This is the first time in the championship’s history that the number of entries has surpassed 1,000.  The previous record of 980 entries received was set in 2001.

Perry Swenson of Charlotte, N.C., was the first to submit an entry, which she did online on March 2. Amie Cochran of Torrance, Calif., was the first to submit an entry via mail, on March 8.

Anne Rush of Easley, S.C., was the last to submit an entry online, which she did on May 5 at 4:56:30 p.m. , three minutes and 30 seconds before the close of entries.

The youngest golfer to enter was India ’s Tanya Wadhwa, an 11-year-old currently residing in Bradenton, Fla.  Five 12-year-olds submitted an entry form, including Isabelle Lendl of Groton, Conn., the daughter of tennis great Ivan Lendl.  Amateurs Barbara Israel of New York, N.Y., and Toni Wiesner of Fort Worth, Texas, both 58 years old, were the oldest to submit entries.

Fifty-one golfers, including nine past champions, are currently fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming Championship.  That number could increase should anyone not already fully exempt win one of the LPGA official events before the Women’s Open begins, as well as anyone who moves into the top 35 on the LPGA money list by May 26.

Past champions who are fully exempt are Laura Davies (1987); Betsy King (1989, 1990); Meg Mallon (1991); Annika Sorenstam (1995, 1996); Alison Nicholas (1997); Se Ri Pak (1998); Juli Inkster (1999, 2002); Karrie Webb (2000, 2001); and Hilary Lunke (2003).

Entry forms were received from players representing 44 states and 39 foreign countries: American Samoa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Venezuela, Wales and Zimbabwe.

Local qualifying at 16 sites begins May 17. Sectional qualifying, to be held at nine sites, will be held June 14-20.

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 51 golfers who are fully exempt into the U.S. Women’s Open follows:

Shi Hyun Ahn	9
Helen Alfredsson	9
Donna Andrews	6
Heather Bowie	7
Beth Daniel	6,7,9
Laura Davies	7,10
Dorothy Delasin	7,9
Laura Diaz	6,7
Wendy Doolan	7
Elisabeth Esterl	10
Yuri Fudoh	6,11
Natalie Gulbis	6,7
Sophie Gustafson	4,7,9,10
Hee-Won Han	7,9
Pat Hurst	7
Juli Inkster	1,3,6,7,9
Jeong Jang	6,7
Rosie Jones	6,7
Lorie Kane	7
Soo-Yun Kang	7
Cristie Kerr	6,7
Mi Hyun Kim	7
Betsy King	12
Candie Kung	7,9
Ji-Hee Lee	11
Jung Yeon Lee	7
Hilary Lunke	1,6,7
Meg Mallon	7,9
Catriona Matthew	7
Mhairi McKay	6,7
Patricia Meunier-Lebouc	5,6,7
Becky Morgan	7
Alison Nicholas	1
Lorena Ochoa	6,7
Se Ri Pak	1,3,4,7,9
Gloria Park	7
Grace Park	5,6,7
*-Jane Park	2
Dottie Pepper	12
Suzann Pettersen	6,7
Michele Redman	7
Kelly Robbins	6,7
Jennifer Rosales	6,7,9
Aree Song	6
Annika Sorenstam	1,3,4,5,6,7,9
Angela Stanford	6,7
Sherri Steinhauer	4
Karen Stupples	7
Rachel Teske	6,7
Wendy Ward	7
Karrie Webb	1,3,4,5,7,9

* = amateur

Key to Player Exemptions –

  1) Winners of the U.S. Women’s Open for the last 10 years

2) Winners of the U.S. Women’s Amateur for the last two years and runner-up for the most recent year

3) Winners of the LPGA Championship for the last five years

4) Winners of the Women’s British Open Championship for the last five years

5) Winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship for the last five years

6) From the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 20^th place

7) From the 2003 final official LPGA money list, the top 40 money leaders

8) From the 2004 official LPGA money list, the top 35 money leaders through May 26

9) Winners of LPGA co-sponsored events, whose victories are considered official, from the conclusion of the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open Championship to the initiation of the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open Championship

10) Top three players from the 2003 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit

11) Two leading money winners from the 2003 Japan LPGA Tour

12) Special exemptions selected by the USGA