TULSA, Okla. — Anna Morgan had an opportunity to turn professional in December.
The then-fifth year senior at Furman was the most accomplished golfer in school history and arguably the best in the history of the Southern Conference. She had nothing more to prove at the collegiate level, though she felt as if her business wasn’t finished as an amateur.
She wanted to make her second Arnold Palmer Cup team. She wanted a shot to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur. She wanted to earn a spot on the Curtis Cup team at Sunningdale next month.
Morgan checked the first box, and the next two are to be determined.
U.S. Women’s Amateur: Photos
Morgan is one of numerous recent college grads in the field this week at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club. Instead of turning pro after her college career wrapped up in the spring, she remained an amateur to get one last shot at amateur glory. Morgan was on the winning American Palmer Cup team in Ireland, and now she’s on to match play at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, where a win would guarantee her a spot on the Curtis Cup team for the first time.
“It was the driving reason, honestly,” Morgan said of her decision to put turning pro on hold. “Just the potential of the Curtis Cup, whether I get that opportunity or not, and this week to prepare myself against some of the best was pretty much the main reason I wanted to stay amateur.”
Morgan made match play as the 25th seed and will face No. 40 Anna Fang at 10 a.m. ET Wednesday in the Round of 64.
She’s far from the only recent college graduate taking on Southern Hills this week hoping for a chance to make the Curtis Cup team. So is defending U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Megan Schofill, who will be the No. 14 seed in match play.
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Another is British Women’s Amateur winner Melanie Green, who planned to turn professional after the Palmer Cup in Ireland, but her plans changed when she won the biggest title of her career.
“I wasn’t even in the Palmer Cup, and then I won the British,” said Green, who finished her career at South Florida this spring. “I got exempt into some things, and I said I can’t quite pass these opportunities up.”
Melanie Green watches her second shot on the fourth hole during the second round of stroke play of the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
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