W I D E
O P E N
was the last to claim consecutive titles at
the U.S. Women’s Open, doing so in 2000-
01. The more likely outcome is a first-time
major champion. Of the last 11 champions,
10 claimed their first major title at the U.S.
Women’s Open, including Sung Hyun Park
in 2017. The LPGA has already seen one
first-time major winner crowned this year
at the ANA Inspiration (Pernilla Lindberg).
Looking for another? How about South
Korean Jin Young Ko? Through early April,
she ranked second in the Race to the CME
Globe standings and was runner-up at the
2015 Women’s British Open.
Fun fact: So who was the only one of the
last 11 U.S. Women’s Open champs who had
already claimed a major? Hall of Famer
Inbee Park. Her first major victory came
at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2008, and she
added another title in 2013.
Virginia ties: Richmond-born Brittany
Lang won the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open,
defeating Anna Nordqvist in a three-hole
aggregate playoff.
Next year: The Country Club of Charles-
ton in South Carolina will host from May
30-June 2.
Next year: The Warren Golf Course at
Notre Dame in Indiana will host June 27-30.
INAUGURAL U.S.
SENIOR WOMEN’S
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
JULY 12-15
CHICAGO GC
Wheaton, Ill.
Storylines: Twenty-eight
women who have won U.S.
Women’s Open champion-
ships who are eligible to play in 2018 have
gained a 10-year exemption from qualifying,
including stars like Amy Alcott, Pat Bradley,
Laura Davies, Juli Inkster, Meg Mallon, and
Liselotte Neumann. … The championship
course will be set up at 6,082 yards and play
to a par of 73.
Fun fact: Chicago Golf Club, founded in
1893, is one of the five founding clubs of the
USGA and the oldest golf club in the U.S. in
continuous use at the same location.
Virginia ties: Springfield Golf & Country
Club will host a qualifier on June 6. …
Along with Donna Andrews, Tina Bar-
rett—a four-time Division II All-Ameri-
can at Longwood—and Kris Tschetter—
who lives in Warrenton—are exempt from
qualifying.
Next year: Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club
in North Carolina hosts from May 16-19.
39TH U.S. SENIOR
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
JUNE 28-JULY 1
THE BROADMOOR
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Defending champion:
Kenny Perry
Storylines: The Broadmoor is hosting its
second U.S. Senior Open and its seventh
USGA championship. Eduardo Romero
won the U.S. Senior Open there in 2008.
… North Carolinian Paul Simson, who
regularly appears in the Captain’s Putter
Matches, is exempt from qualifying thanks
to his runner-up finish at last year’s U.S.
Senior Amateur. … Perry’s title last year
was his second in five years. He posted a
five-stroke victory over Fred Funk in 2013
in Omaha.
Fun fact: Former Denver Broncos quarter-
back John Elway is among those attempting
to qualify for the Open. He plays to a 1.1
Handicap.
Virginia ties: The Homestead’s Cascades
Course hosts U.S. Senior Open qualifying
annually. This year’s qualifier is on June 4.
VSGA member David Schmidt (Wytheville
GC) made the field in 2017.
vsga.org
ABOVE: Richmond native Brittany Lang won the 2016 U.S.
Open—her first major championship—in a three-hole playoff
against Anna Nordqvist at CordeValle Golf Club. RIGHT: Fred
Funk looks to rebound at The Broadmoor after a handful of
disappointing U.S. Senior Open Championships in recent years.
BELOW: Laura Davies is set to become the first woman to
compete in a men’s senior tour event at the 2018 Shipco Masters
in Denmark this June. She’ll then participate in the first-ever U.S.
Senior Women’s Open Championship at Chicago Golf Club in July.
M AY / J U N E 2 0 18 | V I R G I N I A G O L F E R
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