The following story was written by Shelby Spurlock, Student Assistant/Communications at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State sophomore Abbey Daniel and former All-American Ally Ewing each punched their ticket to the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open on June 3-6, taking place at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.
“This is really special to have one current and one former Mississippi State golfer in the field at the U.S. Women’s Open this week,” MSU head coach Charlie Ewing said. “As a program, we are so grateful to be so well represented on such a big stage. We are so proud of Ally and Abbey for their journeys that have led them here this week and I can assure the Bulldog family will be pulling hard for them to each have fantastic weeks!”
A first-place medalist finish at Kishwaukee Country Club in Dekalb, Illinois, qualified Daniel for the prestigious event. She fired off a 7-under par score behind back-to-back bogey-free rounds.
“To qualify for any USGA event, especially the U.S. Open, your game and mind have to be incredibly sharp for the entirety of the day,” Daniel said. “I stuck to my game plan of managing every shot and attacking the birdie opportunities when they were presented. Competing in the U.S. Open is something I have dreamed about since I started playing golf. As someone with professional aspirations, it will be an opportunity to test my game against the best in the world.”
Daniel posted a strong 2020-21 campaign, leading the team in rounds of par or better with 10, including eight rounds coming during the spring slate. Her 74.5 stroke average ranked second on the team, and she was the only Bulldog to compete in every event.
Ewing enters the event fresh off the second LPGA Tour title of her career, winning the inaugural Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play at Shadow Creek this past weekend. She became the first MSU golfer to win an event on the LPGA Tour in October 2020, when she won the Drive On Championship. She’s currently ranked No. 15 in the world and is in position to make the prestigious Solheim Cup squad for the second-straight year.
“It’s great having a fellow Bulldog in the most prestigious field in golf,” Ally Ewing said. “Abbey is a great representation of Mississippi State and I am glad that we are here to experience this event together!”
