WHO’S HERE - Among the 120 golfers in the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, there are:
U.S. Senior Women’s Open champions (2): Helen Alfredsson (2019), Laura Davies (2018)
U.S. Senior Women’s Open runners-up (2): Juli Inkster (2018, 2019), Trish Johnson (2019)
U.S. Women’s Open champions (11): Amy Alcott (1980), Jerilyn Britz (1979), JoAnne Carner (1971, 1976), Laura Davies (1987), Jane Geddes (1986), Juli Inkster (1999, 2002), Liselotte Neumann (1988), Alison Nicholas (1997), Annika Sorenstam (1995, 1996, 2006), Hollis Stacy (1977, 1978, 1984), Jan Stephenson (1983)
U.S. Women’s Open runners-up (8): Helen Alfredsson (1993, 2008), JoAnne Carner (1975, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1987), Tammie Green (1994), Pat Hurst (2006), Juli Inkster (1992), Annika Sorenstam (2002, 2004), Hollis Stacy (1980), Kris Tschetter (1996)
U.S. Women’s Amateur champions (7): Laura Baugh (1971), JoAnne Carner (1957, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1968), Joanne Foreman (1983), Carolyn Hill (1979), Pat Hurst (1990), Juli Inkster (1980, 1981, 1982), Carol Semple Thompson (1973)
U.S. Women’s Amateur runners-up (5): JoAnne Carner (1956, 1964), Sarah Ingram (1993), Annika Sorenstam (1992), Carol Semple Thompson (1974), Kimberly Williams (1984)
U.S. Girls’ Junior champions (7): Amy Alcott (1973), JoAnne Carner (1956), Dana Dormann (1985), Pat Hurst (1986), Michelle McGann (1987), Laurie Rinker (1980), Hollis Stacy (1969, 1970, 1971)
U.S. Girls’ Junior runners-up (3): Amy Alcott (1971), JoAnne Carner (1955), Missie McGeorge (1977)
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champions (7): Robin W. Donnelley (1989), Sarah Ingram (1991, 1993, 1994), Martha Leach (2009), Ellen Port (1995, 1996, 2000, 2011), Laura Shanahan Rowe (2001), Carol Semple Thompson (1990, 1997), Corey Weworski (2004)
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur runners-up (2): Martha Leach (2011), Ellen Port (2002)
U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur champions (4): Judith Kyrinis (2017), Ellen Port (2012, 2013, 2016), Lara Tennant (2018, 2019), Carol Semple Thompson (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur runners-up (4): Susan Cohn (2013), Judith Kyrinis (2014), Carol Semple Thompson (2005), Sue Wooster (2018, 2019)
U.S. Women’s Public Links champions (2): Danielle Ammaccapane (1985), Cindy Schreyer (1986)
USA Curtis Cup Players (12): Danielle Ammaccapane (1986), Laura Baugh (1972), JoAnne Carner (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964), Robin W. Donnelley (1990, 1992, 2000), Carolyn Hill (1978), Sarah Ingram (1992, 1994, 1996), Juli Inkster (1982), Ellen Port (1994, 1996), Cindy Schreyer (1986), Hollis Stacy (1972), Carol Semple Thompson (1974, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002), Kimberly Williams (1986)
GB&I Curtis Cup Players (4): Laura Davies (1984), Kathryn Imrie (1990), Trish Johnson (1986), Catriona Matthew (1994)
USA Curtis Cup Captains (3): Sarah Ingram (2021), Ellen Port (2014), Carol Semple Thompson (2006, 2008)
World Golf Hall of Famers (8): Amy Alcott, JoAnne Carner, Laura Davies, Juli Inkster, Carol Semple Thompson, Annika Sorenstam, Hollis Stacy, Jan Stephenson
CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD – The 120-player field includes 62 fully exempt golfers, 11 of whom are U.S. Women’s Open champions. Qualifying was played over 18 holes at 16 sites across the United States between June 15 and July 15. There were qualifying sites in 15 states, including two in California.
QUALIFIERS – 58 players earned their spot in the field via qualifying
Dina Ammaccapane, 53, of Phoenix, Ariz., earned a spot in her second U.S. Senior Women’s Open as a co-medalist in the Mesa qualifier. She and her sister Danielle are competing in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open together for the second time (2019). Danielle finished fourth in the inaugural championship at Chicago Golf Club and tied for seventh in 2019 at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club.
Dana Dormann, 53, of Pleasanton, Calif., qualified for her second U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Dormann is the head coach of the women’s golf team at San Jose State, where she was a three-time All-American from 1985 to 1988 and was a member of the 1987 NCAA Championship team. She won the 1985 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and has played in 14 U.S. Women’s Open Championships.
Caroline Gowan, 59, of St. Petersburg, Fla., is one of 13 players in the field who competed in the 1979 U.S. Women’s Open at Brooklawn, and the only one who advanced through qualifying this year. Gowan, now working as a sales representative for a premium sports apparel brand, is competing in her first U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
Martha Leach, 59, of Hebron, Ky., earned low-amateur honors in the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship at Chicago Golf Club, finishing tied for 10th. Leach has competed in over 70 USGA championships and won the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. She is the sister of six-time USGA champion Hollis Stacy. They are both competing in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open for the third time.
AMATEURS – There are 33 amateurs in the 120-player field.
Amateurs in the field (33): Tina Barker, Nancy Beck, Denise Callahan, Laura Coble, Susan Cohn, Lynne Cowan, Susan Curtin, Kay Daniel, Danielle Davis, Robin W. Donnelley, Patricia Ehrhart, Amy Ellertson, Kathy Glennon, Julie Harrison, Gigi Higgins, Sarah Ingram, Amy Kennedy, Sally Krueger, Kathy Kurata, Judith Kyrinis, Martha Leach, Danielle Lee, Megan Grosky McGowan, Janet Moore, Leela Narang-Benaderet, Ellen Port, Regina Quintero, Lara Tennant, Carol Semple Thompson, Sydney Wells, Corey Weworski, Sue Wooster, Sherry Wright
Kay Daniel, 50, of Covington, La., is competing in her first U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Daniel, who has competed in over 20 USGA championships, won the 2005 Louisiana Women’s State Amateur. Her daughter Abby is a rising junior at Mississippi State University who competed in the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. In 2019, Kay and Abby became the first mother-daughter duo to make match play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.
Sarah Ingram, 55, of Nashville, Tenn., will captain the USA Curtis Cup Team this August in Wales. Ingram, a three-time U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and a Tennessee Sports Hall of Famer, competed in three Curtis Cup Matches in the 1990s. She recently began playing competitively again and won the 2020 Tennessee Women’s Senior Amateur and the inaugural LNGA Senior Amateur title in April. This will be her first U.S. Senior Women’s Open appearance.
Judith Kyrinis, 57, of Canada, won the 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship by defeating Terrill Samuel at Waverley Country Club in Portland, Ore. Kyrinis, a 2019 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame inductee, tied Sally Krueger for low amateur in the 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. Kyrinis is a two-time Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior champion (2016, 2019).
Ellen Port, 59, of St. Louis, Mo., is a seven-time USGA champion. She has won four U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships as well as three U.S. Senior Women’s Amateurs, with the last coming in 2016. She is tied with Carol Semple Thompson for second among female USGA champions, trailing only JoAnne Carner (eight).
Lara Tennant, 54, of Portland, Ore., won the 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and successfully defended her title in 2019, defeating Sue Wooster of Australia in both finals. Tennant is competing in her third U.S. Senior Women’s Open. She made the first hole-in-one in U.S. Senior Women’s Open history in the inaugural championship at Chicago Golf Club on the 163-yard 7th hole. Tennant is a four-time Oregon Senior Women’s Amateur champion and also won the 2020 California Senior Women’s Amateur.
Carol Semple Thompson, 72, of Sewickley, Pa., is a World Golf Hall of Famer with seven USGA championship titles in 116 USGA championships played, tied for second-most among all women in victories with Ellen Port, one behind JoAnne Carner. Thompson has competed on a record 12 USA Curtis Cup Teams and has captained another two teams. Thompson is competing in her first USGA championship since the 2014 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, N.J.
Amateur Players in U.S. Senior Women’s Opens
YEAR NUMBER MADE CUT TOP FINISHER
2019 34 5 Judith Kyrinis & Sally Krueger (T29)
2018 29 7 Martha Leach (T10)
FIRST-TIMERS – There are 41 players making their U.S. Senior Women’s Open debut, including 14 who are competing in their first year of eligibility.
Players competing in their first U.S. Senior Women’s Open (41): Cheryl Anderson, Nancy Beck, Angela Buzminski, Denise Callahan, Charlene Carson, Susan Curtin, Kay Daniel, Danielle Davis, Michelle Dobek, Robin W. Donnelley, Dana Ebster, Michelle Estill, Janice Gibson, Tonya Gill Danckaert, Kathy Glennon, Caroline Gowan, Kris Hanson, Gigi Higgins, Carin Hjalmarsson, Justina Hopkins, Pat Hurst, Sarah Ingram, Teresa Ishiguro, Nicole Jeray, Amy Kennedy, Danielle Lee, Catriona Matthew, Michelle McGann, Megan Grosky McGowan, Leela Narang-Benaderet, Jane Noble, Kristal Parker, Regina Quintero, Kathleen Ricci, Cindy Schreyer, Annika Sorenstam, Kasumi Takahashi, Carol Semple Thompson, Sydney Wells, Corey Weworski, Sherry Wright
Annika Sorenstam, 51, of Orlando, Fla., is competing in her first USGA championship since the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen Country Club, where she capped her career in the championship in heroic fashion by holing a 6-iron from 199 yards for eagle on the 18th hole on Sunday. The 2003 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee has competed in 15 U.S. Women’s Opens, with three victories (1995, 1996, 2006) and seven finishes inside the top 10. Sorenstam, who has 72 LPGA Tour titles and 10 major wins, was elected president of the International Golf Federation last December.
Pat Hurst, 52, of Danville, Calif., and Catriona Matthew, 51, of Scotland, are the two team captains of the 2021 Solheim Cup in September. Hurst, who will captain the United States Team at Inverness Club, won the 1986 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 1990 U.S. Women’s Amateur. She has competed in 21 U.S. Women’s Opens, including a runner-up finish in 2006, and won six times on the LPGA Tour. Matthew, who will lead the European Team, has 10 total LPGA and LET victories, including the 2009 Women’s British Open. She has competed in 22 U.S. Women’s Opens, with her best finish a tie for fourth in 2001.
LOCAL TIES
Cheryl Anderson, 52, of Heathrow, Fla., grew up 10 minutes from Brooklawn Country Club and is a graduate of Trumbull High School in Connecticut. She is a five-time Met PGA Women’s Player of the Year and was recognized in 2006 as the LPGA National Teacher of the Year. Anderson taught in the Metropolitan New York area from 1992-2007 before moving to Florida where she is now the director of instruction at the Mike Bender Golf Academy in Lake Mary. During several summers of her childhood, Anderson frequented the Brooklawn Country Club pool with a friend who was a member.
Sue Ginter, 55, of Jupiter, Fla., won the 2007 Connecticut Women’s Open at Shuttle Meadow Country Club in Kensington. Ginter, a former assistant at Rolling Hills C.C. in Wilton, Conn., is competing in her third U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
Leela Narang-Benaderet, 51, of Westport, Conn., is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown and Staples High School in Westport. Narang-Benaderet is a partner in a sports marketing and athlete management company and has served as tournament director for a number of LPGA events, including the ShopRite LPGA Classic. She qualified for her first U.S. Senior Women’s Open championship.
SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN BIRTHDAYS
Two players in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open field will celebrate a birthday during the championship. Janet Moore, of Centennial, Colo., turns 57 on July 28 and Lisa Grimes, of Alexandria, Minn., turns 61 on August 1.
OLDEST & YOUNGEST – JoAnne Carner is the oldest player in this year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open field. Carner, an eight-time USGA champion, turned 82 years old in April. This will be her third U.S. Senior Women’s Open. In the first round of the inaugural championship at Chicago Golf Club, Carner shot her age (79).
Megan Grosky McGowan, of Blue Bell, Pa., is the youngest player in the field. She turned 50 on March 28.
There are 10 players in the field who are 50 years old. Thirteen players in the field are 65 or older.
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED – There are eight countries represented in the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open – United States (102), Canada (4), England (3), Scotland (3), Sweden (3), Australia (2), Japan (2), Peru (1)
STATES REPRESENTED – There are 31 states represented in the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open – Florida (22), California (14), Arizona (10), Texas (6), Minnesota (4), Georgia (3), Illinois (3), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (3), Pennsylvania (3), Virginia (3), Wisconsin (3), Louisiana (2), New York (2), Ohio (2), Oregon (2), South Carolina (2), Washington (2), Alabama (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (1), Delaware (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), North Carolina (1), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), Nevada (1), Oklahoma (1), Tennessee (1)
USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT BROOKLAWN COUNTRY CLUB
The 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be the fifth USGA championship conducted at Brooklawn Country Club and the first Open championship played at the club in 34 years, since Gary Player won the 1987 U.S. Senior Open.
Year – Championship – Champion
1974 U.S. Junior Amateur (David Nevatt)
1979 U.S. Women’s Open (Jerilyn Britz)
1987 U.S. Senior Open (Gary Player)
2003 U.S. Girls’ Junior (Sukjin-Lee Wuesthoff)
1979 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
Jerilyn Britz earned her first professional victory in the 34th U.S. Women’s Open with a two-stroke win over Debbie Massey. In a final round where three golfers held the lead at different stages, Britz broke a tie with Massey on the final hole with a par as Massey finished with a double bogey.
The championship set a U.S. Women’s Open record for attendance at the time, bringing in more than 40,000 spectators throughout the week on a 6,010-yard Brooklawn course that will play a similar length for this year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
Britz is one of 13 golfers in this week’s field who competed in the 1979 U.S. Women’s Open.
Players in the field who competed in the 1979 U.S. Women’s Open (13): Amy Alcott (T-37), Laura Baugh (T-8), Jerilyn Britz (champion), Judy Dickinson (T-37), Caroline Gowan (MC), Carolyn Hill (MC), Juli Inkster (MC), Sally Krueger (MC), Barbara Moxness (MC), Laurie Rinker (MC), Carol Semple Thompson (T-40), Hollis Stacy (T-15), Jan Stephenson (T-26)
CLUB HISTORY
Brooklawn joined the United States Golf Association in 1896. The original golf course was a nine-hole layout on rolling farmland. The course was expanded to 18 holes in 1911. Almost 20 years later, A. W. Tillinghast, one of history’s premier golf architects who also designed courses at Winged Foot Golf Club, Baltusrol Golf Club, Bethpage State Park and Quaker Ridge Golf Club, redesigned the course at Brooklawn into its present form. Over the years, thoughtful changes have been made with the guidance of course architect Ron Forse, who specializes in Tillinghast designs.
Several widely recognized golfers have been associated with the club. Gene Sarazen, one of five players to have won all four professional men's major championships, worked as an assistant golf professional at Brooklawn in his teenage years and maintained a lifelong relationship with the club. Georgianna M. Bishop, who captured the 1904 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Merion Golf Club, was a Brooklawn member.
WHAT THE WINNER RECEIVES
The winner will receive an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club (June 2-5) and an exemption into the next 10 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championships or through age 65 (whichever yields the higher number of exemptions). She will also receive a gold medal and custody of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Trophy for one year.
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Tickets for the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open are available for purchase at usseniorwomensopen.com. Daily grounds tickets are available for $20.
