Aberdeen’s Olivia Braun will be one of 80 golfers from across the country who will get a chance to play on the Pebble Beach Golf Links in September.

Braun was awarded the opportunity to play the legendary course in California when she was selected as part of the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee.

“I was a little surprised because people all over the U.S. are applying to get into this,” Braun said, “so I was pretty surprised.”

Players from across the country applied for the opportunity. Braun, who is the only player from the Upper Midwest that is in the field, is still trying to come to grips with her selection.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet that I made pretty much top 80 in the U.S.,” Braun said.

Braun had to submit two written essays, provide her grade point average, some other school-related stuff, prior tournaments she has participated in, and also tell about her volunteer work.

She cited two individuals who helped her during the process.

“I really couldn’t have done it without Julie Jansa, she was a really big help with the First Tee part of it,” Braun said. “She kind of led me down the right path. Dean Zahn (of Moccasin Creek Country Club) wrote me a really good recommendation as well.”

As a result, Braun is headed to Pebble Beach, host of the annual AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in addition to hosting numerous U.S. Open championships in the past with more slated for the future. She will also get to play the Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the event, which is being held in conjunction with the PGA TOUR Champions tournament.

“I’m pretty excited,” Braun said, “because I’ve never been there before, so it will be a really cool experience.”

Braun, a standout for the Aberdeen Central squad, is having a huge summer with multiple tournament titles to her credit. She said she is highly motivated after a frustrating state tournament this past spring where she finished runner-up and the team was third, but isn’t looking too far ahead to her junior season next year.

“After the devastating state tournament, I really kind of lit a fire under my butt and I’ve been out practicing a lot, but it feels good though,” Braun said. “Honestly, I haven’t really thought about next spring, I’m just thinking about the next tournament and trying to keep my head in the game.”

That next tournament is this weekend when Braun will be part of the South Dakota Golf Association Women’s Match Play event in Brookings. The format will be a bit different for Braun, who normally concentrates on the course, rather than opponents.

“That’s kind of what my thought process is. Your just want to go out there and play the course and try to beat par. That’s really the mindset,” Braun said. “But I guess in match play it’s different, because it’s not stroke play. You’ve got to change your mindset a little bit when you head out there.”

Braun said golf never really gets old.

“Sometimes you have to take a day off,” she said, “but it’s a sport I love and I’m glad I chose it, because it doesn’t really get old.”

Braun now has plenty of motivation to keep playing well into the fall with her trip to Pebble Beach set for Sept. 17-22.

“It’s going to be a really great experience,” Braun said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”