Irene, Wisconsin – Amari Avery had to borrow a friend’s club to become one of the biggest rounds of her life and still found a way to lay off staff at the U.S. Women’s Open.
It was just part of a vibrant weekend that included trying to break in where she originally lived.
“It’s great to say it’s crazy,” Avery quipped after finishing the third round at Erin Hills on Saturday.
Avery’s crazy Friday began around 2 a.m. when she said her family had to notify police of a suspicious person at the place where Milwaukee was sleeping.
“My boyfriend, my mom and dad saw the people outside the door, so it was a little scary,” Avery said. “We were just a little far away from the front door and we just hope it fixes it.
Then they packed up their belongings and Avery’s boyfriend, Gavin Aurilia, was preparing to board the town’s flight. One problem: Aurilia accidentally left Avery’s club, not his own. Avery and Aurilia both play at Southern California.
“We used the same (bag) from the University of Southern California (USC), so obviously it was exactly the same and looked exactly the same,” Avery said. “I think it’s the same fault that my dad and my boyfriend didn’t check the bag. But they put it in the car and my dad took him to the airport and he grabbed the wrong device. That’s it, and we didn’t realize it until my serving time, about 12:15.”
Then, the potential effects of this negligence begin to sink.
“I was sitting in the hotel at 12:30, ‘I think I’ll be coming from the U.S. Open after a pretty steady round.’ “I’m obviously destroyed. ”
Avery was rescued by former UC teammate Gabi Ruffels, who played Friday morning and was unlikely to advance after finishing the first two rounds with a seven-pointer.
“My agent asked, ‘Do you want to use her club?’” Avery said. “I was like, ‘Well, how did she play?’ Because I thought, if she did a good job, then no one in my club gave me the club.
“But unfortunately she missed the layoffs, but it was lucky for me, she was obviously a very class show, my good friend, so she lends it to me for the club.”
In the second round, Avery won a 73-shot borrowing club, enough to allow her to advance.
She was playing her 17th hole when the darkness forced the day of the game to be suspended on Friday night. Avery ended Saturday morning after her own club had been sent back to Wisconsin, although the American Golf Association rules require her to end the round with the same equipment she used at the beginning.
Avery took back his club as Aurilia’s mother flew them to her on Friday from Phoenix.
“I can’t thank her very much,” Avery said. “I can’t thank my entire inner circle very much. It’s crazy to jump on a flight like this, and I’m so grateful.”
Avery actually scored better in the club borrowed in the second round than in the third round. On a day when the global score was much weaker than the first two rounds, Avery posted 76 shots, even though she almost scored 189 yards, third shot three.
“Based on the scores, based on my feelings yesterday, I think Gaby’s club is honestly very good,” Avery said. “I called her last night and I said, ‘Obviously, thank you so much for lending me the club.” I was like, “I might bring your putts.” Just like I love my putts, I don’t know, my college coach said I got the putts yesterday.
“I was thinking, maybe I should have her putt, maybe like an iron or two. But, no, it’s great to have my club back.”
