It has been a busy two weeks for Stephanie Lau.
At the end of June, the 21-year-old senior at Northwestern University took 2nd place in the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship at Hillsdale Golf Course, a place that is described as having sandhills and pinewoods.
Sound familiar?
Stephanie Lau calmly sinks her 5-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole of Pinehurst No. 2 to take the lead in the 2018 Women’s North and South Amateur
Today on the championship course in Pinehurst, Lau caped off another amazing week with a win at the Women’s North and South Amateur by beating the field of 90 top amateurs, over five days, in route to holding the famous Putter Boy trophy, but it wasn’t easy.
Local caddie Brant Hunt of Pembroke, North Carolina, and Gabi Ruffels watch the ball fly to the green in Friday’s final round. Gabi praised Brant for his help reading he greens and valuable local knowledge.
Australian stand-out golfer Gabi Ruffels had the early lead in Friday’s final match on front 9 of Pinehurst No. 2 with steady play, while Lau struggled to hold the greens, losing the first three holes before fighting back to even the match, as the players made the turn after nine holes.
Gabi Ruffels, incoming freshman at the University of Southern California from Victoria Australia, tees of on the 16th hole of Pinehurst No. 2.
Both ladies came to par-5 16th hole tied. That is when the extra length off the tee paid off for Lau, as she reached the green with driver, 5-wood, while Ruffles took three shots to reach. Lau, with her Northwestern teammate as her caddie, calmly sank her 5-foot putt for eagle and the lead. A par on 17 was all she needed for the win.
Yes Stephanie, it has been a crazy busy two weeks.
Feature photo: Stephanie Lau holds her Putter Boy trophy in front of the iconic statue on the practice green of the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club.
Article and photos by John Patota, Sandhills Sentinel Contributor.
