Former Winnacunnet student wins tournament, qualifies for United States amateur golf championship

BREWSTER, Mass. - June Doerr has never been to California, but has often seen the Golden State on TV while watching different golf tournaments over the years.

Now, it will be Doerr who will be the golfer taking swings in a California tournament.

Doerr, who attended Winnacunnet as a freshman and sophomore, is taking her first trip to Los Angeles to compete in next month's United States Girls Junior Amateur Championship at El Caballero Country Club from July 15-20.

"It's really exciting," said Doerr, who will play golf at Merrimack College in the fall . "I'm really happy to be able to have the opportunity to go. My whole family will be with me, so that's something great that we can experience together."

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Doerr qualified for next month's amateur championship by winning a 36-women, 18-hole tournament at Captains Golf Course in Brewster, Massachusetts on June 17.

Doerr shot a 1-over-par 73 to earn one of the two spots that were up for grabs in July's championship. Isabel Brozena of North Reading, Massachusetts finished one shot back and will join Doerr in California.

"It was definitely hard for me to stay in the moment with all of commotion going on, but it was extremely exciting," Doerr said. "I would say overwhelming, but definitely in a good way."

Doerr said the realization that she will be heading to California for the championship sunk in a few days after qualifying.

"I woke up and was like 'wow, that really happened,'" Doerr said. "I'm pretty excited about it. Some of my goals are to have fun, and stay calm. I'm just really there for the experience. I'm really grateful I have the opportunity to go."

'Just wanted to play well'

Doerr said she didn't have many expectations going into the qualifier, and instead was focused on playing as well as she could.

"I was more worried about my own personal score," she said. "I wasn't really worried about making it in, but I ended up doing really well.

"I really didn't think too far ahead, I wanted to really stay in the moment to be able to focus," Doerr continued. "The only thing I was thinking about was 'OK, what's my next shot going to be.' Other than that, I really just tried to stay grounded."

Doerr stayed consistent on both sides

Doerr shot a 36 on the front nine, and a 37 on the back, though the back is where Doer said started to find her rhythm.

"There was just a point where I was like 'OK, well I've made a few mistakes, but they haven't really hurt me," Doerr said. "So, I think I'm all right."

Doerr recalled a hole on the back nine where she drove the ball into the fairway bunker, 'which was not my plan,' she joked.

"But, I was able to get out of it and save par," Doerr said. "I just had to trust that I had the skill to be able to do it."

Initial practice rounds at Captain's Golf Course

Doerr had never played at Captains Golf Course, but with a couple of practice sessions - one a week before and the other a day prior to the qualifier - she was confident she would perform well.

"It was a great course and it was in beautiful condition," Doerr said. "I really loved the greens. They rolled very true."

Doerr, during her two practice sessions, wanted to get a feel for the course and understand how she could succeed.

"I just tried to relax and play the course like I would in the tournament," Doerr said. "(I wanted) to test out different theories and stuff and see what worked.

"I felt pretty confident," Doerr added after the practice sessions. "I knew where the course would challenge me and I knew where I could succeed. Going into the tournament, it was just up to me to be able to see it through and do the plan I had put out for myself."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Former Winnacunnet student wins tournament, qualifies for United States amateur golf championship