Samantha Marks created her own July 4th fireworks at Blackwolf Run when she aced No.8. (Photo courtesy Samantha Marks)
A memorable week at the U.S. Women’s Open gave Samantha Marks another highlight on Wednesday – a hole-in-one.
The former Circle Christian standout recorded her ace at Blackwolf Run’s eighth hole, measuring 160 yards Wednesday with a large tree obscuring a golfer’s view of the green. Marks never saw her 6-iron tee shot touch down, but listened to the reaction.
“I wasn’t really looking, but I knew I hit it pretty good,” Marks said. “I heard it hit the green, then hit the pin and then the crowd went crazy.”
It was the second time that Marks has celebrated a hole-in-one, the other coming a couple of years ago at RedTail Golf Club in Sorrento.
Too bad it couldn’t have happened Thursday, when scores count. “Yeah, I wish,” said the University of North Carolina recruit.
Marks starts counting her score Thursday at 1:52 p.m. EDT, paired with California pro Mindy Kim and Venezuela’s Veronica Felibert. The group then will be third off the 10th tee on Friday.
“I’ve been feeling good,” said Marks, who played a Monday practice round with Orlando pro Christina Kim. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Something else that has stood out to Marks during her stay this week is the size of the crowds at Blackwolf Run. Despite three days of temperatures climbing into the 90s, there has been no shortage of people driving up to watch practice in the Wisconsin countryside.
“We’re all out there to play well,” she said, “but there’s also time to appreciate all these people who have devoted the whole day to watching what you love to do. … I’ve heard a lot of little girls saying they want to be like me when they grow up. That’s been really cool.”