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Record
1,251 Entries Accepted For U.S. Women's Open; 62 Currently Exempt

May 2, 2007
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org
Far Hills, N.J. - 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 the 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.
THE PLAYERS WHO ARE FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE
2007 U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN (68) (as of 5/2/07)
| Shi Hyun Ahn |
6,7,8 |
Meena Lee |
7,8 |
| Beth Bader |
8 |
Sarah Lee |
8 |
| Kyeong Bae |
8 |
|
|
| *-Amanda Blumenherst |
6 |
Seon Hwa Lee |
7,8 |
| Nicole Castrale |
7,8 |
Brittany Lincicome |
6,7,8,9 |
| Silvia Cavalleri |
8,9 |
Hillary Lunke |
1 |
| Hye Jung Choi |
8 |
|
|
| Na Yeon Choi |
10 |
Meg Mallon |
1 |
| Il Mi Chung |
7 |
Catriona Matthew |
6,8 |
| Paula Creamer |
6,7,9 |
Patricia Meunier-Lebouc |
6 |
| Diana D'Alessio |
7 |
Ai Miyazato |
7,8 |
| Laura Davies |
7,8,10 |
Gwladys Nocera |
10 |
| Laura Diaz |
7,8 |
Lorena Ochoa |
6,7,8,9 |
| Meaghan Francella |
8,9 |
Shiho Oyama |
10 |
| Julieta Granada |
7,8,9 |
Se Ri Pak |
1,3,6,7,8 |
| |
|
Angela Park |
8 |
| Natalie Gulbis |
6,7,8 |
Gloria Park |
6,7 |
| Sophie Gustafson |
6,7 |
Grace Park |
5 |
| Rachel Hetherington |
6,7 |
Hee Young Park |
10 |
| Jin Joo Hong |
7 |
Jane Park |
6 |
| |
|
Suzann Pettersen |
8,9 |
| Pat Hurst |
6,7,8,9 |
Stacy Prammanasudh |
6,7,9 |
| Karine Icher |
7 |
Morgan Pressel |
5,7,8 |
| Juli Inkster |
1,6,7,8 |
*-Katharina Schallenberg |
2 |
| Jeong Jang |
4,7,8 |
Ji-Yai Shin |
10 |
| Mi-Joong Jeon |
10 |
Annika Sorenstam |
1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
| Cristie Kerr |
7,9 |
Angela Stanford |
7,8 |
| Birdie Kim |
1 |
Sherri Steinhauer |
4,7,8,9 |
| Christina Kim |
7 |
Kristina Tucker |
6 |
| Joo Mi Kim |
7 |
Sherri Turner |
6 |
| *-Kimberly Kim |
2 |
Wendy Ward |
7 |
| Mi Hyun Kim |
7,8,9 |
Karrie Webb |
1,5,7,8,9 |
| Young Kim |
6,7,8,9 |
Michelle Wie |
6 |
| Candie Kung |
7 |
Sung Ah Yim |
7 |
| Brittany Lang |
7,8 |
Sakura Yokomine |
10 |
| Jee Young Lee |
6,7,8 |
Heather Young |
7 |
Key to Player Exemptions -
- Winners of the U.S. Women's Open Championship for the last
10 years (1997-2006).
- Winners of the U.S. Women's Amateur for the last two years
(2005-06) and runner-up for the most recent year (2006), player
must still be an amateur.
- Winners of the LPGA Championship for the last five years (2003-07).
- Winners of the Women's British Open Championship the last
five years (2002-06).
- Winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship the last five years
(2003-07).
- From the 2006 U.S. Women's Open Championship, the 20 lowest
scorers and anyone tying for 20th place.
- From the 2006 final official LPGA Tour money list, the top
40 money leaders.
- From the 2007 official LPGA Tour money list, the top 35 money
leaders through May 28.
- Winners of LPGA Tour 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.
- Top three players from the 2006 Japan LPGA Tour, Korea LPGA
Tour and Ladies European Tour New Star money lists.
- Special exemptions selectec by the USGA.
*-Amateur
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