Magnificent Meadow books $10million ticket to U.S. Women’s Open

Stephanie Meadow’s two-under par 36-hole total proved good enough to grab one of three qualification spots on offer into the record-breaking U.S. Women’s Open set for Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club from June 2-5.

Meadow took her chance at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Arizona on Tuesday for local qualifying knowing that the reward was entry into women’s golf’s richest event after the purse almost doubled to $10million from the $5.5million last year.

With the Arroyo and Lake Courses in operation for qualifying, Meadow posted seven birdies over the two rounds, sharing first place alongside England’s Bronte Law and German amateur Alexandra Fosterling who both booked their place in June’s lucrative Major.

In 2014, Jordanstown pro Meadow made her debut at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst and remarkably finished third. She also came through qualifying for last season’s U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club where she ultimately missed the cut in San Francisco.

Meadow, who retained her LPGA Tour card by the skin of her teeth having finished in 100^th place on the Race to CME Globe last season, has made a promising start to the 2022 campaign with a tied-18^th finish at the LOTTE Championship following up a top-10 result at the JTBC.

She sits in 51^st on the money-list with huge opportunities to come this season, not least at Pine Needles where she now joins Olympic teammate Leona Maguire in the U.S. Women’s Open field.

A record total of 1,874 entries, including 12 champions and 24 of the top 25 players in the world, have been accepted by the USGA for the 77th U.S. Women’s Open Championship Presented by ProMedica.

“The large number of entries confirms the growing worldwide interest in competing in the U.S. Women’s Open and is a testament to ProMedica and the USGA for their combined work elevating all aspects of the championship,” said John Bodenhamer, chief championships officer for the USGA. “We look forward to getting qualifying underway and to hosting the final field of 156 players at Pine Needles in June.”

• Full qualifying scoring HERE