Far Hills, N.J. – Five players have earned full exemptions into the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open with the close of another exemption category. There are now 68 players fully exempt into this year’s U.S. Women’s Open Championship, which will be contested June 28 – July 1 at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.
Beth Bader, Kyeong Bae, Hye Jung Choi, Sarah Lee and Angela Park were added to the field based on their ranking in the top 35 on the LPGA money list as of May 28.
Three spots are being held for the winners of the three LPGA events prior to the start of the 2007 Women’s Open, should they not already be fully exempt. Sectional qualifying for the remaining 85 spots will take place at seven sites on June 11.
Following is the list of the 68 golfers who are fully exempt:
PLAYERS FULLY EXEMPT (68) FOR THE 2007 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
Shi Hyun Ahn 6, 7, 8
Beth Bader 8
Kyeong Bae 8
*Amanda Blumenherst 6
Nicole Castrale 7, 8
Silvia Cavalleri 8, 9
Hye Jung Choi 8
Na Yeon Choi 10
Il-Mi Chung 7
Paula Creamer 6, 7, 8, 9
Diana D’Alessio 7
Laura Davies 7, 8, 10
Laura Diaz 7, 8
Meaghan Francella 8, 9
Julieta Granada 7, 8, 9
Natalie Gulbis 6, 7, 8
Sophie Gustafson 6, 7
Rachel Hetherington 6, 7
Jin Joo Hong 7
Pat Hurst 6, 7, 8, 9
Karine Icher 7
Juli Inkster 1, 6, 7, 8
Jeong Jang 4, 7, 8
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, 8, 9
Young Kim 6, 7, 8, 9
Candie Kung 7
Brittany Lang 7, 8
Jee Young Lee 6, 7, 8
Meena Lee 7, 8
Sarah Lee 8
Seon Hwa Lee 7, 8
Brittany Lincicome 6, 7, 8, 9
Hilary Lunke 1
Meg Mallon 1
Catriona Matthew 6, 8
Patricia Meunier-Lebouc 6
Ai Miyazato 7, 8
Gwladys Nocera 10
Lorena Ochoa 6, 7, 8, 9
Shiho Oyama 10
Angela Park 8
Se Ri Pak 1, 3, 6, 7, 8
Gloria Park 6, 7
Grace Park 5
Hee Young Park 10
Jane Park 6
Suzann Pettersen 8, 9
Stacy Prammanasudh 6, 7, 8
Morgan Pressel 5, 7, 8
*Katharina Schallenberg 2
Ji-Yai Shin 10
Annika Sorenstam 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Angela Stanford 7, 8
Sherri Steinhauer 4, 7, 8, 9
Kristina Tucker 6
Sherri Turner 6
Wendy Ward 7
Karrie Webb 1, 5, 7, 8, 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)
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