Lewis, Lopez Carry The Torch

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – #ProHogs Stacy Lewis and Gabriela Lopez have earned spots to represent their countries at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lewis, representing the United States, moved to ninth place in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings after last week’s finish at the U.S. Women’s Open. Lopez ranks 32nd overall in the Rolex rankings and is the top Mexican national in the field.

The format for the Olympic Games will be 72 holes of individual stroke play, one round a day for four days. The women’s event is scheduled to take place Aug. 17-21, at the Olympic Golf Course in the Reserva Marapendi, in the neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca.

Lewis earned her Tour card in 2008 after graduating from Arkansas. As a collegiate player, Lewis was a four-time All-Southeastern Conference and All-America selection, won the NCAA individual title in 2007 and paced the Razorbacks to four consecutive postseason appearances.

She has six top-10 finishes in 2016 including back-to-back runner-up showings at the Cambia Portland Classic and seventh place at the U.S. Women’s Open. The Woodlands, Texas, native has 11 Tour wins including two majors, was the 2012 and 2014 Rolex Player of the Year, won the 2013 and 2014 Vare Trophy and is a three-time member of the United States Solheim Cup.

Lopez competed for the Razorbacks through December 2015. She earned her Tour card and left school a semester early to begin her professional career. She has competed in 16 events, with two 11th place finishes including the U.S. Women’s Open last weekend.

The Mexico City, Mexico, native returned to campus in May after completing her degree and graduating in the middle of a grueling four-week tournament schedule in her first year. She enters the week ranked second in the Rolex Rookie of the Year points.

As a college player, Lopez was the 2015 NCAA runner-up and had three individual titles with the Razorbacks.