USGA Accepts Record Entries For
2009 U.S. Women's Open; 70 Players Currently Fully Exempt
May 7, 2009Far Hills, N.J. - The United States Golf Association has accepted a record 1,278 entries for the 2009 U.S. Women's Open, to be played July 9-12 at Saucon Valley Country Club's Old Course in Bethlehem, Pa.
The previous record of 1,251 entries was set in 2007. It is the sixth consecutive year the number of entries for the championship has surpassed 1,000.
A record number of entries, 9,086, were also received for the 2009 U.S. Open, which will be contested at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., June 18-21.
"We are thrilled to have received a record number of entries for the U.S. Women's Open," said Mike Davis, senior director of Rules and Competitions for the USGA. "It is very gratifying to have increased participation at our championships, particularly from international players. More players going through the qualifying process helps ensure we have the strongest fields possible at our championships."
The first to file an entry was Layney Silva of Stockton, Calif., who was one of 20 people to enter on March 3, the first day online applications were available. The last to file was Trisha Witherby of Richmond, Ind., who submitted her entry online at 4:47:06 p.m. on May 6, 13 minutes before the official deadline. More than 88 percent of the total entries were received online, including 62 on the last day (May 6) applications were accepted.
The youngest entrant is 10-year-old Angel Yin of Arcadia, Calif., with a birth date of Oct. 3, 1998. The oldest player who listed her date of birth on her entry form is seven-time USGA champion Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., at age 60. Thompson has played in 32 U.S. Women's Opens, one shy of the record of 33 held by Marlene Hagge.
Entries were received from 46 states (all except Alaska, Delaware, Maine and Wyoming). In addition to the USA, entries were received from 42 other countries: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam and Wales.
Seventy golfers are currently fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming championship. Defending champion Inbee Park leads the list of seven past winners who are fully exempt. Park is joined by: Juli Inkster (1999, 2002); Cristie Kerr (2007); Birdie Kim (2005); Meg Mallon (1991, 2004); Se Ri Pak (1998); and Karrie Webb (2000, 2001). Two other past champions, Laura Davies (1987) and Liselotte Neumann (1998), have entered to go through qualifying.
The number of fully exempt golfers will increase with the inclusion of the top 10 money leaders on the official 2009 LPGA Tour money list as of June 1. Spots are also reserved for anyone, who is not already fully exempt, who wins an official LPGA Tour event through the weekend prior to the start of the 2009 Women's Open.
Local qualifying at 15 sites begins May 18 and runs through June 2. Sectional qualifying will be conducted at eight sites on June 11 and 15.
A list of the 70 golfers who are currently fully exempt (as of 5/7/09) into the Women's Open:
| Sun Ju Ahn |
10 |
Jihee Lee |
10 |
| Helen Alfredsson |
6,7,9,10 |
Meena Lee |
7 |
| Minea Blomqvist |
7 |
|
|
| Nicole Castrale |
6,7 |
Seon Hwa Lee |
7,9 |
| He Yong Choi |
10 |
Stacy Lewis |
6 |
| Na Yeon Choi |
7 |
Brittany Lincicome |
5,9 |
| Paula Creamer |
6,7,9 |
Leta Lindley |
7 |
| Laura Diaz |
7 |
|
|
| |
|
Teresa Lu |
6,7 |
| Martina Eberl |
10 |
Meg Mallon |
1 |
| Shanshan Feng |
7 |
Kristy McPherson |
7 |
| Allison Fouch |
7 |
Ai Miyazato |
7 |
| Louise Friberg |
7 |
Anja Monke |
10 |
| Yuri Fudoh |
10 |
*-Azahara Munoz |
2 |
| Akiko Fukushima |
10 |
Gwladys Nocera |
10 |
| |
|
Lorena Ochoa |
4,5,7,9 |
| Sophie Gustafson |
7 |
Ji Young Oh |
7,9 |
| Hee-Won Han |
7 |
|
|
| Maria Hjorth |
7 |
Se Ri Pak |
3 |
| Katherine Hull |
7,9 |
Angela Park |
6,7 |
| Pat Hurst |
9 |
Hee Young Park |
7 |
| Juli Inkster |
1,7 |
Inbee Park |
1,6,7 |
| Jeong Jang |
4,7 |
Jane Park |
7 |
| Eun Hee Ji |
7 |
Suzann Pettersen |
3,6,7 |
| Cristie Kerr |
1,6,7,9 |
Stacy Prammanasudh |
6,7 |
| Birdie Kim |
1 |
Morgan Pressel |
5,7,9 |
| Christina Kim |
7 |
Hee-Kyung Seo |
10 |
| |
|
Giulia Sergas |
6,7 |
| Ha Neul Kim |
10 |
|
|
| In-Kyung Kim |
6,7,9 |
Jiyai Shin |
4,9,10 |
| |
|
Angela Stanford |
7,9 |
| Mi Hyun Kim |
6,7 |
|
|
| Song Hee Kim |
7 |
Karen Stupples |
4,7 |
| |
|
Yani Tseng |
3,7 |
| Young Kim |
7 |
|
|
| Miho Koga |
10 |
Momoko Ueda |
6,7 |
| |
|
*Maria Jose Uribe |
6 |
| *-Jessica Korda |
6 |
Karrie Webb |
1,5,7,9 |
| Candie Kung |
7,9 |
Lindsey Wright |
7 |
| Brittany Lang |
7 |
Amy Yang |
10 |
| Jee Young Lee |
6,7 |
Sun Young Yoo |
7 |
Key to Player Exemptions -
- Winners of the U.S. Women's Open Championship for the last 10 years (1999-2008).
- Winner and runner-up of the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur (must be an amateur).
- Winners of the LPGA Championship for the last five years (2005-09).
- Winners of the Women's British Open Championship the last five years (2004-08).
- Winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship for the last five years (2005-09).
- From the 2008 U.S. Women's Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15th place.
- From the 2008 final official LPGA Tour money list, the top 50 money leaders.
- From the 2009 official LPGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through June 1.
- Winners of LPGA Tour co-sponsored events, whose victories are considered official, from the conclusion of the 2008 U.S. Women's Open Championship to the initiation of the 2009 U.S. Women's Open Championship.
- Top five money leaders from the 2008 Japan LPGA Tour, Korea LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour.
- Special exemptions selected by the USGA.
*-Amateur