Lunke's bubble bursts after storms fade

Jennifer Simonson, Star Tribune

Edina's Hilary Lunke acknowledged her fans before taking the first tee shot at hole 1 to begin the U.S. Women's Open at Interlachen Country Club.

The Edina native and former Open champion dropped outside the 36-hole cut line after waiting out a delay, but she will leave with special memories.

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: June 27, 2008 - 11:42 PM

Hilary Lunke was sitting right on the projected cut line Friday when stormy weather forced a 2-hour, 27-minute delay at the U.S. Women's Open.

It probably didn't help Lunke's nerves knowing that after the delay she'd have to play three holes she had bogeyed in the first round.

"You're just trying to think about how the course is going to play differently once we got back out there," she said.

Unfortunately for Lunke, she made a few mistakes and missed a crucial putt after the delay, thus ending her bid to extend her homecoming into the weekend.

Lunke failed to make the cut after shooting a 5-over-par 78 on Friday, leaving her 6 over for the tournament. It wasn't the result the 2003 U.S. Women's Open champion envisioned for her return home.

"I'm pretty disappointed not to be playing on the weekend," she said. "You kind of felt like things were maybe going to fall together and make a couple of birdies these last couple holes and make the cut. Obviously that would have made it a lot more fun. I'm definitely disappointed, but it was still a great week playing in my hometown. It's something I'll remember forever."

Having played in only three LPGA Tour events this season, Lunke worried about inconsistency coming in, and that proved to be case. She hit only 20 greens and 18 fairways the first two rounds, which helped lead to 11 bogeys and only five birdies.

"It's tough to come out and play the U.S. Open with a rusty game," she said. "As much as you can practice, your game is really not ready unless you've been playing a lot. I definitely could have played worse the way I was hitting the ball. I'm proud that I hung in there but disappointed I didn't drop a few more putts today."

Lunke missed a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 7 after the weather delay (she started her round on No. 10) that would have made the finish more interesting. But a slippery 8-footer downhill for par on No. 9 came up short and sealed her fate.

Afterward, Lunke paused for a few seconds when asked what she'll remember about this week 10 years from now.

"That feeling on the first tee," she said of her first shot in the opening round. "The gravity of the situation, coming back as a former champion. I've never had tears in my eyes on the first tee in my life. That's what I'll remember."

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