FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Jamie Freedman has enjoyed plenty of success throughout her three years as a member of the Nova Southeastern women's golf team. The senior-to-be has received All-America recognition both on the course and in the classroom, and helped guide the Sharks to their first Sunshine State Conference Championship since 2012 this past spring. However, Freedman may have accomplished her greatest feat yet as a golfer just days ago by qualifying for the 2017 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, which will take place at the San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, California from August 7-13.
 
Out of the field of 48 competitors in last week's sectional qualifier held at Quail Ridge Country Club in Boynton Beach, Florida, Freedman captured one of just four qualifying spots in addition to the two alternate chances up for grabs. The native of Miami Beach caught fire down the stretch by birdying three of her final five holes to finish tied with three others for medalist honors at one-under par.  
 
"The course was a little bit wet, but in really great shape," Freedman said in an interview with the Sun Sentinel. "It was pretty long, so I just tried to stick with fairways and greens the whole way - get my birdies when I could and just play tough."  
 
To put the magnitude of Freedman's efforts into perspective, past winners of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship include: Juli Inkster, a 31-time winner on the LPGA Tour, 2017 LPGA major champion Danielle Kang, and Lydia Ko, who was ranked No. 1 in the world as recently as mid-June.
 
Freedman becomes the program's first player to reach the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship since Daniela Ortiz did so five years ago, and first since head coach Heather Wall took over the program last August.
 
"I am so proud of Jamie for qualifying for the USGA Women's Amateur," said Wall. "It's one of the biggest tournaments the USGA hosts. She is having an awesome summer and shooting great scores. I look for her to do very well at the amateur and carry this good momentum of summer play into the fall season."
 
To stay up-to-date with Freedman and the rest of the NSU women's golf team, follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSUSharksGolf, Instagram @nsusharksgolf and on Facebook /NSUSharksGolf.