NORTON, Massachusetts – The 73rd U.S. Women’s Open Championship kicks off this week at Alabama’s Shoal Creek Golf Club and two competitors with Massachusetts ties, and an additional two who qualified in Massachusetts, will be among the 156 in the field when round one commences on Thursday, May 31. The four-day, 72-hole stroke play tournament will feature some of the world’s top professional and amateur competitors.
Among the competitors in the field will be Massachusetts natives and LPGA professionals Megan Khang (Rockland, Mass.) and Brittany Altomare (Shrewsbury, Mass.) as well as Canada’s Celeste Dao & France’s Celine Herbin, both of whom qualified at the Mass Golf local qualifier, which was held on May 16 at Brewster’s Cape Cod National Golf Club.
Khang, who is enjoying her most successful season to date, recently surpassed the $1 million threshold in career earnings following fifth and sixth place finishes at the LPGA Kingsmill Championship and LPGA Volvik Championship over the past two weekends. This will be the sixth appearance in the U.S. Women’s Open for the 20-year old Khang. In 2015, she finished as the low-amateur while her best finish came in 2017, where she placed T27.
Altomare, originally from Shrewsbury who went on to a successful collegiate career at Virginia prior to turning professional, is currently ranked 45 in the LPGA standings. Her best finish this season came at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship in late April when she finished T11.
Beginning Thursday, #MassGolf's Megan Khang & Brittany Altomare will kick off play at the 73rd @USGA #USWomensOpen Championship at Shoal Creek!
Preview: https://t.co/7MuuAGeUbg
Starting Times: https://t.co/MyNbwGLp56 pic.twitter.com/MkHJsI1L7d— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf) May 29, 2018
At the local qualifier contested at Cape Cod National Golf Club on May 16, Canadian junior golfer Celeste Dao earned medalist honors and was low-amateur after firing a 36-hole score of 4-under 140, the only competitors in the field to finish under-par. This will be Dao’s first tournament competing against professionals.
This will also mark the first U.S. Women’s Open Championship for Celine Herbin, who shot an even-par 140 over 36-holes on May 16 to advance to the Championship Proper.
Recap from May 16 U.S. Women’s Open Local Qualifier
Brittany Altomare (Shrewsbury, Mass.)
Round 1: Tee 10 | 2:48 p.m EST || Round 2: Tee 1: 9:08 a.m. EST
Megan Khang (Rockland, Mass.)
Round 1: Tee 1 | 2:59 p.m. EST || Round 2: Tee 10 | 9:19 a.m. EST
U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying Results
Mass Golf will provide coverage of its competitors in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at MassGolf.org and across its social media platforms. Follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest information. To join the conversation, be sure to use the hashtag #USWomensOpen.
