LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — "It was so fun, it was the best experience of my life," smiled 20-year old amateur golfer Adela Cernousek of France. She just recently won the NCAA Individual Championship for Texas A&M, so that victory had a short stay at the top of her list.
Cernousek's excitement over spending the past week in Lancaster County was not exclusive to her. It's a sentiment shared by many of the golfers in the field at the 79th U.S. Women's Open.
"I was on some of the holes and had such a big crowd," LPGA Professional Sophia Popov said in disbelief. "I just thought I'm not even a featured group. We had so many fans. I almost feel like I became a local in my four days that I was playing, so that was pretty cool."
Earning a payday worth $2,400,000 can be described as pretty cool. 22-year old Yuka Saso became the youngest two-time U.S. Women's Open winner when she carded a 68 in the final round to finish three strokes ahead of the field at four under.
"I think I really wanted it," she admitted. "Not just to get a second win but to prove something to myself."
She has nothing to prove after securing her second title and the record-breaking first place money. The total purse was also a record at $12 million.
In the post-tournament ceremony, USGA CEO Mike Whan said that Lancaster Country Club can no longer refer to itself as a hidden gem. He added that everyone in the golf world knows about it now, so it is simply a gem. He also told the crowd gathered around the 18th green that the USGA will be bringing another event to Lancaster Country Club in the future.