Bermingham can’t beat the experience

LPGA Teaching & Club Professional Jennifer Bermingham, of Long Beach, California, will earn Low Club Professional honors this afternoon in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.

Bermingham, the Director of Instruction at Skylinks at Long Beach Golf Course, is the sole player among eight Club Professional qualifiers to play the weekend, and the first LPGA Teaching & Club Professional to make the cut in this championship since Karen Davies in 2007.

Playing in her first LPGA Tour event, Bermingham shot 72-76-76 over her first three rounds.

"It was definitely nerve-wracking and I just tried to stick to my routine,” said Bermingham, who earned a berth by tying for fourth in the 2015 LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals National Championship last August in Kissimmee, Florida.

“It’s unbelievable that this is all happening. Words cannot describe,” said Bermingham. “When I came to LPGA events in the past, I always look at all these legends like they’re so famous. I‘ve been walking down the fairway and I have seen people pointing at me like I’m the cool one.”

PGA/LPGA Professional Laurie Rinker of Stuart, Florida, who opened with a 72, skied to an 82 on Friday and 154 total. PGA Professional Karen Paolozzi of Atlanta, Georgia, finished with a 76 and was at 155. “It has been an unbelievable couple days. I can’t believe it,” said Bermingham, a 2009 graduate of University of California-Riverside. “I came in here with no expectations. Everything is icing on the cake.’’ Bermingham said that she has between 15 and 20 friends and family following her in the gallery and that her young students back in California put together a video clip to wish her well.

Bermingham will be recognized at the Trophy ceremony on the 18th green following final-round play.

You can follow along with Bermingham and the rest of the action from the KPMG Women's PGA Championship here.