U.S. Women's Open Entries Close; 58 Golfers Currently Exempt
May 10, 2005
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org
Far Hills, N.J. - The United States Golf Association has accepted a record 1,158 entries for the 2005 U.S. Women's Open, which will be played June 23-26 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. That total is 61 entries higher than the previous record, set in 2004 for the Women's Open at the Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass.
The first to file an entry was Chelsa Dooley of Wilmar, Minn., who did so on March 2. The last to file was Kelly Mac Whinnie of Pittsburgh, Pa., at 4:34:51 on May 4, the last day entries were accepted.
The youngest competitor is 10-year-old Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla. The oldest player who listed her date of birth on her entry form is Dale Shaw of La Quinta, Calif., at age 58.
Entries were received from 49 states (all except Alaska) and the District of Columbia. In addition to the USA, entries were received from 42 countries: Albania, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Venezuela, Wales and Zimbabwe.
Fifty-eight 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), Hilary Lunke (2003), Meg Mallon (1991, 2004), Liselotte Neumann (1988), Se Ri Pak (1998), Annika Sorenstam (1995, 1996); and Karrie Webb (2000, 2001). Three other past champions are entered to go through qualifying: Jane Geddes (1986); Betsy King (1989, 1990); and Jan Stephenson (1983).
The number of fully exempt golfers will increase with the inclusion of top 35 money leaders on the official 2005 LPGA money list at the end of May. Spots are also reserved for anyone who wins an official LPGA event through the start of the 2005 U.S. Women's Open who is not already fully exempt.
Local qualifying at 16 sites begins May 16 and runs through May 24. Sectional qualifying at nine sites will be conducted on June 13 and 14.
The 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 58 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the U.S. Women's Open follows.
| Players Fully Exempt (58) For The 2005 U.S. Women's Open |
| Shi Hyun Ahn |
8 |
|
Candie Kung |
7, 8 |
| Stephanie Arricau |
11 |
|
Jung Yeon Lee |
8 |
| Heather Bowie |
8 |
|
Hilary Lunke |
1 |
| Dawn Coe-Jones |
7 |
|
Meg Mallon |
1, 6, 8, 10 |
| Paula Creamer |
7 |
|
Catriona Matthew |
7, 8, 10 |
| Heather Daly-Donofrio |
8, 10 |
|
*Amanda McCurdy |
2 |
| Beth Daniel |
8 |
|
Patricia Meunier-Lebouc |
5, 7, 8 |
| Laura Davies |
8, 11 |
|
Ai Miyazato |
12 |
| Laura Diaz |
8 |
|
Becky Morgan |
8 |
| Wendy Doolan |
8, 10 |
|
Liselotte Neumann |
7, 8, 10 |
| Moira Dunn |
7, 8, 10 |
|
Lorena Ochoa |
8, 10 |
| Michelle Ellis |
7 |
|
Se Ri Pak |
1, 3, 4, 8 |
| Yuri Fudoh |
12 |
|
Gloria Park |
8 |
| Kate Golden |
7 |
|
Grace Park |
4, 8, 10 |
| Sophie Gustafson |
4 |
|
*Jane Park |
2 |
| Hee-Won Han |
8, 10 |
|
Suzann Pettersen |
7 |
| Joanna Head |
7 |
|
Stacy Prammanasudh |
8, 10 |
| Rachel Hetherington |
7, 8 |
|
Michele Redman |
7, 8 |
| Pat Hurst |
7, 8 |
|
Kelly Robbins |
7, 8 |
| Juli Inkster |
1, 8 |
|
Jennifer Rosales |
7, 8 |
| Jeong Jang |
7, 8 |
|
Kim Saiki |
7, 8 |
| Trish Johnson |
11 |
|
Aree Song |
8 |
| Rosie Jones |
7, 8 |
|
Annika Sorenstam |
1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 |
| Lorie Kane |
8 |
|
Angela Stanford |
8 |
| Cristie Kerr |
8, 10 |
|
Sherri Steinhauer |
8 |
| Christina Kim |
8, 10 |
|
Karen Stupples |
4, 8, 10 |
| Mi Hyun Kim |
7, 8 |
|
Wendy Ward |
8, 10 |
| Young Kim |
7 |
|
Karrie Webb |
1, 3, 4, 7, 8 |
| Carin Koch |
7, 8, 10 |
|
*Michelle Wie |
7 |
| * = amateur |
| Key to Player Exemptions - |
| 1 |
Winners of the U.S. Women's Open for the last 10 years (1995-2004) |
| 2 |
Winners of the U.S. Women's Amateur for the last two years (2004-2005) and runner-up for the most recent year (2005) |
| 3 |
Winners of the LPGA Championship for the last five years (2001-2005) |
| 4 |
Winners of the Women's British Open Championship for the last five years (2000-2004) |
| 5 |
Winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship the last five years (2001-2005) |
| 6 |
Winners of the du Maurier Classic the last five years |
| 7 |
From the 2004 U.S. Women's Open Championship, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 20 th place |
| 8 |
From the 2004 final official LPGA money list, the top 40 money leaders |
| 9 |
From the 2005 official LPGA money list, the top 35 money leaders through May 30 |
| 10 |
Winners of LPGA co-sponsored events, whose victories are considered official, from the conclusion of the 2004 U.S. Women's Open Championship to the initiation of the 2005 U.S. Women's Open Championship |
| 11 |
Top three players from the 2004 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit |
| 12 |
Two leading money winners from the 2004 Japan LPGA Tour |
| 13 |
Special exemptions selected by the USGA |