Far Hills, N.J. (May 3, 2007) – The United States Golf Association has accepted a record 1,251 entries for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, which will be played June 28 – July 1 at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.
It is the fourth consecutive year the number of entries for the championship has surpassed 1,000. The previous record of 1,158 was set in 2005 for the Women’s Open at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.
The first to file an entry was Lauren Smith of Salisbury, N.C., who entered less than one hour after the launch of online applications. The last to file was Lynn Thompson of Cincinnati, Ohio, who did so at 4:52:55 p.m. on May 2, eight minutes before the official deadline. More than 80 percent of the total entries were received online, including 67 on the last day (May 2) applications were accepted.
The youngest entrant is 11-year-old Gabriella Then of Upland, Calif. The oldest player who listed her date of birth on her entry form is Barbara Israel of New York, N.Y., at age 61.
Entries were received from 46 states (all except Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire and Wyoming). In addition to the USA, entries were received from 38 countries: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales and Zimbabwe.
Sixty-two golfers are currently fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming championship. Past champions who are fully exempt are Laura Davies (1987); Juli Inkster (1999, 2002); Birdie Kim (2005); Hilary Lunke (2003); Meg Mallon (1991, 2004); Se Ri Pak (1998); Annika Sorenstam (1995, 1996, 2006); and Karrie Webb (2000, 2001). One other past champion, 1988 winner Liselotte Neumann, has entered to go through qualifying.
The number of fully exempt golfers will increase with the inclusion of top 35 money leaders on the official 2007 LPGA Tour money list as of May 28. Spots are also reserved for anyone who wins an official LPGA Tour event through the weekend prior to the start of the 2007 Women’s Open who is not already fully exempt.
Local qualifying at 16 sites begins May 12 and runs through May 21. Sectional qualifying will be conducted at seven sites on June 11.
The Women’s Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. Other championships include the U.S. Open, the U.S. Senior Open, and 10 amateur competitions.
A list of the 62 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the Women’s Open follows.
PLAYERS FULLY EXEMPT (62) FOR THE 2007 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN (as of May 3, 2007)
Shi Hyun Ahn 6, 7
*Amanda Blumenherst 6
Nicole Castrale 7
Silvia Cavalleri 9
Na Yeon Choi 10
Il Mi Chung 7
Paula Creamer 6, 7, 9
Diana D’Alessio 7
Laura Davies 7, 10
Laura Diaz 7
Meaghan Francella 9
Julieta Granada 7, 9
Natalie Gulbis 6, 7
Sophie Gustafson 6, 7
Rachel Hetherington 6, 7
Jin Joo Hong 7
Pat Hurst 6, 7, 9
Karine Icher 7
Juli Inkster 1, 6, 7
Jeong Jang 4, 7
Mi-Joong Jeon 10
Cristie Kerr 7, 9
Birdie Kim 1
Christina Kim 7
Joo Mi Kim 7
*Kimberly Kim 2
Mi Hyun Kim 7, 9
Young Kim 6, 7
Candie Kung 7
Brittany Lang 7
Jee Young Lee 6, 7
Meena Lee 7
Seon Hwa Lee 7
Brittany Lincicome 6, 7, 9
Hilary Lunke 1
Meg Mallon 1
Catriona Matthew 6
Patricia Meunier-Lebouc 6
Ai Miyazato 7
Gwladys Nocera 10
Lorena Ochoa 6, 7, 9
Shiho Oyama 10
Se Ri Pak 1, 3, 6, 7
Gloria Park 6, 7
Grace Park 5
Hee Young Park 10
Jane Park 6
Stacy Prammanasudh 6, 7
Morgan Pressel 5, 7
*Katharina Schallenberg 2
Ji-Yai Shin 10
Annika Sorenstam 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 10
Angela Stanford 7
Sherri Steinhauer 4, 7, 9
Kristina Tucker 6
Sherri Turner 6
Wendy Ward 7
Karrie Webb 1, 5, 7, 9
Michelle Wie 6
Sung Ah Yim 7
Sakura Yokomine 10
Heather Young 7
* = amateur
Key to Player Exemptions –
1) Winners of the U.S. Women’s Open for the last 10 years (1997-2006)
2) Winners of the U.S. Women’s Amateur for the last two years (2005-2006) and runner-up for the most recent year (2006)
3) Winners of the LPGA Championship for the last five years (2003-2007)
4) Winners of the Women’s British Open Championship for the last five years (2002-2006)
5) Winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship the last five years (2003-2007)
6) From the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 20th place
7) From the 2006 final official LPGA money list, the top 40 money leaders
8) From the 2007 official LPGA money list, the top 35 money leaders through May 28
9) Winners of LPGA co-sponsored events, whose victories are considered official, from the conclusion of the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open Championship to the initiation of the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open Championship
10) Top three players from the 2006 Japan LPGA Tour, Korea LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour New Star money lists
11) Special exemptions selected by the USGA
Contact:
Beth Murrison (bmurrison@usga.org)
