- USGA Photo by John Mummert

Oakmont, Pa. (July 11, 2011) – Jennifer Johnson of Carlsbad, Calif., who went 3-0-1 as a member of the victorious 2010 USA Curtis Cup Team last month, announced before the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open that this would be her final competition as an amateur before joining the play-for-pay ranks.

Johnson certainly made a grand exit, earning low-amateur honors from the six who survived the 36-hole cut.

“I think it’s really special to end my amateur career at this great venue,” said the 18-year-old Johnson, who struggled at the start on Sunday before settling down to post a second-nine 36. Her four-round total of 16-over 300 was five strokes better than 18-year-old Canadian Christine Wong, a student at San Diego State, and nine ahead of Lisa McCloskey, an 18-year-old from Houston, Texas, who was the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links runner-up two weeks ago.

“It’s been a really good nine or 10 years playing junior and amateur golf,” said Johnson, who played one year at Arizona State University. “I’m pretty happy with the way I played this week. I kept it together pretty well; the scores here [at the Women’s Open] are not your typical scores.”

Johnson, the 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up, plans to make her professional debut July 30 at the Syracuse, N.Y., event on the Duramed Futures Tour, the LPGA’s developmental tour. She is also planning to play in the final three events on the Futures Tour schedule beforing entering LPGA Tour Qualifying School this fall.

Johnson could not have played the Women’s Open as a pro because she used her exemption from last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur.