WAILUA — Christina Merkle of Honolulu will be out at Wailua Golf Course, again today. After advancing to the U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying, Merkle will be among the field of 13 women trying to qualify for the U.S. Women’s
WAILUA — Christina Merkle of Honolulu will be out at Wailua Golf Course, again today.
After advancing to the U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying, Merkle will be among the field of 13 women trying to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links in one of two local qualifiers.
She is scheduled to tee off at 8:10 a.m. with Maryssa Shigesato of Mililani.
Merkle, who topped the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association’s David Ishii Foundation State Girls Golf Championship by five strokes over Kelli Oride, tied with Kazu Yazaki of Japan, both ladies shooting a 3-under par 69 at the Wailua Golf Course.
“This is a busy weekend here at Wailua,” said Sam Pratt, the coordinator for the Qualifier. “We have three tournaments in two days with golfers from all over.”
Playing in hot weather and just wisps of wind, Yuka Kuriyama, another Japanese golfer, finished a stroke off the pace at 70.
Marisa Chow of Honolulu followed a stroke back at 71 and Kaua‘i’s Miki Ueoka, garnering a nice gallery, finished at even par 72 as the first alternate.
Qualifiers will play in the Sectional Qualifying event at the Wailua Golf Course on June 15.
Sectional Qualifying over 36 holes will be conducted for the U.S. Women’s Open at eight locations in June, states a release from the United States Golf Association.
The 2009 U.S. Women’s Open Championship will be held at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on July 9 through 12th. Championship format will be four rounds of stroke play.
The U.S. Women’s Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA.
