PEBBLE BEACH (Calif.) — Aine Donegan’s wild start on famed Pebble Beach was brought to a screeching halt when she shot a nine at the famous par-4 eighth.
The Irish amateur was known for her sunny disposition and didn’t let the incident ruin her day. Gary Madden, her swing coach and caddie at the 78th U.S. Women’s Open, told her simply to start over on the ninth tee.
Donegan recovered admirably and ended the day at 4 over par after a round of 75 in the third. She is currently three shots ahead of Benedetta Moresco, Monet Chun and the other low amateurs at 7 over.
Donegan, who had birdied three of his first six holes before that, ended up hitting two shots into a hazard at No. 8 en route to a quintuple bogey. Madden reminded her she was only 2 over for the day, despite the nine holes. He told her to pretend that she had made just two bogeys on the first eight.
Donegan said of her first approach to the eighth: “I hit a great tee-shot and I had around 190 yards to the flag.” “The wind blew from left to right, which is not a wind that suits a right-handed player who plays a straight shot. It’s not that it matters or is an excuse, but it was two bad shots in a line, and I ended up with a nine.
I had to move on.
Aine Donegan of Ireland, an amateur, waves her arms after she makes par on the second hole during the third round of 78th U.S. Women’s Open on July 8, 2023 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images).
Donegan, an Indiana transfer who joined LSU last season, finished the round with a par-scoring 21-footer on the 18th. She took in the cheers of the crowd, which included Irish friends and family.
Madden, who has known Donegan for eight years, said that his sports-minded pupil had played both Gaelic Football and Camogie before choosing golf.
Her clubs arrived late at Pebble Beach, and her driver was smashed. She had to replace it for her first major.
Madden smiled and said, “You could give her a good hurl. She’d be fine.”
