Roslyn, Wash., (Wednesday, May 26) – The day began with 22 players competing for one spot into the U.S. Women’s Open Championship to be held at Oakmont Country Club, July 5-11; and the day ended with only 14 players completing the 36 holes in very rainy and cold conditions at Tumble Creek Club in Roslyn, Wash.
Erynne Lee of Silverdale, Wash. shot the low score in the morning round with a very impressive, 1-over par 72. In second place was Kendall Prince of Lake Oswego, Ore. after a 3-over par 74, and Kirby Dreher from Canada sat alone in third place after carding a 4-over par 75. In a tie for eighth place and sitting six shots behind Lee was Christine Wong of Canada who opened with a 7-over par 78.
Wong shook things up in the afternoon as she fired a very impressive 2-under par 69, which included four birdies and only two bogeys in the rainy and cold conditions. She posted a final 36-hole total of 5-over par 147. Lee, who was in the final group of the day unknowingly had a two shot cushion with two holes to play but made bogeys at each for an afternoon round of 4-over par 75, leaving her with a final 5-over par 147 and forcing a playoff with Wong.
Lee won the playoff on the second hole, but it was then realized that she may have inadvertently played the competition with two wedges that did not meet the new Conforming Grooves Condition of the Competition. WSGA Senior Director of Rules and Competition, Scott Crouthamel, contacted the USGA headquarters and was told that Lee needed to send the wedges back to the USGA for a final decision. The wedges were sent back to USGA headquarters for testing and it was ruled on June 3 that indeed they were non-conforming and Lee was unfortunately disqualified from the competition, making Wong the competitor to advance to the U.S. Women’s Open Championship next month at Oakmont Country Club, July 8-11.
The Washington State Golf Association (WSGA) is the local representative of the United States Golf Association and conducts this Qualifier for the United States Amateur Championship.