Green set to make U.S. Women’s Open debut

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Coming off a very successful collegiate season Medina High graduate Melanie Green will step onto the stage of one of the premier events in women’s golf when she makes her debut at the 77th U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday at the Pine Needle Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. I really appreciate the opportunity to play and make the most out of it,” said Green who will tee off in the second threesome of the day at 7:11 Thursday morning.

Green is one of 50 first time qualifiers and one of 30 amateurs in the 156 player field. Interestingly, that group of amateurs includes one of the top competitors from her days of scholastic competition in Bailey Shoemaker who twice finished second to Green at the New York State high school championship tournament.

The field also includes 12 former U.S. Open champions, 13 former runners-up as well as defending U.S. Senior Women’s Open champion and three time U.S. Open champion Annika Sorenstram.

Green, who previously competed in the U.S. Girls Junior Tournament in 2018 and the U.S. Women’s Open Amateur Tournament in 2019, qualified for the Open by shooting a 6 under par 138 at the Fort Myers, Florida qualifier on May 4.

And as for the keys to having a successful tournament Green says “just to stay patient and enjoy myself and continue to do everything I’ve already been doing with my game.”

Green, who twice captured the New York state championship while at Medina High, recently completed her sophomore year at the University of South Florida where she earned American Athletic Conference All-Conference honors for the second year in a row.