The Ohio Valley will be represented when the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Golf Tournament tees off Monday at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon. The event runs through Aug. 10 on the par-71, 6,301-yard course.

Twenty-four-year-old Emily Holzopfel, a Rayland native and graduate of Buckeye Local and Wheeling University, qualified for the event back in July when she finished third at Walnut Grove Country Club in Dayton. She shot 71 on the par-70 layout.

“I’m extremely excited and have been since I qualified,” Holzopfel said in a recent telephone interview. “I’m pumped.”

Holzopfel is playing some of her best golf entering the prestigious event. She captured the Women’s Championship at the Kalkreuth Amateur last Sunday before winning the 36-hole West Penn Golf Association’s Mid-Amateur Championship by shooting a 1-under-par at Fox Chapel Golf Club in suburban Pittsburgh.

Holzopfel, who played out of Williams Golf and Country Club in Weirton, fired a pair of 34s on the first 18 holes before finishing with a 77 on the second 18 for a total of 145, which was one stroke better than Caroline McConnell of The Club at Nevillewood.

“Once I qualified for the U.S. Amateur, I wanted to keep playing as much as I could to prepare me for what I was going to experience,” she said. “It was a great course and great experience for me to play at Fox Chapel. I just wanted to make sure my caddy, Cody Anderson, was on the same page.”

Holzopfel left Friday for the west coast. She will play practice rounds on Saturday and Sunday, with the competition beginning Monday and continuing on Tuesday with 18 holes of stroke play each day. The top 64 golfers will then advance to match play on Wednesday. Thursday consists of Rounds 32 and 16 of match play, while Friday has quarterfinals in match play. The semifinal match play rounds will be played on Saturday, with the championship match set for Sunday.

Holzopfel is coached by Sam Cyr, Scott Cowx and Preston Combs.

According to Holzopfel, her former head coach at Wheeling University, Sue Vail, has played in the event prior.

“I’ve never heard of anyone else local that has played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur,” she added. “I’m just going to enjoy the experience and have fun.”

Holzopfel’s ultimate goal is to turn professional and play on the LPGA Tour.

“I’ve been working over the last year to improve my game in certain areas,” she continued. “I’m getting some things in shape.”