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(http://www.usga.org)
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org
2002 U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FACT SHEET July 4-7,
2002
Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, Kan.
PAR AND YARDAGE - Prairie Dunes Country Club is set
up at 6,267/6,293 yards and par is 35-35--70.
ARCHITECT - Prairie Dunes was built in two stages. The
front nine was designed by Perry Maxwell and opened in 1937.
The back nine was designed by his son, Press Maxwell, and opened
in 1957.
HISTORY - First played in 1946, this is the 57th U.S.
Women's Open Championship.
WELCOME BACK - This is the sixth USGA championship to
be conducted at Prairie Dunes. The U.S. Women's Amateur has
been conducted at Prairie Dunes three times: 1964, won by Barbara
McIntire, 1980, won by Juli Inkster, and 1991, won by Amy Fruhwirth.
David Eger won the 1988 U.S. Mid-Amateur and James Stahl Jr.,
captured the 1995 USGA Senior Amateur championship here.
In addition, the 1986 Curtis Cup Match, won by the squad from
Great Britain & Ireland, was played at Prairie Dunes.
PRAIRIE DUNES COUNTRY CLUB HOLE-BY-HOLE SET UP - 6,267/6,293
yards and par 70. Different yardages will be used for the 15th
hole on the weekend.
Holes one through nine: No. 1, 401-yard, par 4; No. 2, 142-yard,
par 3; No. 3, 321-yard, par 4; No. 4, 157-yard, par 3; No. 5,
405-yard, par 4; No. 6, 372-yard, par 4; No. 7, 512-yard, par
5; No. 8, 412-yard, par 4; No. 9, 399-yard, par 4. Out: 3,121
yards; par 35.
Holes 10 through 18: No. 10, 160-yard, par 3; No. 11, 437-yard,
par 4; No. 12, 363-yard, par 4; No. 13, 387-yard, par 4; No.
14, 342-yard, par 4; No. 15, 175/201-yard, par 3; No. 16, 400-yard,
par 4; No. 17, 500-yard, par 5; No. 18, 382-yard, par 4. In:
3,146/3,172 yards; par 35
2001 CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP - Karrie Webb of Australia not
only successfully defended her Women's Open championship in
2001, she did so with the largest margin of victory in 21 years.
Her four-day total of 7-under-par 273 at Pine Needles Lodge
and Golf Club was eight strokes better than second-place finisher
Se Ri Pak. Webb was the only player to finish the championship
under par.
FORMAT - The championship is conducted at stroke play
over 72 holes. There are 150 players in the championship field.
After 36 holes, the field is cut to the 60 lowest scorers and
anyone tying for 60th place, and anyone within 10
strokes of the leader.
ENTRIES - The deadline for entries for the 2002 U.S.
Women's Open was May 1, and 971 entries were received, just
nine shy of the record 980 entries received in 2001.
WHO CAN ENTER - The Women's Open is open to any professional
or amateur golfers who were females at birth. Amateur golfers
must maintain a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 4.4.
SECTIONAL QUALIFYING - Sectional qualifying was conducted
over 18 holes at nine sites from June 3-18. No sectional qualifier
has ever won the Women's Open in the same year.
LOCAL QUALIFYING - Local qualifying was conducted for
the first time this year, at 16 sites from May 13-22.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE - Practice rounds will be played
Monday, July 1 through Wednesday, July 3. Championship play
will be conducted Thursday, July 4 through Sunday, July 7, with
18 holes of stroke play each day. A tie after 72 holes will
result in an 18-hole playoff on Monday, July 8. If the playoff
results in a tie, play will immediately continue hole-by-hole
until a champion is determined.
PAIRING AND STARTING TIMES - Pairings and starting
times will be distributed to the media on Thursday, June 27.
They will also be posted on the USGA Internet site at www.usga.org.
PURSE-The total purse for the 2002
Championship is $3.0 million and the champion receives $535,000.
It is the largest winner's check and total purse in women's
golf.
WOMEN'S OPEN EARNINGS - With the
$520,000 she secured for winning in 2001, Webb remains the all-time
leader in U.S. Women's Open earnings, with $1,158,032.
THE CHAMPION RECEIVES - In addition
to prize money, the champion will receive a gold medal, custody
of the Harton S. Semple Cup for the ensuing year, and an exemption
from sectional qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Women's Opens.
PLAYER INTERVIEWS - A complete schedule
of pre-Championship interviews and times will be published and
distributed prior to Championship week.
USGA TOLL-FREE INTERVIEW HOTLINE -
Broadcast quality preview interviews with top players will
be available toll-free at (888) 321-USGA, or at www.usga.org.
WWW.USGA.ORG
- Log on to the USGA Internet site (www.usga.org)
for the latest U.S. Women's Open information during the Championship.
CHAMPIONS OF THE PAST DECADE:
1992 Patty Sheehan 1997 Alison Nicholas
1993 Lauri Merten 1998 Se Ri Pak
1994 Patty Sheehan 1999 Juli Inkster
1995 Annika Sorenstam 2000 Karrie Webb
1996 Annika Sorenstam 2001 Karrie Webb
WOMEN'S OPEN PLAYOFFS - There have
been eight 18-hole playoffs in the history of the Women's Open.
The 1998 playoff was the first to go extra holes. Only one player,
JoAnne Carner, has been involved in more than one playoff -
she won a playoff against Sandra Palmer in 1976 and lost to
Laura Davies in 1987.
MULTIPLE WINS - Twelve players have
combined to win 31 of the previous 56 Women's Opens. Two players
have won four Women's Opens: Betsy Rawls (1951, 1953, 1957,
1960) and Mickey Wright (1958, 1959, 1961, 1964). Three players
have won three Women's Opens: Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1948,
1950, 1954), Susie Maxwell Berning (1968, 1972, 1973), and Hollis
Stacy (1977, 1978, 1984). Seven players have won two Women's
Opens each. They are Louise Suggs (1949, 1952), Donna Caponi
(1969, 1970), JoAnne Carner (1971, 1976), Betsy King (1989,
1990), Patty Sheehan (1992, 1994), Annika Sorenstam (1995,1996),
and Karrie Webb (2000, 2001).
REPEAT CHAMPIONS - Karrie Webb is
trying to become the first to win three consecutive U.S. Women's
Opens. She is one of seven players to have won two consecutive
Women's Opens. The others are Mickey Wright (1958-1959), Donna
Caponi (1969-1970), Susie Maxwell Berning (1972-1973), Hollis
Stacy (1977-1978), Betsy King (1989-1990), and Annika Sorenstam
(1995-1996).
USGA CHAMPIONS IN THE FIELD - To
date, 36 USGA champions are in the Women's Open field (including
those who have gone through sectional qualifying). They are:
Danielle Ammaccapane - 1985 Women's Amateur
Public Links
Beth Bauer - 1997 Girls' Junior
Brandie Burton - 1989 Girls' Junior
Catherine Cartwright - 2000 Women's Amateur
Public Links
Beth Daniel - 1975, 1977 Women's Amateur
Laura Davies - 1987 Women's Open
Dorothy Delasin - 1996 Girls' Junior; 1999
Women's Amateur
Meredith Duncan - 2001 Women's Amateur
Amy Fruhwirth - 1991 Women's Amateur
Vicki Goetze-Ackerman - 1989, 1992 Women's
Amateur
Penny Hammel - 1979 Girls' Junior
Tracy Hanson - 1991 Women's Amateur Public
Links
Leigh Anne Hardin - 1998 Girls' Junior
Pat Hurst - 1986 Girls' Junior; 1990 Women's
Amateur
Juli Inkster - 1980-82 Women's Amateur;
1999 Women's Open
Betsy King - 1989-90 Women's Open
Emilee Klein - 1991 Girls' Junior
Kelli Kuehne - 1994 Girls' Junior; 1995-96
Women's Amateur
Nancy Lopez - 1972, 1974 Girls' Juniors
Meg Mallon - 1991 Women's Open
Jill McGill - 1993 Women's Amateur; 1994
Women's Amateur Public Links
Liselotte Neumann - 1988 Women's Open
Alison Nicholas - 1997 Women's Open
Se Ri Pak - 1998 Women's Open
Grace Park - 1998 Women's Amateur
Nicole Perrot - 2001 Girls' Junior
Deb Richard - 1984 Women's Amateur
Kim Saiki - 1983 Girls' Junior
Cindy Schreyer - 1986 Women's Amateur Public
Links
Patty Sheehan - 1992, 1994 Women's Open
Pearl Sinn - 1988-89 Women's Amateur Public
Links, 1988 Women's Amateur
Annika Sorenstam - 1995-96 Women's Open
Carol Semple Thompson - 1973 Women's Amateur;
1990 and 1997 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur; 1999, 2000 and 2001
USGA Senior Women's Amateur
Wendy Ward - 1994 Women's Amateur
Karrie Webb - 2000, 2001 Women's Open
Aree Wongluekiet - 1999 Girls Junior
TELEVISION COVERAGE - All times listed are Eastern Daylight
Time (EDT).
Date Network Broadcast Hours (EDT)
July 3 ESPN 5-5:30 (preview show)
July 4 ESPN 12-4:00 p.m.
July 5 ESPN 12-4:00 p.m.
July 6 NBC 3-6:00 p.m.
July 7 NBC 3-6:00 p.m.
If needed, an 18-hole playoff would be conducted Monday, July
8, starting at noon. ESPN would broadcast the playoff in its
entirety.
TICKETS - A wide variety of tickets
are available beginning at $25 for a one-day grounds pass for
Thursday through Sunday. A weekly pass, including all practice
rounds, is $95. To order tickets, call the Championship office
at (620) 728-2002 or order online at www.prairiedunes.com.
JUNIOR ATTRACTIONS - Boys
and girls age 17 and under will receive complimentary admission
when accompanied by a paying adult. A variety of activities
will be held free of charge during the week.
DIRECTIONS TO PRAIRIE DUNES - From
Wichita Airport to Media Parking: Exit the airport and follow
signs towards Wichita. Stay on Ridge Road (center lane) for
5-7 miles until you come to K-96 West. Take K-96 West to Yoder
Road (approximately 35 miles) and go north on Yoder Road to
Highway 61. Yoder Road turns into Airport Road and will veer
to the left, and then becomes 17th Street. Take 17th
Street to Highway 61. Turn right onto Highway 61 and take this
to 30th Street. Make a right (east) on 30th
Street. Follow signs for Media Parking (Lot A) at the Prairie
Dunes Middle School.
MEDIA CENTER PHONE NUMBERS - Contact
USGA media relations staff members at Prairie Dunes Country
Club during the U.S. Women's Open by phone at (620) 728-2221
or by fax (620) 728-2217. Staff members on site will be Craig
Smith, Beth Murrison, Rhonda Glenn, Marty Parkes and Suzanne
Colson.
USGA MEDIA CONTACTS - For more information,
contact Craig Smith or Beth Murrison by phone at (908) 234-2300
or by fax (908) 234-2179.
FUTURE WOMEN'S OPENS - The 2003 U.S.
Women's Open will be conducted July 3-6 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf
Club in North Plains, Ore., while the 2004 championship will
be conducted July 1-4 at Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley,
Mass. Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colo., will host
the 2005 Women's Open, June 23-26.
EXEMPT PLAYERS - There are 67 players
who are fully exempted into the Women's Open. The remainder
of the players in the field earned their spots via sectional
qualifying. The total field is 150 players.
PLAYERS FULLY EXEMPT (67) FOR THE 2002
U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN
Kristi Albers 8
Donna Andrews 6
Marisa Baena 6, 8
Emily Bastel* 10
Heather Bowie 7
Brandie Burton 6
Raquel Carriedo 11
Jane Crafter 7
Heather Daly-Donofrio 7, 9
Beth Daniel 6, 7
Laura Davies 6, 7, 9
Dorothy Delasin 6, 7, 8, 9
Laura Diaz 6, 7, 9
Wendy Doolan 6, 7, 8
Meredith Duncan* 2, 10
Moira Dunn 6
A.J. Eathorne 8
Mollie Fankhauser* 10
Tina Fischer 9
Yuri Fudoh 8, 12
Jackie Gallagher-Smith 7
Vicki Goetze-Ackerman 6, 7
Kate Golden 9
Sophie Gustafson 4, 6, 7, 8
Hee-Won Han 7
Leigh Anne Hardin* 10
Maria Hjorth 6, 7, 8
Pat Hurst 5, 6
Karine Icher 11
Juli Inkster 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9
Jeong Jang 7
Angela Jerman* 10
Rosie Jones 6, 7, 9
Lorie Kane 6, 7, 8
Cristie Kerr 6, 7, 8, 9
Mi Hyun Kim 6, 7
Betsy King 6, 9
Emilee Klein 6, 8, 9
Carin Koch 6, 7
Kelli Kuehne 6, 7, 8
Leta Lindley 7
Nancy Lopez 13
Meg Mallon 6
Catriona Matthew 6, 7, 8
Jill McGill 6, 7, 8
Mhairi McKay 6, 7
Janice Moodie 6, 9
Laura Myerscough* 10
Liselotte Neumann 7
Alison Nicholas 1
Se Ri Pak 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Gloria Park 6, 7, 9
Grace Park 6, 7
Dottie Pepper 5, 6, 8
Michele Redman 6, 7, 8
Kelly Robbins 6, 7, 8
Nancy Scranton 6
Patty Sheehan 1
Annika Sorenstam 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Sherri Steinhauer 4
Courtney Swaim* 10
Rachel Teske 6, 7, 9
Carol Semple Thompson* 10
Kris Tschetter 6, 7
Sherri Turner 8
Wendy Ward 6, 8, 9
Karrie Webb 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
*denotes amateur
Key to Player Exemptions -
1) Winners of the U.S. Women's Open for
the last 10 years
2) Winners of the U.S. Women's Amateur for
the last two years
3) Winners of the LPGA Championship for
the last five years
4) Winners of the Women's British Open Championship
for the last five years
5) Winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship
the last five years
6) From the 2001 final official LPGA money
list, the top 40 money leaders
7) From the 2002 official LPGA money list,
the top 35 money leaders through the close of entries on May
1
8) From the 2001 U.S. Women's Open Championship,
the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 20th place
9) Winners of LPGA co-sponsored events,
whose victories are considered official, from the conclusion
of the 2001 U.S. Women's Open Championship to the initiation
of the 2002 U.S. Women's Open Championship
10) Playing members of the 2002 U.S. Curtis
Cup Team
11) Top three players from the 2001 Ladies
European Tour Order of Merit
12) Two leading money winners from the 2001
Japan LPGA Tour
13) Special exemptions selected by the USGA
