safeway Classic on a sponsor’s exemption she earned by winning a qualifying event at Langdon Farms Golf Club in Aurora, Ore., earlier this summer.

She is spending the week in the Portland area with her parents, Dave and Dovie Eneroth, and taking in as much of the tournament atmosphere as she can.

“I practiced quite a bit on my off time,” Eneroth said, “but (Thursday) I went out to the pro-am event and followed Kristy McPherson and some other top players around. I was just kind of watching to see what they do and how I compare.

“I think I’ve had a good mix of practicing and, also, experiencing the whole LPGA thing.”

Eneroth’s opening round, which left her 12 shots behind tournament leader Beth Bader, was a wild ride that tested her mental toughness, as well as her considerable physical talents.

Starting on the back nine of Pumpkin Ridge’s Ghost Creek Golf Course, she opened with par on 10th hole before knocking her tee shot on the par-3 11th into the water and making the first of her three double bogeys on the day. She also doubled the par-4 13th, after “compounding a bad drive with an even worse second shot,” and finished the nine bogey-bogey to turn in 6-over 41.

But she birdied the last two holes – both par 5s – on her back nine to shoot even-par 37 and establish some momentum heading into today’s second round.

“Those last two birdies were pretty close to eagles,” Eneroth said, recounting the eighth hole, where her sand wedge shot from 40 yards out lipped the cup and set up a 6-inch birdie putt, and the ninth, where she knocked her “pured” second shot from 200 yards away to within 10 feet and two-putted.

“I don’t know how that sand wedge on No. 8 didn’t go in; it was rolling straight in. I think I just got screwed.”

Eneroth refused to blame her shaky start on nerves.

“I really wasn’t too bad,” she said. “I’m not sure what happened. I think my swing, maybe, got a little bit quick.”

But she did admit to fighting off a mild panic attack after making those two early doubles.

“I was fighting trying to fix my swing, which, during a round, really isn’t that great an option,” she said. “I mainly try to have just one swing thought, but I was struggling with that, because I was just hitting it terrible.”

After her round, Eneroth spent some time on the practice range working on her iron play and then proceeded to the putting green, which was nearly vacant because of the light rain that had started to fall.

“It was just me and my good friend, Lorena Ochoa, hitting some lag putts,” she chuckled. “So, that was pretty cool.”

Eneroth plans to approach today’s second round realistically.

“I know I’m a long way outside of the cut line, and I’m going to have to have a career round to make it,” she said. “But you never know what might happen so I’m going to go out, play my best and just have some fun.”

Following the Safeway Classic, Eneroth will line up the internship she needs to complete her college degree and then, maybe, head to Arizona to compete on the Cactus Tour. She hoped to qualify for the LPGA Tour at Q-school later this fall, but passed because of academic obligations.

“I was thinking about doing it this year, but I got my class schedule and realized I couldn’t make it work,” she said.

Of today’s second round, she added:

“I think it’ll be easier. I got those first nine holes out of the way and, hopefully, I’ll play a little better. If anything, this (experience) has made me more focused.

“There’s a lot of travel and hard work involved, but by coming to this tournament, I’m convinced this is what I want to do.”

You can reach Steve Bergum at steveb@spokesman.com or (509) 475-9689.