Championships - Weetabix Women's British Open 2005
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05.07.2005
Record entry for the Weetabix Women's British Open
A record number of 315 players from 29 countries have entered the Weetabix Women’s British Open Championship to be played at Royal Birkdale from 28-31 July. Of these, 135 players are currently exempt. With 5 qualifying places available at the Jamie Farr Classic in the US next week and a further 10 places at Final Qualifying at Hillside on 25 July, a total of 150 players will be teeing it up at Royal Birkdale in pursuit of victory at the final major of the year.
Karen Stupples, the winner at Sunningdale last year must be viewed as one of the favourites for the title after challenging for the U.S. Women’s title last month. In the end, it was a spectacular holed bunker shot at the 72nd hole that gave Birdie Kim her first major title. In doing that she denied World No. 1 Annika Sorenstam the third leg of her attempt to win the 2005 Grand Slam.
Annika, who already has a considerable collection of major titles to her name, will be hard to beat at Birkdale and displayed her liking for links golf when she won the championship at Royal Lytham in 2003. There she came from behind to defeat Se Ri Pak by a single shot and it was somewhat of a shock to her followers that she never challenged for the title last year at Sunningdale.
In a display of spectacular scoring it was Karen Stupples who charged to a five shot win with what was surely a record start in any major – eagle, albatross – in her final round of 64.
There are currently four amateurs in the field, Louise Stahle, the 2005 Ladies’ British Amateur Champion, Clare Queen, the 2004 Ladies’ British Stroke Play Champion and two highly talented 15-year-olds, Michelle Wie and Carlotta Ciganda.
Carlotta, the youngest player in the field, is there is a result of her win in the 2004 European Ladies’ Championship while Michelle has accepted a special exemption from the Ladies’ Golf Union to play in the Weetabix.
When she tees off at Royal Birkdale, Ms Wie will be making only her second competitive appearance in the British Isles, following her first experience of links golf in the 2004 Curtis Cup match at Formby where she won both her singles but was defeated in both foursomes.
The Women’s British Open has been played at Royal Birkdale on three previous occasions, in 1982 when Marta Figueras-Dotti was the winner, in 1986 with Laura Davies lifting the trophy and most recently in 2000 when Sophie Gustafson won the title.
The full list of exempt players and those playing in Pre-Qualifying and Final Qualifying can be viewed at www.lgu.org
Further information: -
Andy Salmon or
Susan Simpson
Ladies’ Golf Union
Tel: 01334 475811
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