Mackenzie Hahn, who golfed for Wisconsin, qualifies for the 2023 U.S. Women's Open

Standing on the 11th green of the Palatine Hills Golf Course, with putter in hand, Mackenzie Hahn watched her ball roll slowly toward the cup.

“It was tracking…but it was coming in there slowly,” Hahn, who golfed for the University of Wisconsin women’s team from 2017 through last spring, said by phone. “My heart was racing as it was getting close. I thought: ‘That’s looking pretty good but hopefully it gets there.’

“And it just dropped.”

The 18-foot putt, on the second hole of a four-player playoff on Wednesday, allowed Hahn to take the second qualifying spot for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, set to be held July 6-9 at Pebble Beach.

“It was unreal,” Hahn, 24, said.

Hahn, from Spring Grove, Illinois, shot a 5-under-67 in her second of two rounds to qualify for the playoff.

After bogeying Nos. 17 and 18 in her opening round, she stood at 1-over 73. Starting her second round on the par 4, 405-yard 10^th hole, Hahn managed a par.

She then birdied six of the last eight holes on the back nine, including the final five holes. When she continued her birdie binge at No. 1, a par 4, 380-yard hole, she was 7-under for the round and 6-under for the tournament.

“After the ninth hole – my dad was caddying – and I said I needed something to calm myself down because I am overstimulated right now,” Hahn said laughing. “I don’t know what to do with myself."

Her dad’s advice: “Let’s just breathe and take a sip of water and try to calm down.”

Hahn bogeyed two of the next four holes but parred the final four holes to get into the playoff.

Two holes later, she was rolling in a birdie putt, her 10^th of the competition, and thinking about a trip to Pebble Beach.

Hahn enjoyed a quiet celebration with family and friends that night.

“It was about a 45-minute drive back home,” she said. “We just hung out and kept talking about how we couldn’t believe I’m playing in a major.”

Hahn acknowledged she didn’t grow up with a putter in her hands at all times. She didn’t start playing competitive golf until eighth grade.

“I didn’t love golf,” she said. “I’m not going to lie. I was a big basketball girl. I wanted to play basketball when I was older.”

Enjoying success on the golf course as a sophomore Richmond-Burton High School changed that.

“That sparked a dream,” she said. “When I decided to turn pro the dream is to play in the LPGA and in a major.

“It’s awesome.”

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Wisconsin golfer Mackenzie Hahn qualifies for U.S. Women's Open