EDINA, Minn. — Tim Powers was quick to correct himself after lugging around his daughter's golf bag on Wednesday afternoon.

"I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her," he said before changing his thought in midstream.

"It's a first-time opportunity for her. I think she can do this again. I have a good feeling. I think she can play the golf course well."

After a rough opening nine, Emily Powers did that on Thursday afternoon. She carded an even-par 37 at Interlachen Country Club during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open.

"She worked her way around the back nine pretty good," a smiling Tim Powers said after his daughter finished with an 8-over 81.

When it came time to pick a caddy for the biggest event of her budding career, Emily Powers said the choice was easy.

"No matter what, it was going to be Dad," she said. "I wasn't going to pick anybody else. He's been with me the entire time and knows my game. I think it will be a lot of fun having him there with me."

Powers making the U.S. Women's Open field at such a young age is as much a family accomplishment as it is an individual one for the former two-time state champion from Quincy Notre Dame. Her mother, Laura, has spent numerous hours on the road, taking her and her younger sister, Rachel, from tournament to tournament. Not only has the family invested a lot of time and energy into their daughter's golf games, they've also put a lot of money into it, too.

"We've done a lot of road miles to get to this point," Tim Powers said. "You feel proud of her. She's put the work in over the last year or so. With school, she's seen a different kind of competition, and I think that's helped her, too."

Emily Powers' game has grown since she left QND for the University of Kansas. She's played in more high-level United States Golf Association amateur events, and last spring qualified for the NCAAs. She's a completely different player than the one Tim Powers coached around Westview Golf Course nearly seven years ago to win the Quincy Women's City Tournament at the tender age of 13.

"We confirm yardage together," Tim Powers said. "She knows what clubs to use. I can't tell her any more because the clubs have changed so much as has her length and how far she hits them. I'll help her with the wind and the yardage, but she has to do it from there. She has to hit the ball."

But the two work together well.

"I don't like to get excited on the golf course, but he does," Emily Powers said. "That's the only thing we run into. He'll get excited and I may have to tell him to calm down, but I still have remember that he's my Dad and at the end of the day I have to go home with him."

Yet, when she qualified for the trip to Interlachen Country Club, Powers looked to her Dad for his reaction to what had just happened. She'll lean on him some more this week for advice and again down the road.

After all, that's what Dads are for.

--dobrien@whig.com/221-3365