Free Of Coaching Duties, Bolger Set To Defend Women’s Mid-Amateur Title

By David Shefter, USGA

You could say Meghan Bolger has become a golf bum, at least for the summer.

Without a full-time job for the first time in seven years, the 29-year-old from Haddonfield, N.J., decided it was time to enjoy life and play the game she loves.

When the women’s college golf season ended last spring, the University of Mississippi decided not to renew Bolger’s contract. That left the 2006 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion void of responsibilities.

No hitting the recruiting trail seeking talent. No creating practice schedules. No consoling players after a bad round. No pre-tournament pep talks. No making travel itineraries.

"That was the best thing that could have happened to me," said Bolger, who was hired at Mississippi not long after completing her playing career at Tulane University. "I’m just playing a lot of golf and enjoying life right now. It’s first time I’ve been able to play. I love it."

At last year’s Women’s Mid-Amateur at Old Waverly in West Point, Miss., Bolger commuted back and forth from Oxford, where the University of Mississippi is located, squeezing in time with her team’s practices around her matches. In fact, Bolger’s coaching responsibilities often prevented her from playing in the Women’s Mid-Amateur. She qualified in 2005 but had to withdraw.

Now that she doesn’t have a team to coach, Bolger has been able to focus solely on her game. In June, she

	Free of her college coaching responsibilities, Meghan Bolger has used this summer to focus on her own golf game. (USGA Photo Archives)

qualified for her first U.S. Women’s Open but missed the cut by three shots at Pine Needles Resort and Lodge in Southern Pines, N.C., shooting 81-75. Nevertheless, the week was unforgettable as Bolger stayed at her parents’ second home in Pinehurst and she enjoyed the time playing in front of friends and family.

"Three bad swings just got me in trouble," said Bolger. "I could have made a couple of [more] putts. But I really did OK in my first professional event."

She performed a bit better at the Women’s North and South at Pinehurst Resort later in July, reaching the round of 16, where she lost to defending champion and 2006 USA Curtis Cupper Jenny Suh of Fairfax, Va., who wound up as the 2007 runner-up.

But Bolger had hoped for better results at the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. Again her putting was suspect and she missed the cut by three strokes, shooting 79-75. In the second round of stroke play, she hit 15 greens, yet still shot three over.

"This is the fourth time I have played [the Women’s Amateur] and I put too much pressure on myself," said Bolger. "I don’t know why I do it. It’s just right off the bat and then I calm down."

Bolger’s game certainly was spot-on last October in Mississippi. Despite unseasonably cold temperatures, she carded a 152 in stroke play. Then she won her first two matches rather handily, 5 and 3 over University of Mississippi alum Lecia Alexander of Stafford, Texas, and 3 and 2 over Tara Joy-Connelly of Marshfield, Mass. Then she faced the grand dame of women’s amateur golf in seven-time USGA champion Carol Semple Thompson in the round of 16. Bolger jumped on top early and never looked back in dispatching the 2006 and ’08 USA Curtis Cup captain, 6 and 4.

She followed that with a 4-and-3 quarterfinal win over Marilyn Hardy of Houston, Texas, and the wife of noted instructor Jim Hardy. In the semis, she ousted lefty Jill Hardy (no relation to Marilyn) of Canada, 3 and 2, before beating Thuashini Selvaratnam of Sri Lanka in the final, 5 and 4. In six matches, Bolger never played the 17th and 18th holes.

"My goal was to have as many pars as possible and not be stuck in the rough," said Bolger after the match.

With the 2007 Women’s Mid-Amateur at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree, Ariz., now on the horizon, Bolger can’t believe her year-long reign as champion is coming to an end.

"It’s been very exciting," said Bolger at the Women’s Amateur. "I’m just really focused on the present. I’m going to practice the hardest I can for the next month."

A week prior to the Women’s Mid-Amateur, Bolger will be in the California desert at the first stage of LPGA Tour Qualifying School. She has entered as an amateur, so if she doesn’t manage to advance to the final stage and get her 2008 card, she can return to amateur golf. The first stage 72-hole qualifier is being held at Mission Hills, where her uncle has a home.

"For me, it’s all about the experience with knowing how to play at that level," said Bolger. "I have never tried it. I actually love the amateur game and playing as much as I can. But it’s a lot of work. If I am going to [play professionally], then I’m going to do it. I’m just going to test it this time."

At the moment, Bolger has no desire to get back into college coaching. She never applied for any of the plethora of openings that were available for the 2007-08 season. But she hasn’t ruled out a return to the profession.

"Down the road, I could see myself getting back into it," she said. "Seven years was a great run. I love coaching. It’s in my blood."

Of course, Bolger wouldn’t mind retaining the wonderful trophy she received last fall. The members of her parents’ club, Tavistock in south Jersey, proudly had it on display in the clubhouse for all to see.

"I’ve never been a defender," said Bolger. "It’s going to be exciting to see how that all pans out. People have won back-to-back [titles]. I am just real excited to be going to Phoenix."

Now, there’s a place any golf bum wouldn’t mind visiting.

David Shefter is a USGA staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.