May 18, 2015
The two spots were split, one going to a professional and the other going to an amateur.
Jennifer Coleman, a former star at the University of Colorado who’s now a pro living in Rolling Hills Estates, and amateur Beth Lillie of Fullerton, punched their tickets to this year’s U.S. Women’s Open after advancing through a 36-hole Sectional qualifier held Monday at par-72 Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills.
Coleman moved on with a medalist-earning score of 5-under 139, while Lillie advanced with a score of 141.
During her four-year career as a Buffalo, which ended last season, Coleman set or matched 28 program records including most birdies (331).
At Serrano, Coleman posted eight birdies with just three bogeys, shooting rounds of 68-71.
Lillie, a sophomore in high school who’s on Golfweek’s Top 25 Recruiting List for 2017, had nine birdies and six bogeys, shooting rounds of 70-71.
San Jose’s Ga Ryun Park, also an amateur, finished third at 144 (71-73) to earn the first alternate spot.
Simar Singh of Los Altos and Emilee Hoffman of Folson, both members of the Junior Tour of Northern California, finished T-4 at 145. Singh earned the second alternate spot in a playoff.
LPGA Tour veteran Pat Hurst, who lives in Danville, was in the mix, finishing T-6 at 146 following rounds of 74-72. Hurst is a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, including the 1998 Nabisco Dinah Shore.
Also coming up short was Redwood City resident and 2014 U.S. Women’s Open darling Lucy Li. Now 12, Li, who became the youngest player to qualify for the championship last year and played in last week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship with partner Kathleen Scavo of Benicia, finished T-10 at 147 (76-71). Scavo was T-18 at 150.
This year’s U.S. Women’s Open will tee off July 9-12 at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
