U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Megan Schofill Talks Texts from PGA Tour Players, On-Course Superstitions and Future Plans

Auburn’s Megan Schofill had already teed it up in five U.S. Women’s Amateurs, but on Sunday at Bel-Air Country Club she was no longer just a competitor in the revered event—she was a champion.

Schofill captured the national title 4 and 3 over LSU’s Latanna Stone, a good childhood friend from junior golf.

The 22-year-old became the first woman from Auburn to win the U.S. Women’s Am. The victory will provide her with exemptions into the Chevron Championship, the Women’s British Open, the Evian Championship and the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

With the win 48 hours behind her, Schofill spoke with Sports Illustrated about her mindset during the championship match, her wildly specific on-course superstitions (which apparently run in the family), and her future plans with competitive golf.

Sports Illustrated: You’ve had a few days to soak in your U.S. Women’s Amateur victory. How does it feel now?

Megan Schofill: It still doesn’t feel real. It’s been a crazy 48 hours to say the least, but it’s been unbelievable. All the support, all the nice messages, everyone reaching out has just been really nice and thoughtful.

SI: Anyone in particular who reached out that surprised you?

MS: Harris English texted me and Vaughn Taylor emailed me. A bunch of people from home have texted and called me—Auburn people. Our athletic director has texted and called both of my parents to congratulate me. There are a lot of people who have reached out and showed their support.

SI: Your parents weren’t able to make it out for the championship, but what was it like reuniting with them?

MS: I actually haven’t seen them yet. They’re coming to Auburn with the trophy on Friday. I started classes today, so I came straight back to Auburn. We had meetings all day yesterday to get cleared for this upcoming season. I’ve FaceTimed them, talked to them a lot, but they’re super pumped to come see me on Friday and bring the trophy to Auburn.

SI: The U.S. Women’s Amateur is one of the most grueling tests in golf. What allowed you to push through the long week and come out on top?

MS: I rested really well at night. We hung out, took it easy, and I stayed in the present all week. That was a really big key for me. Just not getting ahead of myself. I felt like every day I was focused on that one shot that I was hitting. I never worried about the shot I just hit, or the shot I was going to hit in 10 holes from now. I got lost in the process. I think for most golfers and athletes, whenever you get lost in that process, that’s when you feel like everything is going to click.

SI: How were you feeling on that first tee on Sunday, and were you expecting to feel that way?

MS: The night before the finals and that morning, I was really anxious and really nervous. It was the most nervous I’ve ever been in my golf career without a doubt. But usually I’m really nervous on the first tee. People that know me, they know I don’t like the first tee shot. I feel like there’s been this weight lifted off my shoulders afterward. But after I hit the first tee shot, I felt this calmness over me the rest of the day.

During the quarterfinals and the semifinals, I felt way more nervous throughout the day. On Sunday, I had so much stress the night before. I was worried about that carrying on throughout the day, but I was able to stay focused, and stay in the present. I just enjoyed the walk. I got to experience it with one of my really good friends, Latanna, and my boyfriend, C.J., which was something we’ll never forget.

SI: You mentioned you had a blunder the night before the championship match involving your boyfriend. Can you explain what happened and how you overcame that?

MS: So C.J. wears the Whoop band, which tracks all your workouts. He has this alarm set. I don’t know what time it’s set for, but we’re on the west coast and he’s been in Florida with me, which is east coast time. So the alarm had not gone off all week, but on Sunday, it decided to go off at 4 a.m. It is not a nice soothing alarm. It’s an awful noise and it vibrates, so it’s shaking and moving on the nightstand. There was no chance I was going back to sleep, but we were waking up at 6 a.m., so it was only two hours earlier. I was pretty hot about that one, but it was an honest mistake. Afterward, he was like, “It all worked out, no need to be angry!”

SI: You have quite a few superstitions that you like to practice on the golf course. Can you run us through some of the things that help keep you calm?

MS: I like the bag to be on the right side of me when I’m hitting. I don’t like it on the left. I only use a white tee from my golf course. If I’m putting well and the putter headcover is in one spot, it stays there. It always starts on the ground and this week, it stayed on the ground the whole time. But if I’m not making putts I’ll move it around. The clubs have to all be in the same spots. We wore the same hat all week, because it was working. At the same food. We are very superstitious. My parents didn’t even come out for the finals because they had done the same thing every day, too.

SI: What superstitions were your parents practicing?

MS: My mom wasn’t able to watch the Round of 64 and the Round of 32, so the rest of the week, she would walk in for two seconds to see one shot, and then walk away. My dad did the same things. He watered the grass all day, he never left the house. He wore the same things, ate the same food, sat in the same spot. I know he was a nervous wreck at home, but I’m sure he was super overwhelmed with emotion when it was all said and done, and I was able to win.

SI: What was your shot of the week—the one that was most important to you?

MS: The shot I hit on the 17th hole of the first 18 holes. I hit a 9-iron to a foot, and she gave it to me. I went 3 up at that point, and it was a huge change of momentum. I had just won three holes in a row, and that put me over the edge. Everything was just clicking at that point.

SI: What was it like to compete against Latanna Stone, a good friend of yours, and share the moment with her?

MS: I’m so thankful I was able to play the finals with her. She’s a great girl. She deserves all the success in the world. We have the same history. We both always felt like we were overlooked. You couldn’t pick another person to play the finals of the U.S. Am with.

SI: What would you say to your younger self now that you’re a National Champion?

MS: It’s all going to be worth it. It’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Everyone who plays golf knows that. There are so many sacrifices you have to make in your life, and just know that those sacrifices will be worth it someday.

SI: What are your plans for the future with golf?

I’m going to play one more year at Auburn, I’m super excited to play one more year. I’m going to stay an amateur this whole year and this summer, and then go to Q-School in the fall of 2023. I’ll turn professional and see where it takes me.