Hey there Illini nation!

I had the great pleasure of playing in the 115th U.S. Women's Amateur this past week! I qualified for the championship back in 2012, so it felt great to be back after a few years! Portland golf is something I had never experienced before, and I'm happy to say it was wonderful. The beauty of Portland itself is one thing, but the lush green Poa annua grass, the woody landscapes, and the lay out of the course was spectacular as well. There were hills and undulations in the fairways and greens that TV can't justify. It was unlike any golf course I had played before!

The USGA did a wonderful job with providing everything we needed, especially the unlimited snacks and ice cream in our locker rooms... It was great to see some old friends and meet some awesome up and coming stars out there.

I also had a following of about 12 people, which consisted of my moms whole side of the family. They drove all the way down from Seattle to support me! It had been 3 years since I had last seen them, so it was a nice family gathering combined with some good golf! I was also fortunate enough to have my dad on the bag and by my side the whole way which was very beneficial. I couldn't make it up those hills without him! We made a great team and played hard. The scores were low and the cut was lower. It was within reach, though one little mistake kept me from match play.

It was a good learning experience and there are a lot of positives I'm taking away from it. It was a fantastic way to end my summer season and transition into the fall! I'm looking forward to this upcoming season with the team and I also have sights on making match play at the Am next year!

Less than one month until our first event!

I-L-L

Stephanie Miller