Colorado University Athletics
Choi Qualifies for USGA Women’s Open
May 25, 2017 | Women's Golf
BRIGHTON, Colo. -- University of Colorado golfer Robyn Choi qualified for the 72nd U.S. Women's Open Championships here Wednesday at the Riverdale Golf Course, marking only the third time in school history a Buff has qualified for the event.
"I am so happy for Robyn," head coach Anne Kelly said. "Qualifying for the US Open is quite an accomplishment. The USGA Women's Open is the premier event for women in golf world wide. Playing in this tournament will be a wonderful experience for her."
The U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifying rounds are underway for 2017. Twenty-one 36-hole sectional qualifiers are being contested, with four international sites, in Japan, England, China and Korea. The championship is open to female professionals, and female amateurs with a Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4. The process is from May 22-June 12. The U.S. Women's Open event will be July 13-16 at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. It will be the seventh U.S. Women's Open to be played in New Jersey, and the first in 30 years.
"It feels great," Choi said. "I am getting a lot of congratulations and support from everyone and to be able to play a major tournament feels amazing. It wasn't that much different to any other tournament but, I was hoping to make it. I mostly played for the experience since it was my first USGA tournament. I happened to play well in the first round, so I stared having more hope and confidence in myself."
Choi placed second overall at the Riverdale Dunes Golf Course carding a 5-under, 139, 36-hole score. Choi came in one stroke behind the winner, Jennifer Kupcho, who plays for Wake Forest. In the four qualifying tournaments so far, 10 total players have earned a qualifying spot. Choi, is just one of three who is an amateur, joining Kupcho (Wake Forest) and Baily Tardy from the University of Georgia.
"Robyn is one of the hardest working golfers we have ever had on the team," Kelly said. "Brent, our assistant coach, kept saying she was ready to break out any time, which I agreed with. She played some high quality golf for 36-holes yesterday. Going into the qualifying day, a player knows that there are only 2 spots available and that you have to play great. That's a lot of pressure, and Robyn handled it very well."
Choi joins an elite group of Colorado golfers becoming only the third Buff to qualify for the event. Jessica Wallace and Jenny Coleman are the other CU golfers who have qualified for the US Women's Open. Wallace in 2014 and Coleman in 2015.
"I am looking forward to playing in one of the most competitive fields ever and learning from the best players around the world," Choi said. "I think it will be great experience just being able to play."
Brighton, Colorado – Riverdale Dunes Golf Course
May 24, 2017
TOP INDIVIDUALS
BUFF INDIVIDUALS
U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN SECTIONAL QUALIFYING RESULTS
05/24/17
BRIGHTON, COLO. - RIVERDALE DUNES GOLF COURSE
05/22/17
BUTLER, PA. - BUTLER COUNTRY CLUB
05/22/17
GAMO-GUN, SHIGA PREF., JAPAN
05/22/17
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. - THE COUNTRY CLUB AT DC RANCH
"I am so happy for Robyn," head coach Anne Kelly said. "Qualifying for the US Open is quite an accomplishment. The USGA Women's Open is the premier event for women in golf world wide. Playing in this tournament will be a wonderful experience for her."
The U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifying rounds are underway for 2017. Twenty-one 36-hole sectional qualifiers are being contested, with four international sites, in Japan, England, China and Korea. The championship is open to female professionals, and female amateurs with a Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4. The process is from May 22-June 12. The U.S. Women's Open event will be July 13-16 at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. It will be the seventh U.S. Women's Open to be played in New Jersey, and the first in 30 years.
"It feels great," Choi said. "I am getting a lot of congratulations and support from everyone and to be able to play a major tournament feels amazing. It wasn't that much different to any other tournament but, I was hoping to make it. I mostly played for the experience since it was my first USGA tournament. I happened to play well in the first round, so I stared having more hope and confidence in myself."
Choi placed second overall at the Riverdale Dunes Golf Course carding a 5-under, 139, 36-hole score. Choi came in one stroke behind the winner, Jennifer Kupcho, who plays for Wake Forest. In the four qualifying tournaments so far, 10 total players have earned a qualifying spot. Choi, is just one of three who is an amateur, joining Kupcho (Wake Forest) and Baily Tardy from the University of Georgia.
"Robyn is one of the hardest working golfers we have ever had on the team," Kelly said. "Brent, our assistant coach, kept saying she was ready to break out any time, which I agreed with. She played some high quality golf for 36-holes yesterday. Going into the qualifying day, a player knows that there are only 2 spots available and that you have to play great. That's a lot of pressure, and Robyn handled it very well."
Choi joins an elite group of Colorado golfers becoming only the third Buff to qualify for the event. Jessica Wallace and Jenny Coleman are the other CU golfers who have qualified for the US Women's Open. Wallace in 2014 and Coleman in 2015.
"I am looking forward to playing in one of the most competitive fields ever and learning from the best players around the world," Choi said. "I think it will be great experience just being able to play."
Brighton, Colorado – Riverdale Dunes Golf Course
May 24, 2017
TOP INDIVIDUALS
| 1 | Jennifer Kupcho | 66 | 72 | 138 |
| 2 | Robyn Choi | 67 | 72 | 139 |
| 3 | Kelli Bowers | 68 | 72 | 140 |
| T4 | Lucy Li | 70 | 71 | 141 |
| T4 | Krista Puisite | 70 | 71 | 141 |
BUFF INDIVIDUALS
| 2 | Robyn Choi | 67 | 72 | 139 |
| T17 | Gillian Vance | 77 | 73 | 150 |
| T33 | Erin (Kerr) Houtsma | 75 | 80 | 155 |
U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN SECTIONAL QUALIFYING RESULTS
- amateur
05/24/17
BRIGHTON, COLO. - RIVERDALE DUNES GOLF COURSE
| Jennifer Kupcho (a) - DENVER, COLO. | 138 |
| Robyn Choi (a) - AUSTRALIA | 139 |
| A - Kelli Bowers - CHELAN, WASH. | 140 |
| A - Lucy Li (a) - REDWOOD SHORES, CALIF. | 141 |
BUTLER, PA. - BUTLER COUNTRY CLUB
| Bailey Tardy (a) - PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA. | 140 |
| Laura Gonzalez Escallon - BELGIUM | 141 |
| A - Selena Costabile(a) - CANADA | 145 |
| A - Rachel Rohanna - MARIANNA, PA. | 145 |
GAMO-GUN, SHIGA PREF., JAPAN
| Haruka Morita-Wanyaolu - JAPAN | 136 |
| Rumi Yoshiba - JAPAN | 136 |
| Tsai Pei-Ying - CHINESE TAIPEI | 137 |
| Fumika Kawagishi - JAPAN | 139 |
| A - Ayaka Watanabe - JAPAN | 139 |
| A - Hikari Kawamitsu - JAPAN | 139 |
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. - THE COUNTRY CLUB AT DC RANCH
| Kyung Kim - CHANDLER, ARIZ. | 140 |
| Emma Henrikson - SAN DIEGO, CALIF. | 141 |
| A - Lousie Ridderstrom - LOS ANGELES, CALIF. | 141 |
| A - Regina Plasencia - MEXICO | 142 |
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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Tuesday, December 12
Tuesday, December 12