U.S. Women’s Open qualifying tournaments stretched across 23 sites for the historic championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Entries for this year’s event crossed the 2,000 mark for the first time as 2,107 players applied.
Pebble Beach will host its first U.S. Women’s Open and 14th USGA championship July 6-9. Thirty-six hole qualifiers for the championship were held May 9 through June 7.
A number of college and amateur stars advanced as well as one former U.S. Women’s Open contender, who will be seven months pregnant when the championship is contested.
Pebble Beach Golf Links has previously hosted six U.S. Opens (1972, 1982, 1992, 2000, 2010, 2019), five U.S. Amateurs (1929, 1947, 1961, 1999, 2018) and two U.S. Women’s Amateurs (1940, 1948).
Here are a dozen noteworthy amateurs and professionals who advanced through qualifying:
a-Amari Avery, Riverside, California
USC’s Amari Avery took medalist honors at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club to earn a spot in her second major of 2023. Avery tied for 45th at the Chevron Championship earlier this year without playing a practice round.
a-Anna Davis, Spring Valley, California
Anna Davis, the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion, took medalist honors at Valencia Country Club to qualify for her second consecutive U.S. Women’s Open. Davis teed it up in three majors last year and currently ranks fourth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
a-Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, North Carolina
Shortly after helping Wake Forest win the NCAA team title, Emilia Migliaccio secured her spot at Pebble Beach. Migliaccio works part-time for Golf Channel and plans to remain an amateur.
Maria Fassi, Mexico
Former NCAA champion Maria Fassi qualified for her fifth U.S. Women’s Open by advancing through the Belle Haven Country Club site. Fassi tied for 12th in her pro debut at the 2019 Women’s Open.
Gabriela Ruffels, Australia
Epson Tour money leader medaled at Vancouver Golf Club to qualify for her third U.S. Women’s Open. Ruffels tied for 13th in her first USWO three years ago. She has won twice on the Epson Tour this season.
a-Zoe Campos, Valencia, California
This UCLA junior finished outside the top 10 only twice in 10 starts last season, notching two victories. Campos joined Davis in advancing out of Valencia Country Club.
a-Angela Zhang, Bellevue, Washington
Angela Zhang, 14, drained a 25-foot downhill putt for birdie on the second playoff hole to qualify for her first professional event. Zhang won seven Washington Junior Golf Association titles last season and four tournaments on the AJGA.
Amy Olson, Fargo, North Dakota
Longtime LPGA player Amy Olson will be seven months pregnant when she competes at Pebble Beach. Olson, 30, tied for second at the 2020 Women’s Open in Houston. Olson (nee Anderson) won the 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior title.
a-Sadie Englemann, Austin, Texas
Stanford senior Sadie Englemann grabbed the final qualifying spot in a playoff at The Broadlands Golf Course in Colorado. Englemann was on the 2022 Cardinal team that won the NCAA title. She’s currently 75th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, Thailand
The 20-year-old LPGA rookie finished runner-up in her first start as a tour member in her native Thailand. She currently ranks fourth on the LPGA in driving distance.
a-Grace Summerhays, Scottsdale, Arizona
Arizona State’s Grace Summerhays will compete in her first LPGA major after carding rounds of 68-72 at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale. Teammate Ashley Menne caddied for Summerhays during the qualifier.
Older brother Preston, who also plays for ASU, is competing in the upcoming U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
a-Jeneath Wong, Malaysia
Pepperdine’s Jeneath Wong, a two-time Australian Girls Amateur champion, qualified for Pebble Beach out of Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. Wong plays with two golf gloves and looks at the hole rather than the ball for longer putts to better gauge the distance.
