AUBURN, Ala. – Standing on the 15th green at the Bel-Air Country Club, Megan Schofill watched as Latanna Stone lined up her par putt to extend the championship match in the U.S. Women's Amateur. If Stone made it, the two would play another hole.
When the ball lipped out, Schofill felt like all the breath was taken out of her.
"I couldn't believe it," she said. "When she missed it, I was just like, 'I just won the U.S. Amatuer.' It was utter disbelief. There is no other way to describe it. It is something I will always remember for the rest of my life."
Schofill clinched the 36-hole final match with a 4&3 victory over Stone of LSU. She became the first U.S. Women's Amateur champion in Auburn history.
Back in Auburn, they rolled Toomer's Corner to celebrate the momentous occasion.
"It was hectic, but they showed me the trees and I saw the pictures and videos. It was so cool," Schofill said. "It's such a special moment. Obviously, I wish I could have been there with them to celebrate that, but it was so nice and shows how supportive and caring they are of me and my golf successes."
'Utter disbelief’: Megan Schofill brings U.S. Amateur title to Auburn
Schofill, who will be returning to Auburn for her fifth year this season, has seen her share of big moments. She's won three individual tournaments with Auburn. She's won big matches in both the SEC and NCAA Championships. She's also been on the losing end, most notably finishing runner-up in the stroke play portion of the 2021 SEC Championship.
Schofill wasn't going to lose Sunday's championship match. When she hit her first tee shot, there was a sense of calm that came over and stayed with her throughout the two rounds.
"I think it just comes back to working hard," she said. "I know I've put in the work. I've done the right things. I've had those second-place finishes. I've had those losses. I've felt that – the pressure get to me and not being able to perform under the pressure.
"I just felt like last week was my week. I got a lot of good breaks, which when you win a championship, you get the breaks. You get those favorable bounces. I've played a lot of great golf, but I just felt like it was my week. Everything was clicking. I never felt like I was going to hit a bad shot. Nothing ever looked intimidating to me. I felt like every time I got up to it, I could see what I wanted to do."
Schofill wasn't the only one who had a good feeling about Sunday. Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen hopped on a plane Saturday night and flew to Los Angeles to watch her star player in the final. On the plane, she told her husband, "Megan is going to win."
"You just could feel it," Luellen said. "I could see it on TV in the previous matches. She was always in control. On Sunday, I never saw Megan even come close to making a tired swing. She's worked hard physically. She's worked hard mentally. She's worked hard emotionally. She's worked hard on every aspect of the game that allows you to play great."
With the victory, Schofill earned exemptions to play in the Chevron Championship, the Women's British Open, the Evian Championship and the Augusta National Women's Amateur where she will be making her fourth appearance in the prestigious event.
The focus for Schofill, however, is on her upcoming season at Auburn.
Schofill was one of three Auburn golfers to advance to the Round of 32 of the U.S. Women's Amateur, along with Katie Cranston and Casey Weidenfeld, and her victory provided momentum to the team with the first tournament next month.
"When Megan won, it felt like I won," Cranston told her coaches.
"We worked really hard to set a high standard," Luellen said. "To recruit young ladies that are passionate about getting better. Megan really exemplifies that. She's now a role model to the girls on the team, the younger girls on the team, and the expectations. She loves team. That's why she came back. She loves team. We want to win a national championship.
"We had a sting at the end of last season, so we're all in a little different gear right now. I think the belief is higher. With what Megan just accomplished, everyone is excited."