Gulbis, Park Seek Berth In U.S. Women's Open At Galloway Event
By Rebecca Gaona, NJSGA P.J. Boatwright Intern
Natalie Gulbis, Giulia Sergas, Nicole Castrale, and Joanna Coe are among many LPGA players attempting to qualify for one of two spots in the 2015 U.S Women’s Open at Monday’s qualifier for the event that will be conducted at Galloway National Golf Club
Also in the field of 77 golfers is Annie Park, out of Levittown, N.Y., the 2013 NCAA champion at USC who has decided to conclude her amateur career. She has already competed in two U.S Women's Open Championships.
The one-day 36-hole event that will be held on June 1 will be administered by the New Jersey State Golf Association.
The two qualifiers will gain at berth in the U.S Women’s Open, a four-day competition at Lancaster Country Club beginning on July 9. Galloway National will be playing 6,400 yards with two qualifiers and two alternates to come out of the 36-hole event.
Alongside notable players from New Jersey, amateurs and professionals from all over the country are gathering to compete for a spot at the U.S Women’s Open Championship.
Park has also participated in the Curtis Cup in 2014, assisting the American team in a 13-7 win over Great Britain and Ireland.
Park’s teammate out of USC, Karen Chung of Livingston, N.J., is another key player competing at Galloway National. Chung, a New Jersey native, has also competed in the U.S Women's Amateur twice after qualifying.
Gulbis has only won one championship while on the LPGA, while the other LPGA players qualifying are looking for their first win on tour if they qualify. Sergas had her rookie season in 2002, but has only made one cut in 2015.
Castrale had her single LPGA win in 2007 at the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika Sorenstam. South Jersey’s Coe has been a four-time runner-up at the NJSGA Junior Girls Championship from 2003 to 2006.
Out of New Jersey, the 58th NJSGA Junior Girls Championship, 88th Women's Amateur Championship, and 2014 Women’s Public Links Champion, Alice Chen of Montgomery will be among those in the field with a standout rookie season at Furman University earning the 2015 Southern Conference Women’s Golfer of the Year.
The 2012 NJSGA Women’s Public Links Champion Noelle Maertz of Clark, who plays at Wagner, will be competing alongside 60th NJSGA Junior Girls Championship winner Christina Parsells of Baltusrol who has committed to Georgetown.
Vanderbilt standout Cindy Ha of Darlington is another notable in the field, being the 57thNJSGA Junior Girls Champion. Ha and Chen, along with former LPGA player Tara Fleming of Jersey City, led New Jersey to its first title in the 10thUSGA State Team Championship in 2013.
