US Women’s Open Qualifier
After three weeks on the road for the opening tournaments of the Annika Women’s All Pro Tour, I flew home Saturday morning. My brother, Tim, also flew down from Portland and met me at the San Diego airport. The following morning, after a quick Easter brunch in my apartment, we drove the two hours northeast to Soboba Springs Golf Course at the edge of the San Jacinto mountains. I played in the qualifier here last year too. We played a practice round and then went back to our hotel room to get a good night’s sleep.
26 Qualifiers – 1,800+ Hopefuls
The USGA hosts 26 qualifying sites for women who wish to attempt to qualify for a spot in the US Women’s Open, which will be held this year at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, May 29 – Jun 3. Each qualifier has approximately 80 women in the field and the number of spots qualifying depends on the strength of the field. It’s a 36-hole qualifier over a single day and Soboba has had two spots both years I have played there. Most sites have 2 or 3 and less than 3% of those attempting to qualify actually get a spot in the field.
I teed off at 8:03 a.m. on number 10. I got a quick birdie and then a couple of bogeys on my first nine before racking up three birdies on my second nine, to finish -2. I was tied for third place after the first round. After a short lunch break, Tim and I were back out on the course for the second round at 1:33 p.m. My approach on #1 landed 15 yards short of the green, but because the ground was so hard, it bounced over and I ended up making double bogey. I followed with a birdie on #2, another bogey on 3 and then three straight birdies to get me back to three under and a tie for second place. Unfortunately, the wind really kicked up on my final nine holes and the greens were pretty bumpy at this point. I bogeyed 11 and 12, falling back to 6th place. But a birdie on 15 got me back in the hunt, and I was once again tied for second with three others. I had opportunities for birdie on both 17 and 18, but my putts hit the edge of the hole and did not drop. I finished even for the second round and was still tied for 2nd place at 2 under. It was rough out there for everyone – only three players had rounds under par for their second 18 holes. In the group behind me, one of the players also at 2 under birdied 17, putting her alone in second place. She was long on 18, but managed to sink a 7-foot putt to make par and secure her spot.
Three for two playoff
It was another 45 minutes before the rest of the field finished and we went out for a playoff for the first and second alternate spot. My drive on the first playoff hole went left into the first fairway bunker of the day and I didn’t hit a great shot out of the bunker. My approach left me about 25 ft for par, but I made it. One of my playing opponents made bogey, so she was eliminated. The two of us remaining went to 18 for our second playoff hole. I was on in regulation and so was my opponent. She made a 10-foot birdie putt and secured the spot for first alternate spot. I got the second alternate spot.
Last year at this qualifier, I tied for 7th and was only out of it by a couple of strokes. In 2022, I was first alternate in the qualifier at Soule Park in Ojai, California, after losing in a playoff for the second spot. So, it’s a little disappointing to be so close again and miss. As second alternate, there is very little chance I will get to go, but I am proud of the way I played, and the teamwork Tim and I had on the course.
I have less than two weeks before I am back on the road for my next two tournaments in Arkansas and Oklahoma. I’ll be using that time to rest and get in some more practice.
Thank you to everyone who reached out and gave words of encouragement. I appreciate all the support so much.
