For today’s match play at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Zoe Campos laid out a simple, three-part plan.
One, she said she needs to hit more greens. Two, she needs to score more birdies. Three, she needs to put pressure on her opponent.
Those were her takeaways after Tuesday’s 3-over 75 at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista. The score, combined with Monday’s round, put the 14-year-old Valencia resident at 4-over for the tournament, good for a share of 38th place.
The 64 lowest scorers survived the cut.
MORE: Valencia resident posts strong showing on Women’s Amateur first day
“It was tough considering the wind, and I didn’t have a good finish,” Campos said, “but it was still enough to move on and I’m happy about that.”
Campos, playing in her first U.S. Women’s Amateur, the most prestigious amateur for women in the world, posted three bogeys on the front nine and three more on the back.
She dropped her score with birdies on the par-3 No. 6 hole, the par-3 No. 11 and the par-5 No. 16.
“Today I wasn’t hitting as many greens because of the wind,” Campos said, “and I was in the bunker a lot. I didn’t really save my pars.”
She did hit par on her final two holes, though, to close the day.
“I knew 4-over could make the cut,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be more than that.”
The projected cut was 6-over.
Campos’ score prolonged her stay at a tournament she wasn’t planning to attend before LPGA pro and Valencia High graduate Alison Lee convinced her to play.
As of 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, Campos hadn’t learned who she’d be facing today. Regardless, she said she feels more comfortable in match play than stroke play.
“In match play, you’re only playing against one person,” she said. “You’re not worrying about the whole field. It’s more fun and you have more confidence in yourself.”
