Alexis Florio Set for U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
Rhode Island’s Alexis Florio is teeing it up at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur this weekend at Monterey Peninsula Country Club in California.
Florio qualified back in August and will make her first USGA event start since 2017.
“I mean it’s been amazing. I think they really roll out the red carpet for you from like, player gifts to locker room set up and the player hospitality lounge. They like really want to make sure we’re well taken care of and have the best experience we can,” Florio told GolfNewsRI on Friday afternoon following a practice round.
Florio got to the west coast on Wednesday and has played a few practice rounds, and took advantage all the benefits of playing in a USGA event.
“Even something so small as recovery equipment they have like tons of that. That was honestly a highlight for me, and then they make like these fresh smoothies for us. So, after I got done with my practice round this morning, I went and put on the compression legs and had a smoothie and it was like that like peak living for me,” said Florio.
For Florio, she has had a heck of a golf season.
Prior to qualifying for the Mid-AM, she made a run to the championship match of the Massachusetts Women’s Amateur.
However, her practice sessions have looked a little different recently as she started law school.
“I think my game’s looking good. I started law school last month, so, my practice has looked a little bit different the last couple of weeks, but I’m making the most out of it, working on my short game and making sure everything’s good to go. I’m excited to see how I do out there tomorrow,” said Florio.
She begins her tournament at 10:38 a.m. eastern time off the first tee with Laura Bavaird and Whitney French on Saturday.
The low 64 players advance to match play.
Course Breakdown
Unlike at other USGA events where the stroke play portion takes place at two different courses.
This week, the entire tournament will be played at Monterey Peninsula.
Designed by Seth Raynor, Alister MacKenzie and Robert Hunter, MPCC will play at just over 6,000 yards this week and a par 72.
“It’s an amazing condition. The front nine is more inland, like holes one through eight, and then like the 9th hole kind of starts goint out towards the Pacific Ocean. I’d say like probably holes 10 to 14 are really out on the water and then you come back in around the 15th hole so you really have to be adaptable to the conditions because the wind can really pick up when you’re out on the water, versus when you’re inland. But it’s a really cool track,” said Florio.
MPCC consists of three par fives and four par-3s.
The par-3 14th hole is located across the famed 17 Mile Drive and offers spectacular views of the shoreline.
The front nine plays to a par 35, while the back nine plays to a par 37.
“I think it can be played a lot of different ways. It’ll be interesting to see how the conditions Saturday and Sunday change, but, I really love it. I think it’s gonna be a cool test of golf over the next couple of days,” said the former Rhode Island Women’s Amateur champion.
This is just the third U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship ever held in the state of California.
Keys to Success
Florio will need to be inside the top 64 players to make it to match play on Monday.
She says that staying alert and focused will be the keys to putting her in the mix.
“I think just being very alert and staying focused and loose and sticking to my game because the conditions can really change a lot. Like if it’s super windy, not rushing my swing or trying to hit the ball really hard, just keeping my own tempo and rhythm will be important,” Florio says.
Florio also notes that the large green complexes will make club selection important, depending on where the pin is located.
She notes “There’s a lot of very big greens so depending on where the hole locations that will impact how you play it. I think like club selection depending on the wind will be important. Also, the greens are very fast, so being patient with putting and keeping a good pace when you’re on the greens will be important.”