11-Year Old Lucy Li Qualifies For U.S. Women’s Open
By Marc Pruitt
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Lucy Li will certainly garner plenty of attention in June during the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
Li, who is just 11-years old, became the youngest player in the history of the event to qualify for the Open on Monday by posting scores of 74-68 at a qualifier at the Old Course at Half Moon Bay in California to earn medalist honors.
Li’s even par total of 142 was seven shots better than the field and seized her place in golf history.
Li, who lives in Redwood Shores, California won her age group during the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National Golf Club on the eve of the Masters.
She broke the record of Lexi Thompson, who was 12 when she qualified for the 2007 U.S. Open. Morgan Pressel was also 12 years old when she qualified for the 2001 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles, which is just down the road from Pinehurst No. 2.
Li will turn 12 on October 1.
Last year, Li qualified for the match-play portion of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship before losing in the first round.
Li will not be the youngest player to participate in the U.S. Women’s Open. Beverly Klass was 10 when she competed in the event in 1967, but that was before qualifying was in place.