U.S. Women’s Open Amateur Was Completely Undone by Quintuple Bogey at Infamous Pebble Beach Hole

Áine Donegan might not like it, but her score perfectly encapsulated the magic and chaos of Pebble Beach.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.—Áine Donegan might not like it, but her scorecards thus far at the U.S. Women’s have perfectly encapsulated both the magic and the chaos of Pebble Beach. 

Donegan, a 21-year-old amateur from Ireland playing in her first U.S. Women’s Open, opened with a stunning three-under 69 at the revered oceanside venue. It was an all-time day for the LSU rising junior, who had some equipment malfunctions and travel mishaps to start her week in Northern California. Unfortunately, Donegan couldn’t keep the run going on Friday, and posted a four-over 76 on Friday.

On Saturday, Donegan’s name began to creep up the leaderboard once again, as she opened with three birdies in her first six holes. And on the iconic par 3 7th, she made an impressive up-and-down from beyond the green. 

It looked as though the Irishwoman had rediscovered her early momentum, but Pebble’s infamously difficult 8th hole said not so fast. 

On the 396-yard par 4, which ranks as the hardest hole on the links, Donegan was faced with a daunting 190-yard approach shot over 65-foot cliffs and a steep ocean inlet. The swirling wind didn’t make it any easier, and Donegan saw her first attempt plummet into the grassy drop-off on the right side of the green. 

USGA.com

Donegan then took a penalty drop, and with 175 yards still left in front of her, she put it in the hazard once again. After one more penalty stroke, the amateur finally found the fringe in front of the green on her third attempt. It took Donegan six shots to even reach safety around the putting surface. 

It’s safe to say the college golfer gave the U.S. Women’s Open spectators an up-close look at the wrath of Pebble Beach, because she walked away from the hole with a quintuple bogey 9. Donegan failed to get up-and-down, missing a six-foot putt for an 8. 

Despite the disaster, Donegan made the turn just two over par for the day, a solid result in Saturday’s fitting major championship conditions.