LV’s Keever enjoys her Open experience

Victoria Sun

Monday, July 8, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.

Before the final round of the U.S. Women's Open, Stephanie Keever made up her mind that she wouldn't look at the leaderboard at the Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.

So the Las Vegas native had no idea she had climbed into a tie for sixth place after her birdie-birdie start. And she was unaware of her free fall to 17th after a bogey on No. 12 and her first double-bogey of the tournament on No. 13.

Though she was tempted, Keever kept her eyes focused solely on the course.

In her fourth U.S. Open and first as a professional, Keever closed with a 2-over par 72 for a 288 total, good for 12th place, 12 strokes behind winner Juli Inkster.

"It was a great experience," an elated Keever said by phone. "I went out, played my best and I'm very happy with the results.

"I started off really strong. The putter felt awesome in my hands. It was a very good feeling."

Keever, a Stanford All-American and Cimarron-Memorial High School product, earned $54,201, the largest payday of her rookie season. That will almost assuredly give her enough earnings to be fully exempt on tour next season.

By finishing in the top 20 of the Open, she also secured her spot in next year's tournament.

"That's huge," she said. "That's what I'm most excited about. Getting into next year's U.S. Open and no more Monday qualifiers. No more (qualifying) school."

Keever picked up her third birdie of the round on the 512-yard par-5 seventh and bogeyed No. 9 (par-4 399 yards) and 16 (par-4 400 yards).

Throughout the tournament, Keever had her own fan club of father Larry, mother Mary, fiance Mike Louden and some of Louden's relatives. She was equally impressed by the support of the fans in Hutchinson.

"I had a whole crew following me around, so that was nice," she said. "The whole town of Hutchinson was so into the golf, too.

"I've never seen that before. When you went out to dinner, everyone knew if you were a player and they would come up to you and ask for your autograph. They would give you a standing ovation at each hole. It was incredible."

Keever flew back to Las Vegas today and plans on taking this week off.