MacArthur High School graduate Annie Park arrived at the University of Southern California (USC) a top-rated golf prospect, and now the 18-year-old has qualified to take part in the Women's U.S. Open.
This isn't Park's first taste of the action, as the Levittown resident played as an amateur in the 2012 U.S. Women's Open. She qualified for that by finishing first at the U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifier at Trump National in Colts Neck, N.J.
Park won the NCAA Women's Individual Title last week in convincing fashion, finishing 10 strokes under par and helping the No. 1 ranked USC Trojans women's golf team win the NCAA National Championship.
She models herself after Annika Sorenstam, because "she showed great sportsmanship and manner on and off the golf course".
Park's performance at Edgewood Country Club, in which she didn't have a bogey in 36 holes, led to another win as she finished eight under par. This year, there's something special for her in qualifying.
"It was my goal to play at Sebonack, ever since I knew about it," Park told Newsday. "I'm pretty excited."
Despite her success at such a young age, Park said she has no plans to skip college and go pro, but she might step up her course-load and get her diploma sooner than expected.
On Friday, Park will be at MacArthur to visit friends at graduation rehearsal, and then the focus will be on golf.
"The result was very unexpected for myself," Park commented on the USC website. "I was just trying to play my best each round and each shot. It turned out to be good and it feels great."
How far do you think Park can go with golf? Tell us in the comments section below.
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