In U.S. Women’s Open debut, Allison Emrey is right at home at Pine Needles

Allison Emrey wasn’t sure if it was on purpose or a simple twist of fate that had the 29-year-old Wake Forest alum hitting the first tee shot off the No. 1 tee Thursday morning, kicking off the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open.

But either way, the lone North Carolina native in the 156-player field enjoyed the honors at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, where she carded an even-par 71 and finished the day T-28, seven shots behind leader Mina Harigae, who posted a 7-under 64.

“It was pretty special,” said Emrey, who teed off at 7:15 a.m. in her tournament debut with South Africa’s Nicole Garcia (73 on Thursday) and Florida amateur Lauren Miller (80). “I was wondering if they meant to do that since I’m the only player from North Carolina.

“It’s just so special to be back in Pinehurst and to play Pine Needles, which I played a million times growing up.”

First-tee jitters may have gotten the best of the 28-year-old Charlotte native, who opened with a bogey but quickly bounced back with a birdie at No. 2. She combated another bogey at seventh with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 and dropped one more bogey at 17 before finishing with a par.

“I’m happy with the start,” said Emery, who was an All-American during her four years at Wake Forest. “I would’ve liked to have made a few more putts, but I felt like I went into the day with a great game plan and executed real well, so I’m excited for (Friday).”

Emrey is in her second full season on the LPGA, first earning her card in 2018 and regaining her status for 2022 via an eighth-place finish on the Epson Tour’s 2021 “Race for the Card” money list. She seized on “home court” advantage to qualify for her first U.S. Women’s Open, advancing to Pine Needles as the first alternate out of the