Wie Qualifies For U.S. Amateur Public Links


June 14, 2005

Belle Vernon, Pa. -- Fifteen-year-old Michelle Wie of Honolulu, Hawaii, Tuesday (June 14) became the first female to qualify for an adult "male" championship conducted by the United States Golf Association when she shot a 36-hole total of 1-over-par 145 (71-74) at Cedarbrook Golf Course (Gold Course), qualifying her for the 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links championship.  She tied for medalist honors with Artie Fink Jr. of Altoona, Pa.

Wie and Fink, who narrowly missed qualifying last year, gained the two spots awarded to the 78-player field.  Wie missed a 6-foot putt for birdie on the final hole that would have given her medalist honors, but she wasn't too disappointed since she earned a chance to chase her dream of one day playing in the Masters Tournament.

"I was disappointed I missed that putt, but I qualified and I'm going (to the APL) and that's what's important," said Wie, who shot 71 to lead the field after here first round over the 6,771-yard course.  "I think I'm going to be the underdog there."

The Amateur Public Links championship is scheduled from July 11-16 at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio.  The winner of the championship has historically been invited to play in the Masters Tournament, a men's event.

"The Masters is the first tournament I ever saw on television," said Wie.  "The course is so pretty."

Wie tied for 13^th in her first U.S. Women's Open, in 2004.  She won the 2003 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links at the age of 13, becoming the youngest to win a USGA adult championship.

She will compete in the 2005 U.S. Women's Open next week (June 23-26) at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., a suburb of Denver.

The APL is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.  One of those championships is the U.S. Open, being contested this week at Pinehurst Resort (No. 2) Course in North Carolina.