Herrick and Sommers Earn Qualifying Spot Into U.S. Women’s Four-Ball

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MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – Olivia Herrick and Samantha Sommers fired a four-under-par 68 to earn medalist honors and the sole qualifying spot Monday at Mendakota Country Club into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship to be played May 11-15 at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas.

The duo has not played together for the last four years but reunited this year in a big way qualifying for the national championship next May.

“We haven’t played together for four years now and it’s great to have the band back together. I just trust Sam and have so much faith in her. She’s an amazing teammate to have by your side,” Herrick said following the round.

The partners started their round off steadily parring the first six holes until they both bogeyed the par-4 sixth hole.

Sommers immediately followed that up with a birdie at the par-3 seventh hole to get back to even-par for the day. The two would par the eighth hole to remain even-par.

Sommers would keep the momentum going on the par-5 ninth hole making her second birdie in three holes to get the one-under and in command of the leaderboard.

Their strong play continued early on the back nine with Herrick birdieing the par-4 11th and Sommers birdieing the par-5 12th to get the team to three-under and four shots clear of the nearest team.

“We did really well with ham and egging it. I don’t think we ever got too much outside of our comfort zone’s, we didn’t have to worry too hard about the round or any holes. It was good, it was fun,” Sommers’ said reflecting on the round.

The steady played continued with each Herrick and Sommers’ parring the 13th-16th holes to remain three-under. Sommers’ then hit the clinching shot of the round on 17, hitting her approach on the 156 yard par-3 to seven feet and making the putt.

“Sam’s shot on 17 landed on the fringe and it ran out to seven or eight feet and she made the putt. I felt like that was the turning point of the round. I was not watching the leaderboard and you [Sam] hadn’t checked it in a while,” Herrick said.

The birdie on 17 got the pair to four-under par for the day where they would finish after both making pars on 18 to finish five shots clear of the second-place team of Taylor Ledwein and Megan Welch.

With Herrick and Sommers being two of the ‘older’ players in the qualifier, they do not get as much practice or play in as they used to so it means more to make qualify at this point in their lives.

“It means a lot to me, it’s a really special championship…We’ve played in four together and they are super fun. To represent mid-ams in the championship means a lot to me – I’m just thrilled,” Herrick explained.

“It’s really good, I haven’t played a lot of competitive golf so getting back out here and having a really good partner is really positive for me – it keeps me on track. To be able to compete with younger girls is really fascinating to me and really fun,” Sommers’ added.

Taylor Ledwein and Megan Welch were the first alternates after a one-over 73 and Lily Vincelli and Jovie Ordal were the second alternates after a three-over 75.