Evergreen – Alexis Thompson reacted with one of those puzzled, what-are-you-talking-about stares when asked Tuesday at Hiwan Golf Club if she might have to fight off a possible letdown. This 12-year-old would never let the past distract her from attacking the future.
For Thompson, becoming the youngest qualifier in the history of the U.S. Women’s Open was so yesterday.
“Each time I come to a tournament, I just try to do my best,” Thompson said. “Hopefully my best is pretty good.”
The task at hand is the Rolex Girls Junior Championship, an American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) national event that runs today through Friday. Still yawning after a morning flight from Florida, Thompson went to work at Hiwan’s practice range, blending in with the 83 other competitors and showing no signs that her sudden celebrity status will get to her head.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Thompson shot 72-71 at Heathrow (Fla.) Country Club and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 12 years, 4 months and 1 day. That broke the record held by current LPGA star Morgan Pressel, who was 12 years, 11 months and 21 days when she qualified for the 2001 Open.
The 2001 Open was held at Pine Needles in Southern Pines, N.C., which happens to be the site of the 2007 championship, June 28-July 1. There’s another coincidence. One of Thompson’s best friends is 15-year-old Madison Pressel, Morgan’s sister.
Madison Pressel is competing here this week and flew Tuesday on the same flight as Thompson. Madison failed to qualify for the Women’s Open but hung around to cheer on her pal.
“When Alexis did it, I called Morgan right away to tell her (that Thompson had broken her record),” Madison said. “Morgan was happy. If somebody was going to break the record, I’d rather it be somebody we know.”
Thompson, from Coral Springs, Fla., began playing golf when she was 5. In April, she became the second-youngest winner in AJGA history by winning the Aldila Junior Classic in Durham, N.C. Current LPGA player Vicki Goetze Ackerman won an AJGA event in 1984 when she was two days shy of her 12th birthday.
Another record buster entered here is 15-year-old Kimberly Kim of Hawaii, who last year became the youngest winner in the 111-year history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
“This is a tough course,” Kim said Tuesday after a practice round.
Tee times for the 54-hole event begin each day at 7:30 a.m. There is no admission charge.
Staff writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
