Northumberland’s Jess Baker tees it up in the first-ever US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach
Northumberland’s Jess Baker added a fourth major, and golf bucket list experience, to her growing résumé at the first-ever US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.
Jess, playing in her fourth and final major as Women’s Amateur champion following her victory at Hunstanton in 2022, joined one of the strongest fields of the season in California. Following two rounds of 78 she missed the cut by six shots, but the experience was another amazing highlight to add to the last 12 months of golf in the US and closer to home.
“The whole US Open experience was fantastic,” said Jess. “Compared to everything else I’ve done in the last year; this was on a whole other level. The location, getting to visit California for the first time, what the USGA put on for us off the course, the player gift bags, and getting to stay at Spanish Bay made us feel so special all week.
“My big takeaway from the week was how close I am to competing at the US Open level. I really wanted to make the cut in this one and while that didn’t work out, it was really inspiring to be there and compete alongside the best players in the world.
“It’s a little sad that I don’t have any more majors to look forward to right now, but that motivates me to get back there and do it all again. I’ve had so much fun this last year and I’ve learned a lot to take back to college and on to the next challenge after that.”
Following the US Open, Jess flew to Helsinki to be part of the England Women’s team, picking up a silver medal in the European Teams Championship. Having celebrated her 21st birthday, she then played the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship in Sweden before returning to California for the US Women’s Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club. From there, she’ll be heading back to the east coast for her final year at the University of Central Florida.
