U.S. Women's Open Sectional Qualifying Returns to the Buckinghamshire

For most entrants, the road to the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif., this July will come via 36-hole sectional qualifying, which is set to take place at 25 sites, including 21 in the U.S. and four international locations between May and June 3. The 71st U.S. Women’s Open, just the third to ever be held in California, will be held July 7-10.

The championship is open to female professionals, and female amateur golfers with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4.

“The U.S. Women’s Open is the pinnacle of women’s golf, and sectional qualifying is the first step in that journey,” said Stuart Francis, USGA Championship Committee chairman. “Our partners at state and regional golf associations, as well as several international organizations, play an important role in helping determine a worthy champion. We thank them for their efforts, and we look forward to the 71st playing of the U.S. Women’s Open.”

The entry deadline is 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 4.

The USGA accepted a record 1,873 entries for the 2015 Women’s Open at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club, marking the ninth time since 2004 that the championship accepted a record number of entries. The previous record was 1,702 for the 2014 championship at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club’s Course No. 2 in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

For the third consecutive year, U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying will be conducted in England, Japan, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea. Two courses – Buckinghamshire Golf Club in Buckinghamshire, England, and Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, Korea – return as host sites and the Buckinghamshire will host on Wednesday, May 25. Lan Hai International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, and Otone Country Club in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, will host qualifying for the first time.

Industry Hills Golf Club, near Los Angeles, will host U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying for the seventh consecutive year, on May 31. Its Eisenhower Course was a local qualifying site in 2009 – the final year of local qualifying, which was conducted for eight years, beginning in 2002 – and it previously hosted sectional qualifying in 1980, 1982 and 2015.

Three past USGA championship sites will host sectional qualifiers. Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, host of the 2008 U.S. Senior Amateur, won by George “Buddy” Marucci, also hosted Women’s Open sectional qualifying in 2001 and 2010. The Woodlands (Texas) Country Club, which is hosting Women’s Open sectional qualifying for the fifth consecutive year on its Player Course, hosted the 1989 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, won by Anne Sander.

Additionally, Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J., hosted the 1936, 1983 and 1990 U.S. Women’s Amateurs, won by Pamela Barton, Joanne Pacillo and Pat Hurst, respectively. Canoe Brook will host sectional qualifying for the Women’s Open on its North Course on May 24,and it will also host 2016 sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open on its North and South courses on June 6. Canoe Brook also hosted U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying in 2003.

Two U.S. Women’s Open champions have reached the championship through sectional qualifying: Hilary Lunke (2003) and Birdie Kim (2005). Lunke won after advancing through local and sectional qualifying, while Kim competed in the sectional stage.

Considered the world’s premier women’s golf championship, the U.S. Women’s Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. The championship was first conducted in 1946 and its winners include players such as Betsy Rawls, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Mickey Wright, Hollis Stacy, Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak, Juli Inkster, Inbee Park and Michelle Wie.