Britney Yada is far from the first golfer to run into the fickle nature of the game, but now she has an anecdote all her own.
Golf is “hard,” it’s “funny” – and it’s all worth it.
The Waiakea graduate has missed three cuts in a row on the Symetra Tour and she said she shot about a million Thursday in a practice round.
Tuesday, however, was Yada’s day. She claimed a playoff at a regional qualifier in Advance, N.C., to secure her first spot in the U.S. Women’s Open in two weeks at Shoal Creek in Alabama.
“I’ve been struggling so bad with my golf game, so Tuesday was kind of an all-or-nothing day,” Yada said. “Still hasn’t sunk in that I will be playing in my first major championship. I’m sure once I get on site, I’ll really feel it.”
The 26-year-old Yada is believed to be the first Big Island golfer to play in the Women’s Open since Hilo’s Kimberly Kim in 2006. Kim played in another major, the Women’s PGA Championship, in 2007.
With two Open spots up for grabs at Bermuda Run Country Club (East), Yada carded a 2-under 140 (72-70) in the 75-player field, sharing a three-way tie for second after 36 holes to get to the playoff behind medalist Nannette Hill (141).
“I had good vibes heading into the playoff because I birdied my final two holes to get into that position,” Yada said. “I saw it as a sign that it was meant to be.”
On the third playoff hole, Yada managed to get her ball to the exact position on the green she had earlier in the round, and she capitalized, making the only birdie of extra holes.
Low amateur Emilia Migliaccio is the first alternate and Kylie Henry is the second alternate.
“They didn’t make it easy on me,” said Yada, a three-time BIIF champion with the Warriors and Big Sky champ at Portland State.
Her year hasn’t been so easy, either.
Yada earned a conditional LPGA Tour card in 2017, making one cut in 10 events, but she’s yet to play with the top pros this season.
In 2018, she’s made one cut on the Symetra Tour – the developmental stage for the LPGA Tour – finishing in a tie for 30th March 16 in Florida to earn $1,129. Yada has also posted four top-five finishes – but no victories – on the Cactus Tour. She won the money title on the Southwest circuit in 2016.
She wiped out her struggles with two good rounds Tuesday to reach the national championship, which runs May 31-June 3.
“I’m planning on taking the next week off to rest. I’ve been playing Symetra, so I’m really not trying to burn myself out heading to Alabama,” Yada said. “I plan on focusing a lot on course management. That has been a struggle of mine lately. And, of course, the short game will be key assuming the conditions will be tough.”