NCAA Women's Champ, Canadian, Medalists At U.S. Open Qualifying

Annie Park of Levittown, N.Y., who last week won the NCAA Women’s Championship as a freshman at the University of Southern California, and 15-year-old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ontario, each fired 36-hole totals of 8-under-par 136 to share medalist honors at Thursday’s sectional qualifying for the 68thU.S. Women’s Open Championship at Edgewood Country Club in River Vale, N.J.

The event was conducted by the New Jersey State Golf Association and included both professionals and amateurs in the field of 78.

The U.S. Women’s Open is set for Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, Long Island, June 27-30.

The third and final qualifying spot went to Kendra Little of Eugene, Ore., who plays professionally on the Symetra Tour. Little has lived in Hamburg, N.J., the past year while working at the Black Oak Golf Club. David Glenz of Black Oak, her swing coach, was on her bag.

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Park, who skipped her senior year of high school to enroll and play at USC, had a sensational freshman season. She won the Pac-12, West Regional and NCAA championships, the latter in 10 under par through 72 holes at the University of Georgia course, winning by six strokes. She led USC to a 21-stroke victory over Duke in the team competition.

“My plan right now is to earn my degree. I might be able to do it in three years and then turn pro,” aid Park, who yesterday had eight birdies and no bogeys. She did drain a 30-foot putt to save par on gthe par-5 sixth hole in her afternoon round.

“I gained confidence and learned a lot. I focused on each shot,” she said of her NCAA championship. “Staying in the moment is the most important thing. One of my goals was to play in the U.S. Open because it’s so close to home.”

Henderson’s family drove seven hours and 300 miles to River Vale to compete. She birdied four of her final six holes to get to eight-under-par. It was her first attempt at qualifying for the U.S. Open.

“Every tee shot seem like it was good. In the morning, I was hitting it well, but I missed a few puts. I putted better in the afternoon, but my irons were my strength,” said Henderson, who is a high school sophomore. She won the South American Amateur in January. She is a member of the Canadian National team and played in the World Amateur last fall.

“This is an honor for me to be playing in the U.S. Open,” Henderson said.

Considered among the premier women’s golf events worldwide, the U.S. Women’s Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. It is open to professional female golfers and amateur females with a USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 4.4.

Edgewood C.C. served as one of 20 sectional qualifying sites scattered throughout the country. Qualifying began May 7 and was completed today (May 30).Entries were received from 46 states (all except Alaska, Delaware, Maine and West Virginia) and 44 foreign countries. Players from Canada filed the most foreign entries with 51, followed by Korea (38), Japan (18), Mexico (17) and the People’s Republic of China (16).

“The diverse group of Women’s Open entrants is a testament to the growing international footprint of the game of golf,” said Dot Paluck, chairman of the USGA Women’s Committee. Mrs. Paluck also serves NJSGA in a variety of capacities. “These women should serve as examples to the next generation of golfers across the world of what can be achieved with hard work and determination.”

Eighty-four golfers are currently fully exempt from sectional qualifying, led by defending champion Na Yeon Choi. Other fully exempt U.S. Women’s Open champions include Paula Creamer (2010), Eun-Hee Ji (2009), Cristie Kerr (2007), Birdie Kim (2005), Se Ri Pak (1998), Inbee Park (2008), So Yeon Ryu (2011) and Karrie Webb (2000, 2001).

Additionally, World Golf Hall of Fame member Juli Inkster has been granted a special exemption into the 2013 championship by virtue of her distinguished career as a USGA champion. Inkster won the 1999 and 2002 U.S. Women’s Opens, and is one of only five women to win three consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateur titles (1980-82).