What do you do after a 5-week stretch of tournaments and a final round 10-under 62 to tie the Epson Tour 18-hole scoring record? Yep, week six in a row presents the United States Women’s Open for Lee Lopez, who ranks fourth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list after her most recent tie for second.
In her fifth try to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, Lopez made it at 3-under for the 36-holes.
“I played some pretty good golf at the qualifier and 3-under 139 hopefully will be good enough to qualify,” said Lopez to the FOX cameras who followed her for the Drive to the Open show, which aired on Tuesday. “I honestly couldn’t be more excited."
Lopez and 13 other Epson Tour members - Jennifer Coleman, Stephanie Connelly, Lauren Doughtie, Breanna Elliott, Brooke Henderson, Haley Italia, Jimin Kang, Birdie Kim, Alejandra Llaneza, Haruka Morita-WanyaoLu, Liz Nagel, Su Oh and Nontaya Srisawang - will compete at Lancaster Country Club Thursday–Sunday in the biggest event the sport offers.
“I couldn’t be more excited, the course is absolutely beautiful and the hospitality is incredible,” said Lopez on Wednesday. “My favorite thing so far was the juniors day when kids got to walk inside the ropes with us.”
It’s an extra special week for Lopez who has both her parents and her grandma with her in Lancaster.
“I’m enjoying every minute of the experience."
It’s interesting to note that nine of the 14 did not play in the Tullymore Classic, in most cases to rest up for the Open. The ones that did, including Lopez played well and have some great momentum. Morita-WanyaoLu shared second place with Lopez, Llaneza finished in a tie for 13th and Nagel made the cut.
Which Epson Tour player will have the best finish of the bunch? Easy to bet on Morita-WanyaoLu, Lopez, Llaneza and Kang who all rank in the top 10 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Haley Italia is the highest ranked outside the top 10 at No. 20.
From an experience standpoint, you have to go with Kang. She has won twice on the LPGA Tour with earnings exceeding $2 million. Three years ago, she finished in a tie for 21st at the U.S. Women’s Open. In 2009, she finished in a tie for 17th and in 2007 she finished in a tie for 16th.
We all know what happened ten years ago at Cherry Hills Country Club when Birdie Kim holed out from the bunker to win the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open. She has made just two cuts in seven starts this year on the Epson Tour.
It seems like every year a Epson Tour member has a big finish. Last year, Cindy Feng posted back-to-back-to-back 71’s to finish in a tie for 13th. Nice payday of over $77,000. Two years ago, Lindy Duncan finished in a tie for 15th.
Several current Epson Tour members have had big finishes in the U.S. Open even before they were members. Remember Brooke Henderson finished T10 last year. In 2012, Jennie Lee and Numa Gulyanamitta finished in a tie for 21st.
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