U.S. Women's Open Full Of Razorbacks
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas seniors-to-be Regina Plasencia and Gabriela Lopez tee it up alongside the world’s best professional golfers including #ProHogs Stacy Lewis at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open in Lancaster, Pa., this week.
Plasencia qualified in mid-May just before the NCAA Championship firing a 36-hole 139 in Bradenton, Fla., at a sectional qualifier. The Guadalajara native was co-medalist after shooting a 67 in the first round. She added a 71 in the second round to qualify.
“I played a solid round of golf in the first round and my putting was pretty on point,” Plasencia said. “I gave myself a lot of birdie chances and I converted those. And in the second round, I wish I could have given myself more birdie chances. But still, I got some up-and-downs. … The last round, the goal was mainly to get in.”
It is Plasencia’s first U.S. Women’s Open and she joins a long list of current and former Razorbacks who have participated. That list includes Amanda McCurdy, Stacy Lewis, Kelli Shean, Lucy Nunn, Gabriel Lopez and Emily Tubert.
Lopez qualified after her NCAA Championship runner-up finish. The Mexico City native, also tied for medalist honors shooting 144 at The Woodlands Country Club Player Course. Lewis is a The Woodlands, Texas, native.
Lopez takes part in the first tee time on Thursday going off at 5:45 a.m. central. She is paired with Breanna Elliot and Jimin Kang and the trio will start from hole 1. Plasencia tees off at 1:31 p.m. central and is playing with Maria Balikeova and Rumi Yoshiba and also starts on hole 1.
#ProHogs Stacy Lewis opens play at 7:02 central alongside So Yeon Ryu and Lydia Ko.
FROM THE USGA
@usopengolf, #USWomensOpen
PAR AND YARDAGE
Lancaster Country Club will be set up at 6,483 yards and will play to a par of 35-35—70. (NOTE: yardages subject to change).
HOLE BY HOLE
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 35 |
| Yardage | 407 | 374 | 399 | 346 | 392 | 172 | 482 | 198 | 421 | 3,191 |
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 |
| Yardage | 428 | 416 | 169 | 508 | 389 | 414 | 353 | 178 | 437 | 3,292 |
COURSE RATING
Based on the course setup for the championship, the USGA Course Rating is 79.0. Its Slope Rating is 149.
ARCHITECT
Designed by William Flynn, the Old Course at Lancaster Country Club opened in 1920. A course restoration was completed in 2007, under the guidance of Ron Forse.
TELEVISION COVERAGE
| Date | Show | Broadcast Hours (Local/EDT) | Network |
| July 7 (Tuesday) | Preview Show | 8:30-9 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| July 8 (Wednesday) | Preview Show | 7-8 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| July 9 (Thursday) | First Round | 2-7 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| July 9 (Thursday) | Wrap-Up Show | 7-7:30 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| July 10 (Friday) | Second Round | 2-7 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| July 10 (Friday) | Wrap-Up Show | 7-7:30 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| July 11 (Saturday) | Third Round | 2:30-6:30 p.m. | Fox |
| July 11 (Saturday) | Wrap-Up Show | 6:30-7 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| July 12 (Sunday) | Fourth Round | 2:30-6:30 p.m. | Fox |
| July 12 (Sunday) | Wrap-Up Show | 6:30-7 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
WHO CAN ENTER
The championship is open to any female professional and any female amateur golfer with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. The deadline for entries was May 6.
ENTRIES
The USGA accepted a record 1,873 entries for the 2015 championship, which surpasses the previous mark of 1,702 set in 2014 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club’s Course No. 2 in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. It also marks the ninth time since 2004 that the championship has accepted a record number of entries.
SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Sectional qualifying, played over 36 holes, was conducted at 25 sites between May 9 and June 15. For the second consecutive year, international qualifying took place in the People’s Republic of China (May 13), England (May 25), Japan (June 15) and the Republic of Korea (May 18).
CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD
The starting field of 156 golfers will be cut after 36 holes to the low 60 scorers and ties.
SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Practice rounds will be played Monday, July 6, through Wednesday, July 8. Eighteen holes of stroke play are scheduled each day from Thursday, July 9, through Sunday, July 12.
If the championship is tied after four rounds, a three-hole aggregate playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round. If the playoff results in a tie, play will immediately continue hole by hole until a champion is determined.
2014 CHAMPION
Michelle Wie won the 69th U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2. It was her second career USGA championship victory, but first since she won the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at age 13. The 24-year-old Wie played confidently throughout, including her 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole on Sunday after a double bogey on the previous hole narrowed her lead to one stroke. Wie finished with an even-par 70 and a 2-under-par 278 total, two strokes ahead of world No. 1 and fellow American Stacy Lewis, who matched the championship’s low round of 66 on Sunday and finished at even-par 280. For more information, visit usga.org.
For more information on Arkansas women’s golf, follow @RazorbackWGolf on Twitter.
