4/28/26
(Seattle, WA) The USGA held a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier at Rainier Golf & Country Club. Only two women advanced from the qualifying site, which took place over 36 holes. This year, the U.S. Women’s Open will be held at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
Canada’s Lauren Kim (a) took medalist honors with a total of six under. Kim fired a two-under 70 on her first round. She shot a one-over 37 on her first nine, but rebounded with a three-under 33 on the second nine. In her second round, she got off to a blistering start. Kim birdied the second and third holes before recording an eagle on the par-4 fourth hole. Her eagle was one of only three eagles on the day and the only eagle on the front nine. She was able to coast with an even par 36 on the second nine for a four-under round of 68. Kim is the 15th-ranked amateur in the world and recently finished 30th at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA). Kim is a junior at Texas and last year finished T-14 at the NCAA National Championship.
Irvine, California’s Catherine Park (a) was the second player to advance to the U.S. Women’s Open, shooting four-under for her two rounds. Park started her day with 13 straight pars before a bogey on the par-5 14th. She rallied with birdies on 16 and 18 for a one-under round of 71. Park shot a three-under 69 in her second 18 of the day, with birdies on the first, fourth, seventh, and 14th holes. Park was three shots clear of three players at 0ne-under. Park is the 11th-ranked amateur in the world and also played in the ANWA, finishing 19th. In 2024, Park finished T-44 at the U.S. Women’s Open, which tied for the best among the amateur players in the field.
The first alternate was Karis Davidson from Windermere, Florida, who shot one-under for the day. Tong An (a) from Eugene, Oregon, is the second alternate, also shooting one-under.
On the day, the 11th hole was the hardest hole. The 427-yard, par 4 saw an average score of 4.74. Only one birdie was made there all day, while there were 46 bogeys and 14 doubles. The seventh hole, a 522-yard par 5, was the easiest hole of the day, playing barely over par with an average score of 5.02. There were 16 birdies, 16 bogeys, and just one double on the day. The front nine was slightly easier than the back nine, with the back seeing an average score of 38.51 while the front was averaging 38.26.
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