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Six Qualify for U.S. Women’s Open
Words by: Brianna Gianiorio
Sarah Schmelzel qualified for her third consecutive U.S. Women’s Open, earning medalist honors at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club’s Prospector Course with a 65-67 performance over 36-holes. Her 12-under-par score Included 11 birdies, an eagle and a lone bogey.
Mina Harigae, Stephanie Meadows, Amanda Linner, Pornanong Phatlum and Giulia Molinaro will join Schmelzel at the 76th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, set for June 3-6 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif.
“After being in Asia the past couple weeks this was like a very mild day, just being back at home it’s very comfortable for me,” the medalist said. “I’ve been playing really well on the road, so it was nice to kind of see things click and come together. I knew I had to make a ton of birdies, so I went in with that mindset and fortunately, it all worked out.”
Schmelzel earned her LPGA TOUR card in 2019 and has since managed 32 cuts in 40 starts.
“It’s such an honor to be able to do that, and I feel so lucky so I think that’s been the key to enjoying all of it and the U.S. Women’s Open is such a big deal for me,” said Schmelzel. “It is the number 1 tournament I want to win so I’m really excited to go back for the third year. It’s such an unreal championship and the feeling and everything and all the history behind it is really incredible.”
Harigae and Meadows used 10-under-par scores to punch their respective championship tickets. Harigae, a 10-year LPGA veteran will be playing in her 11th U.S. Women’s Open next month. Meadows, a five-year LPGA TOUR veteran and 2016 Olympian for her native Ireland, made her professional debut at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2. She created a memorable experience with a third-place finish.
Linner, Phatlum and Molinaro grabbed the final three qualifying spots at 8-under-par after 36 holes. The Arizona State Sun Devil Sophmore Linner was crowned low amateur on top of qualifying for her first U.S. Women’s Open. Phatlum, a 16-time international champion and 2016 Thai Olympian will be playing her 11th U.S. Women’s Open. The Italian Olympian Molinaro is part of the major championship field for the second time, after qualifying in 2018.
The U.S. Women’s Open Championship, the oldest of the LPGA’s five majors, is one of 14 championships conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA). The Olympic Club’s Lake Course will host the championship for the first time in USGA Women’s history. With nearly 1,600 entries accepted by the USGA, 156 players will tee off in San Francisco next month.
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