Spiritual guide

As an 8-year-old, Altomare simply saw those days spent on the greens as a reason to soak in time with her grandfather, a former scratch golfer.

On Thursday, those memories will serve as the Shrewsbury 18-year-old’s strength and guidance when she competes in the first round of the US Women’s Open at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa.

Though Nick Altomare died in May, his granddaughter still feels his presence every time she takes the course, she said.

“I used to call him after every single round, good or bad,’’ said Brittany Altomare. “He’d want to hear all about it when he couldn’t be there in person to watch me. He hated traveling, but for me, he came to Wales and Ohio to support me and watch me golf. It’s been hard not having him around the past few weeks, I really do miss him when I’m golfing.’’

Two weeks ago, Altomare shot a 3-under-par, 141-total in the two rounds of stroke play at the 33d US Women’s Amateur Public Links championships, held at the Red Tail Golf Club in Devens. She proved to be the biggest challenge for Jennifer Song, the eventual champion, losing 1-up in the third round of match play.

Despite a heavy heart, Altomare has kept to her strict practice regimen, one she developed and refined with her grandfather and her father, Tom, since beginning private golf lessons at age 10.

If her introduction to the game came from her grandfather, then her love for it came through her father.

“I remember him taking me to the course every summer afternoon and just making things fun for me,’’ said Altomare. “He never pressured me or made me feel like I had to spend hours on the course. He just made it something that we could do together, and I think that’s why now I love to practice as much as I love to play.’’

Jack Gale, a teaching pro at Cyprian Keyes, remembers Altomare as a young girl, driving balls at the GolfDome in Shrewsbury. “People would stop and watch her hit,’’ he said. “I said to her dad, ‘Don’t ever let her change her approach,’ because right from the start I could sense something special.’’

At age 11, Altomare was the women’s champion at Cyprian Keyes, “not the women’s junior champion, but the overall champion,’’ pointed out Gale.

Since graduating last month from Shrewsbury High School, where she led the Colonials to a fourth-place finish at the Division 1 state tournament last fall, Altomare’s summer days are spent at Cyprian Keyes. While her friends head to the beach, Altomare hits the greens for four to five hours each morning.

In the afternoons, she meets with coach Mark Costaregni, director of the International Golf Club in Bolton, to work on her technical skills. She adds daily sessions with a personal trainer at the local YMCA to improve her endurance, and strengthen her core and upper-body muscles.

This fall, Altomare will head to the University of Virginia, where she will play for the Division 1 women’s golf team and major in liberal arts. She has built an impressive resumé, including wins at the Scott Robertson Championship and the AJGA Fidelity Individual Championship in 2005, and the Westfield Junior PGA Championship in 2006, when she earned a spot on the US Junior Ryder Cup team.

Early last month, she placed second at the Women’s Eastern Amateur Championship, and was medalist at the sectional qualifier for the US Open, held in Neshanic Station, N.J.

Her fondest memory is of playing the challenging Pines Course, an evergreen-lined, lengthy tract at the International in Bolton that tested her accuracy off the tee.

One day, playing off the women’s tees, she set the course record with a 66.

“That was a fun day,’’ said Altomare. “I wasn’t really expecting to set the record, I just wanted to get out there and have a good day. That’s pretty much how I look at every tournament. I get nervous before every tournament, but once I hit my first shot, I’m fine. I will definitely miss my grandfather, though, at the US Open. I know he’d be so happy to hear about it, but I also know that he’ll be there with me too.’’

Correspondent Marvin Pave contributed to this story. Sapna Pathak can be reached at sportsgalsp@gmail.com.