Stelzmiller, Kim Both Qualify For U.S. Women's Open

Aggie duo qualify for tournament on women golf's biggest stage next month in Pennsylvania

	Alice Kim (left) and Chelsea Stelzmiller have both qualified for next month's U.S. Women's Open. (Photos by Mark Honbo)

June 16, 2009

2009 U.S. Women's Open

DAVIS, Calif. - The standout careers of UC Davis sophomores Chelsea Stelzmiller and Alice Kim jumped to new heights on Monday when the Aggie duo advanced to the 64th U.S. Women's Open Championship next month at Bethlehem, Pa., after strong placings at the sectional qualifying tournament in Santa Cruz on Monday.

Their impressive performances will now place them on women golf's biggest stage against the world's best players when they tee off at Saucon Valley Country Club in the first round on July 9. The prestigious tournament will be broadcast on both ESPN and NBC and televised to more than 120 countries.

Stelzmiller, from Union Mine High School in Placerville, shot rounds of 76 and 69 to finish in a tie for second with Jennifer Song of USC, the runner-up at last month's NCAA Div. I Championship. Kim, from Diamond Bar High School in Walnut, tied for fourth at 147 after firing rounds of 73 and 74. Eleven players from the sectional tournament at Pasatiempo Golf Club qualified for the U.S. Women's Open.

U.S. Women's Amateur champion Kimberly Kohn took home top honors at the sectional at 143.

First-year Aggie coach Anne Walker said both UC Davis players have had their sights on this impressive achievement.

"This has been a goal for both of them. We've been talking about it for about a month and a half," she said. "They have practiced hard. They went after it."

Walker said it is a major achievement for a college golf program to qualify just one of its players for the U.S. Open but it's rare for a school to advance two. UC Davis completed just its fourth year as a varsity program this spring. She said the opportunity in front of Stelzmiller and Kim is unique, especially considering the elite field they will be competing against.

"The U.S. Women's Open is the (premier) golf tournament in the world for women. I'm so excited," she said. "While it's a golf tournament, it's also a chance for them to learn."

Both players have enjoyed great starts to their Aggie careers. Stelzmiller was the 2008 Big West Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year before duplicating first-team all-league honors this year. Kim, a two-time All-Big West honoree, added NCAA All-America honorable mention accolades this year after finishing eighth last month at the national championships.

The U.S. Women's Open will host practice rounds on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of tournament week before championship play starts on Thursday. The field will consist of 156 professional and amateur players. Inbee Park won last year's national championship tournament.