On the Fourth of July, 19-year old Texan Nikki Long got a phone call that gave her cause to celebrate even more: she’d been tapped to play in the Women’s US Open starting just five days later at the Lancaster Country Club.

“I was super excited,” Nikki said with a grin after completing her second round of play on Friday afternoon at the sprawling course. “Great Independence Day!” Practice rounds would start in Pennsylvania just three days after the call came.

For the San Antonio golfer who attends the University of Texas and sings at Community Bible Church, the call would trigger a series of firsts: “first time in Pennsylvania, first Open, first professional event; firsts in lots of stuff,” she said.

Long qualified as a first alternate for the Open at a regional tournament held at The Woodlands near Houston,Texas. Just days before the start of the championship, someone from her region dropped out.

Suddenly, Nikki was on her way to Pennsylvania and the most prestigious tournament in the country.

To show support, her church made a video and posted it to Vimeo (article continues below video).

Long admits to being a little “shell shocked” seeing all of the famous golfers that she has grown up watching. Like Long, some of those famous golfers failed to make the cut for the final two rounds of the US Open: Brittany Lincicome, Anna Nordqvist, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Petterson, and Shanshan Feng.

Even though she finished the first two rounds +25 and is listed as the highest scorer on the official sheet, she had an unforgettable experience.

“It was incredible,” she said. “I think the best part is all the spectators. You make a putt and they’re all ‘whoa’ and yelling and in the practice round everyone was asking for signatures. It was a great experience.”

Long was especially appreciative of a Lititz, Pennsylvania family that followed her play on the course the past two days. They met on the putting green the first practice day, where 9-year old Parker Gooding was collecting player autographs.

While Long relished the cheers and attention, it was a unique arrangement that forged her favorite 2015 US Open memory.

“My dad was my caddy, and it was really awesome to have him in the ropes,” she said.

Her father, Brent Long, was beaming, and perspiring, after toting her clubs in the Pennsylvania heat and humidity for 18 holes.

“It was an experience of a lifetime-just one of those things [where] you’re pinching yourself,” he said.

Even after Nikki heads back to college, where she’s “really excited” about the UTSA team this year, they will each treasure a special US Open memory that links them together.

“We were at one point in the practice round, where we were able to walk together alone all by ourselves-just me and my daughter inside the ropes in the US Women’s Open course, all to ourselves,” said Long. “It was a dream come true.”