Jensen Castle (USGA Photo)
Just how unexpected is it to have Kentucky junior Jensen Castle in the U.S. Women’s Amateur semifinals? First, she had to survive a 12-player playoff for two spots to get into the match-play portion of the tournament. Second, she has to upset the tourney’s No. 2 seed based on qualifying in the first round.
She also didn’t bring enough clothes to still be playing like she will be now after Friday’s impressive 6-and-5 victory over Virginia Tech’s Emily Mahar and with another win would become the first UK golfer ever to play in the Amateur final match.
Castle joked earlier in the week that she didn’t bring enough clothes because a stress fracture in one of her ribs forced her to withdraw from several tournaments. She was not cleared to even practice again until last week.
“I actually didn’t go buy any (clothes). I kind of just mixed and matched. My teammate wore this yesterday so I didn’t wear it, so now she’s not here I was like, ‘Okay, this is my last full outfit.’Tomorrow I’ll have to mix and match.”
Even her lodging arrangements have been a bit complicated. She came to New York with a friend who has already left and two other friends came who knew someone who lived in the area.
“So I spent three nights in a hotel and now I’m staying at a friend’s on an air mattress,” Castle, who said she was not even sure what town she was staying in, said.
But despite sleeping on an air mattress there is one plus. The place she is staying has a washer and dryer.
“I’ve already done my laundry, so …” Castle said.
Now she faces a showdown tonight at 1:30 p.m. against Rachel Heck of Stanford. Heck won the NCAA championship and won every major collegiate award last season and her 69.72 stroke average was the lowest ever in women’s college golf. (GOLF Channel will have coverage of the semifinals from 2-5 p.m. today). The winner will advance to Sunday’s 36-hole championship match.
Castle insisted she had no idea who she was going to be playing after Friday’s win because she had never looked ahead.
“I touched a club about four, five days before, and doctors didn’t even really want me to play in this. I was like, I don’t really see myself giving this opportunity up. I qualified; it is what it is,” Castle said. Soon as this is over I’ll probably sit out two or three weeks until the season starts.
“So I came here not packing enough clothes, golf balls neither, but it’s been great.”
Castle admitted having no set expectations and barely surviving a playoff to even get into match play did take pressure off.
Castle built a big early lead Friday and while she didn’t coast to the win she was never really pressured during the match.
“I didn’t realize I was 6 and 5. Like I thought we were going to the next hole after that match. That’s how out of it I was. She was ready to hug me. I’m like, right now? It’s just staying in the moment and enjoying it,” Castle, who made the round of 32 in this same tournament last year, said. “All the volunteers out here, all the people behind the scenes, just thanking them and enjoying the moment. ”
Kentucky teammates Marissa Wenzler and Laney Frye both were in the tournament and advanced to match play. Frye lost in the first round and Wenzler in the second round.
Castle says she’s got a lot of texts from UK teammates.
“Marissa and Laney have texted me the most just because I think they were here and they know what’s going on and the experience itself and how big it is,” Castle, who had Frye caddy for her in the U.S. Open in June, said. “It’s funny. My coach is in Sweden, so she keeps sending me 2 a.m. text messages when she wakes up Sweden time and is like, ‘Hey, let’s go, or whatever,’ but it’s been great.”
Friday’s weather in New York was warmer but Castle, who is from Columbia, S.C., had no issues with the temperature.
“Columbia is the most humid. There is in wind in Columbia, so this with the breeze is actually enjoyable,” Castle said. “Luckily being raised and growing up in Columbia with no wind I learned that humid is the best way to learn.”
Castle said the course got faster, especially on the greens, Friday but it was not a big issue because all eight quarterfinalists had to play the same course. She also said her rib injury was not causing insurmountable issues.
“Everyone keeps asking me that. I’m on some anti-inflammatories and I am taking Tylenol, which I don’t normally take medicine in general,” Castle said. “But my adrenaline is so high during the round I don’t feel it over the ball. I only feel it walking in between shots occasionally when my heart rate gets up and my breathing, but other than that I’ve iced it after every round and I’ll ice it after this.”
