By Erica Goodman, USGA

Edina, Minn. – A sparkling list of youthful competitors are making their mark this week at Interlachen Country Club.

The college heading in the Players’ Guide might say ‘In high school,’ but this group of young guns have enjoyed an accelerated graduation this week at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open. Translated it means they have survived the 36-hole cut and get to play the weekend in golf’s biggest women’s championship. Or in other words, two of the 27 teenagers are moving on.

"It’s nice being young for a change," smiled Tiffany Lua, who at 17 is one of the older participants in American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events. "In all the junior tournaments, I feel old."

Lua made the cut Saturday morning by finishing the final three second-round holes that she did not complete due to Friday’s weather delay. She had rounds of 72-75.

"Anything can happen in three holes," she said, "but I knew I just had to keep steady and trust it."

In 2007 at Pine Needles in Southern Pines, N.C., Lua missed the cut by two strokes. Now she sits tied with Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world.

Also making the cut was 15-year-old Jessica Korda, a two-time junior champion in her native Czech Republic. "It hasn’t really hit me yet," said Korda about her accomplishment. "The course is so much tougher today. The roughs are thicker."

Like Lua, her second round was also suspended due to weather. Playing in the final grouping, Korda, the daughter of former tennis champion Petr Korda, limped home with a bogey-6 at the par-5 18th hole, but still made the cut on the number (4-over-150).

The consortium of bright-eyed youth at the Women’s Open has a bit of an international flair. Among the under-20 players who made the cut are those from Colombia, Korea, Czech Republic and the U.S.

For others, youthful optimism was not enough to replace the disappointment of missing the cut.

"I definitely expected a lot more this year," said Alexis Thompson, 13, as she held back tears. "But I want to be here for the fun for years to come."

For the second consecutive year, Thompson was the youngest player in the field. The 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur quarterfinalist finished at 6-over 152.

Like the professionals, the season for these amateurs is far from complete. For 11 players in the field this week, the U.S. Girls’ Junior at Hartford (Conn.) Golf Club is set for July 21-26, along with a slew of other competitive national, regional and state junior competitions. And all 27 amateurs in the field are also exempt for the U.S. Women’s Amateur in early August at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club.

While many of the young teens in the field are headed home early, all gained some valuable experience this week on the big stage.

Their goal for 2009? To hopefully return again next year at Saucon Valley Country Club, a little older, a little wiser, and little higher on the leader board.

Erica Goodman is a USGA Fellow whose work has previously appeared on usga.org and juniorlinks.com. E-mail her with questions or comments at egoodman@usga.org.