USGA Announces 2013 U.S. Women's Open Section Qualifying Sites


The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced sectional qualifying sites for the 2013 U.S. Women's Open Championship, to be held at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., on June 27-30.

Sectional qualifying, conducted over 36 holes, will be held at 20 sites across the U.S. between May 7 and 30. To be eligible, a player must have a USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 4.4, or be a professional.

"Without the vital support from our friends at state and regional golf associations, we simply could not conduct the qualifiers and, in turn, the championship," said USGA Vice President and Championship Committee Chairman Thomas J. O'Toole Jr. "We extend to them our gratitude for their critical role in conducting the U.S. Women's Open, the most prestigious championship in all of women's golf."

The Broadmoor, which has been the site of seven USGA national championships, will host U.S. Women's Open qualifying for the fourth consecutive year and 19th overall. Located in Colorado Springs, Colo., The Broadmoor first served as a qualifying site in 1978. In 2011, the resort's East Course was used for sectional qualifying just one month prior to hosting that year's U.S. Women's Open, won by So Yeon Ryu. The Broadmoor was also the site of Juli Inkster's third consecutive U.S. Women's Amateur title in 1982 and Annika Sorenstam's first U.S. Women's Open victory in 1995, as well as Jack Nicklaus' first U.S. Amateur win in 1959. Its West Course will be used for this year's qualifying.

Two of the three California sites for 2013 will hold U.S. Women's Open qualifying for the seventh time. Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City traditionally hosts U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifying in alternate years. The club hosted U.S. Open sectional qualifying in 2012, just six weeks prior to hosting the U.S. Girls' Junior, won by Minjee Lee of Australia. Lake Merced was also the site of the 1990 U.S. Junior Amateur, won by Mathew Todd.

Industry Hills Golf Club in City of Industry, near Los Angeles, has held Women's Open sectional qualifying every year since 2010. It was a local qualifying site in 2009 (the final year of local qualifying, which was conducted from 2002-09) and hosted sectional qualifying in 1980 and 1982. Industry Hills will also host U.S. Open local qualifying on its Eisenhower Course on May 14, two weeks prior to Women's Open sectional qualifying.

Heathrow (Fla.) Country Club will also serve as a U.S. Women's Open qualifying site for the seventh time. Previously known as The Country Club at Heathrow, it hosted qualifying from 2002-2007. It was at Heathrow that Lexi Thompson qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women's Open at the age of 12 years, four months and one day, making her the youngest competitor in championship history.

Waverley Country Club, located in Portland, Ore., will serve as a qualifying site for the sixth time and the first since 1990. Waverley has hosted six USGA championships, including the 1993 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, in which 17-year-old Tiger Woods won his record third straight title.

Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta will host sectional qualifying for the second time in three years. Druid Hills was the site of the sixth U.S. Women's Open, conducted in 1951 by the Ladies Professional Golf Association and won by Betsy Rawls. It also served as the companion course to East Lake Golf Club for the 2001 U.S. Amateur Championship.

Three other past USGA championship sites will host U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifying. Cantigny Golf, the Wheaton, Ill., course that hosted Colt Knost's 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship victory, will be a qualifying site for the second time, having previously hosted in 2003.

The Woodlands (Texas) Country Club, site of Anne Sander's 1989 USGA Senior Women's Amateur victory, will host its second consecutive U.S. Women's Open qualifier, while Minneapolis Golf Club in St. Louis Park, Minn., host of the 1950 U.S. Amateur won by Sam Urzetta, will be a first-time qualifying site.

The 2013 U.S. Women's Open will be the first USGA championship conducted at Sebonack Golf Club, which was designed by eight-time USGA champion Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Doak, and opened in 2006. This will also be the first U.S. Women's Open held on Long Island.

Sectional qualifying sites and dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date list, visit www.usga.org/champs/apply.

2013 U.S. Women's Open Sectional Qualifying Sites

May 7
The Elkridge Club, Baltimore, Md.

May 13
Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Mount Pleasant Country Club, Boylston, Mass.
Butler Country Club, Butler, Pa.

May 14
Cantigny Golf, Wheaton, Ill.

May 15
Oak Valley Golf Club, Beaumont, Calif.

May 20
Arrowhead Country Club, Glendale, Ariz.
Lake Merced Golf Club, Daly City, Calif.
Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii
Waverley Country Club, Portland, Ore.

May 21
The Woodlands Country Club (Player Course), The Woodlands, Texas

May 28
Industry Hills Golf Club (Eisenhower Course), Industry Hills, Calif.
Heathrow Country Club, Heathrow, Fla.
Minneapolis Golf Club, St. Louis Park, Minn.

May 29
The Broadmoor (West Course), Colorado Springs, Colo.
Bear Lakes Country Club (Links Course), West Palm Beach, Fla.

May 30
Algonquin Golf Club, St. Louis, Mo.
Carolina Trace Country Club (Lake Course), Sanford, N.C.
Edgewood Country Club, River Vale, N.J.
Bent Tree Country Club, Dallas, Texas

The above report is courtesy of the USGA. For more information, visit www.usga.org.