Road to Lancaster C.C. Begins With 26 Qualifying Sites
Qualifying sites for the 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship Presented by Ally, to be held at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club, from May 30-June 2, are now set. This will be the club’s second U.S. Women’s Open.
Conducted over 36 holes, qualifying will be held at 23 sites across the United States, plus Canada, Japan and Germany between April 15 and May 20. Online entry applications open on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and will continue through Wednesday, April 3, at 5 p.m. EDT (champs.usga.org).
“The USGA values the qualifying process, and we appreciate the efforts of Allied Golf Associations throughout the United States and international Federations and Tours who provide thousands of competitors the opportunity to earn a place in our national championship,” said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. “Lancaster Country Club and the surrounding community was the site of one of the most successful U.S. Women’s Opens in history nine years ago and most assuredly will host another outstanding championship again in 2024.”
Bradenton (Fla.) Country Club and Dunwoody Country Club, in Atlanta, Ga., will host Women’s Open qualifying for the seventh and sixth time, respectively. Four courses will each welcome qualifying fields for a fifth time. They are: Shannopin Country Club, in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Belle Haven Country Club, in Alexandria, Va.; Sugar Mills Country Club, in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; and Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, in Westminster, Colo.
Starmount Forest Country Club, in Greensboro, N.C., is among seven courses that will host qualifying for a third time. The club hosted the 1947 U.S. Women’s Open when Betty Jameson fired a final-round 6-under-par 70 to win by six strokes over two amateurs. Ohio State University Golf Club, in Columbus, Ohio, is also in that group of courses and is hosting for third consecutive year. OSU’s Scarlet Course will also serve as a U.S. Open final qualifying site in June.
Boso Country Club, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, is an international site for the third consecutive year. Last year’s qualifier at the club produced three players who made the 36-hole cut. Aya Kinoshito tied for 13th in her U.S. Women’s Open debut, while Miyu Sato (tie, 53rd) and Kana Mikahima (tie, 68th) also played in all four rounds as first-time competitors.
California has the most qualifying sites with four. Three U.S. Women’s Open qualifiers are scheduled in Florida, while Texas will host two qualifiers. There are qualifying sites in 17 states.
Birdie Kim (2005) is the last player to win the U.S. Women’s Open after advancing through qualifying. In 2023, 18 golfers who played in a qualifier made the 36-hole cut in the Women’s Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.
The USGA accepted a record total of 2,107 entries for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. The previous highest totals were 1,874 for the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge & G.C., in Southern Pines, N.C., and 1,873 for the 2015 championship at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club.
This will be the 93rd USGA championship and 10th U.S. Women’s Open contested in Pennsylvania. In 2024, the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball will be played at Philadelphia Cricket Club and the U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be held at Fox Chapel Golf Club, in Pittsburgh.
Monday, April 15 (2)
El Macero (Calif.) C.C.
The Vancouver G.C., Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Tuesday, April 16 (1)
The Village Course at Waikola, Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
Monday, April 22 (1)
Boso C.C. (East/West Courses), Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Tuesday, April 23 (1)
Soboba Springs Golf Course, San Jacinto, Calif.
Thursday, April 25 (1)
Belle Haven C.C., Alexandria, Va.
Monday, April 29 (2)
Soule Park Golf Course, Ojai, Calif.
Rockwall G. & Athletic Club, Rockwall, Texas
Tuesday, April 30 (3)
Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Westminster, Colo.
Starmount Forest C.C., Greensboro, N.C.
Rainier G. & C.C., Seattle, Wash.
Wednesday, May 1 (1)
Winchester (Mass.) C.C.
Thursday, May 2 (1)
Ohio State University G.C. (Scarlet Course), Columbus, Ohio
Monday, May 6 (5)
Pinnacle Peak C.C., Scottsdale, Ariz.
San Joaquin C.C., Fresno, Calif.
Sugar Mill C.C. (Red/White Courses), New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Dunwoody C.C., Atlanta, Ga.
Woodhill C.C., Wayzata, Minn.
Tuesday, May 7 (1)
Shannopin C.C., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Wednesday, May 8 (1)
Sunset C.C., St. Louis, Mo.
Friday, May 10 (1)
The Club at Admirals Cove (North/West Courses), Jupiter, Fla.
Monday, May 13 (4)
Bradenton (Fla.) C.C.
Briarwood C.C., Deerfield, Ill.
Haworth (N.J.) C.C.
Golfcrest C.C., Pearland, Texas
Monday, May 20 (1)
G. & C.C. Seddiner See, Michendorf, Germany