| 2007 U.S. Women's Open Sectional Qualifying |
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U.S. Women's Open Sectional Qualifying Monday June 11, 2007 Sattayabanphot & Burks Lead List of Twenty-One Qualifiers who advanced to the U .S. Women's Open on June 11 Thailand's Onnarin Sattayabanphot and Audra Burks of Altamonte Springs, FL led all qualifiers with a four under par 140 for 36 holes. Twenty-one golfers posted scores of 148 or better and will play in the 2007 U.S. Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, NC. The field featured golfers from ywenty-five states and twelve foreign countries. Onnarin Sattayabanphot took the early lead, posting a first round five under par 67, and carded a 73 in the afternoon round. Her fellow co-medalist Audra Burks was the only golfer to break par in both qualifying rounds. Burks had a pair of 70's. Alison Fouch, of Grand Rapids, MI, fresh off a victory in Hammond, IN at the United States Steel Classic on the Durameds Futures Tour, shot a disappointing 79 in the morning, only to rebound with a 67 in the second round to secure her spot in the U.S. Open. The golf course was set up at par 72, at 6464 yards, which is a little longer than the middle men's tees. Notes - Before the Competition U.S. Women's Open Sectional Qualifying Monday June 11, 2007 94 players competing for 21 spots in the U.S. Women's Open Ninety-four golfers will compete for twenty-one spots in the 2007 U.S. Women's Open during a 36 hole Sectional Qualifying at the Village Links of Glen Ellyn on Monday June 11. The field will have a decidely international flavor, with twenty-one players from twelve foreign countries among the ninety-four contestants that have advanced to Sectional Qualifying round. Many of the foreign players are members of the Duramed Futures Tour - the women's developmental tour for LPGA Tour hopefuls. International Players Four entrants are from Illinois, including Berwyn's Nicole Jeray, Wheaton's Beth Hermes-Miller and Hanover Park's Noriko Nakazaki. . There are three USGA champions in the field: Kellee Booth (1993 Girls’ Junior) Robin (Weiss) Donnelly (1989 Women’s Mid-Amateur) Annie (Thurman) Young (2002 Women’s Amateur Public Links). All three of those players are also USA Curtis Cup team veterans – Booth (1996 and 1998); Donnelly (1990, 1992 and 2000); and Young (2004). Other USA Curtis Cuppers in the field at Glen Ellyn are: Emily Bastel (2002); Mollie Fankhauser (2002); and Amanda McCurdy (2006). Brandi Jackson of Greenville, S.C., will celebrate her 26th birthday on June 11th as she plays her sectional qualifier. Jackson was the 2002 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up. Taylore Karle, 16, of Scottsdale, Ariz., is seeking a berth in her second consecutive Women’s Open. She holds the record for the lowest 36-hole qualifying score in any amateur USGA championship. At the 2005 U.S. Girls’ Junior at Banbury Golf Club in Eagle, Idaho, she shot a 63-67—130. The Kostina sisters of the Russian Federation are both trying to advance to the Women’s Open.
Anastasia, 21, and
Maria, 23, are both seeking a spot in their first Women’s Open. In 2005,
Jana Peterkova became the first player from the Czech Republic to compete in a Women’s Open. Ashley Prange of Noblesville, Ind., was the winner of the Golf Channel’s Big Break V in Hawaii. She is an LPGA Tour rookie in 2007. There is one 14 year old, Tanya Wadhwa of India, and one 15 year old, Christine Meier of Rochester Hills, Mich., in the field. Fewer than twenty entrants were exempt for the Local Qualifying rounds held in May. The field for the Village Links Sectional includes several medalists from the 16 Local Qualifying rounds held across the United States. The Sectional Qualifying is 36-holes. Because of the large field, play will begin on both #1 and #10 tees at 6:45 a.m. The final groups will tee off at 2:20 p.m. The USGA plans to set the golf course to play at par 72, 6440 yards. The low qualifiers will advance to the U.S. Women's Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, June 28-July 1, 2007. This is the first time that the Village Links of Glen Ellyn has hosted a U.S. Women's Open Sectional Qualifying. The Village Links has hosted several other USGA qualifyings, including five men's U.S. Open Sectional Qualifyings. The Village Links has also hosted 25 qualifyings for the PGA Tour's Western Open. Major Golf Events Held At the Village Links The Village Links opened in 1967 and was renovated extensively in 2004. There is no spectator admission charge for the U.S. Women's Open Sectional Qualifying and parking is free as well.
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