Rachael Pruett's first professional tournament event was short-lived.
Pruett, a senior on the Ball State University women's golf team, missed the cut after shooting a 16-over-par 168 through two rounds at the Teva Championship on Saturday in Mason, Ohio.
"It was a wonderful opportunity for her," Ball State coach Katherine Mowat said. "She advanced through her playoff and got to experience a professional event and learn a lot about herself and have a great time. She really enjoyed the experience and the opportunity."
In her opening round at this event on the Duramed Future's Tour, Pruett shot a 7-over-par 78 Friday to finish tied for 140th place in the 149-person field. She followed up that round with a 9-over-par 80 the next day to miss the cut and ended in a tie for second to last place.
Despite missing the cut, Mowat said Pruett's driving distance looked good and was right up there with the professionals' drives.
"She was thrilled to be playing, but she expected more from herself," the coach said. "In the end, it was her putter that let her down."
Pruett was one of three amateurs to compete in this tournament. Valentine Derrey from France was the only amateur to make the second-round cut.
The Ball State senior got the final spot in this professional tournament after winning a three-person playoff to finish in second place at the Teva Championship Amateur Qualifier on Monday. Pruett opened the first three holes of that 18-hole championship with a 4-over-par before finishing the round with a 75.
Due to an invitational decline from another player, the opportunity for Pruett opened up as she was victorious with a birdie on the first hole during a sudden death round.
As a junior at Ball State, Pruett was selected to the all-conference tournament team and finished in fifth place at the Mid-American Conference Championships in May. She also had five top-20 finishes in the 11 events she competed in, including shooting a career-best 71 and finishing in 15th place at the Indiana Invitational.
Mowat said she expects big things out of Pruett in her upcoming senior season.
"I expect my players to learn every time they are on the golf course and play as well as they are capable of. I want my players to grow as golfers and to enjoy their time on the course. I know she wants her senior year to be the best and to go out on a high note," said Mowat.
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