CU’s Malak Bouraeda wins qualifier to earn coveted berth in U.S. Women’s Open
By Gary Baines – 5/10/2022
Golfers from the University of Colorado women’s program have fared pretty well in recent years at Colorado-based qualifying tournaments for the U.S. Women’s Open.
In particular, Robyn Choi has twice earned spots in the USWO at Colorado qualifiers — in 2017 and ’18. And, it should be noted, former Buffs Jenny Coleman (2015 and ’21) and Jessica Wallace (2014) qualified for U.S. Women’s Opens out of state as pros.
On Tuesday at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, CU’s Malak Bouraeda happily followed Choi’s path. The senior from Southlake, Texas recorded scores of 71-72 to finish at 1-under-par 143 and earn the lone available berth into the U.S. Women’s Open through the 36-player qualifier in Westminster.
Bouraeda, 21, landed her spot in the USWO — set for June 2-5 in Southern Pines, N.C. — by winning Tuesday’s event by one stroke over Sky Sudbury of The Woodlands, Texas, a future Texas A&M golfer, and Maria Fernanda Lira Solis of Mexico. Bouraeda made seven birdies, three bogeys and a triple bogey on the day.
“It’s absolutely insane,” Bouraeda told CUBuffs.com. “It’s the first USGA event that I’ve qualified for and to win it with only one spot going, it’s really special.”
Bouraeda led by four strokes midway through her final nine holes as she was 4 under through 15 holes in the afternoon round. But a triple bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17 dropped her into a tie for the top spot with Lira Solis. But Lira Solis went bogey-bogey on 15 and 16 to drop back.
For all the scores from Walnut Creek, CLICK HERE.
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. He was voted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2021. Email: ColoradoGolfJournal@mac.com)
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