Stephanie Meadow has been added to this week’s US Women’s Open field after four players made the 156-strong field via the Rolex Women’s World Rankings.
American Lauren Coughlin, Germany’s Esther Henseleit, Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels and Japan’s Rio Takeda all made it via the latest world ranking list and as the USGA held eight spots in the field for those players who could potentially qualify by moving into the top 75, that freed up four spots for alternates from US Women’s Open qualifying.
The Jordanstown star ended up as the first alternate at the 36-hole qualifier at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale earlier this month, where she lost out in a playoff for a third qualifying spot to American Savannah Vilaubi at the first playoff hole.
Since Coughlin, Henseleit, Ruffels and Takeda were the only players to earn an exemption, four alternates from qualifying — Sarah Kemp, Agathe Laisne, Amelia Lewis and Meadow were added to the field.
Thanks to her exemption, Meadow (32) will make her eighth US Women’s Open appearance at Lancaster in Pennsylvania this week, joining Leona Maguire and Lahinch amateur Aine Donegan in the field.
She made her debut as an amateur in 2012 but having missed the cut in her last five starts, she will be looking for a repeat of her form in 2014 when she finished third at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club on her professional debut,
Henseleit will play in her third US Women’s Open while Takeda and Coughlin will be making their first starts in the championship.
Ruffels, who made it into the field previously through qualifying, will play in her fifth US Women’s Open.
Her spot goes to the first alternate from her qualifying site, giving England’s Harriet Lynch her first start in the championship.