Golf fans have almost become numb to very young women — and even girls — finding big-time success in the game.
Lydia Ko has already won three times on the LPGA Tour — and she’s only 17 years old. Lexi Thompson collected an LPGA Tour victory at age 16. Kimberly Kim won the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur before she turned 15 en route to eventually playing college golf for a year at the University of Denver.
So nobody should be in the least taken aback that a couple of 20-year-olds claimed the two available U.S. Women’s Open berths available through Wednesday’s Sectional Qualifying tournament at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.
Celine Boutier of France, a sophomore at Duke who recently won the Atlantic Coast Conference title, earned medalist honors by shooting 72-70 for a 2-under-par 142 total. And Janie Jackson, a sophomore at Alabama who recently placed fifth in the Southeastern Conference tournament, claimed the other Women’s Open spot after recording an even-par 144 total after rounds of 71-73. (The qualifiers are pictured above, with Boutier at left.)
This year’s Women’s Open will be played at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 course in North Carolina June 19-22, the week after the U.S. Open is contested at the same site.
Jennifer Coleman, who just wrapped up her University of Colorado golf career, had to settle for the first-alternate spot on Wednesday as she ended up a stroke behind Jackson after going 73-72. A double bogey on the 147-yard 14th hole — her fifth of the afternoon round — proved costly for Coleman, who finished third out of a field of 48 starters.
Both Boutier and Jackson played in the Sectional Qualifier in Colorado because it worked out well, schedule-wise, between last weekend’s NCAA Regionals and next week’s NCAA Championship Finals. Duke is ranked third in the nation by both Golfstat and Golfweek, while Alabama is 10th and 12th, respectively. Both players flew in from southeastern U.S. to participate on Wednesday.
Boutier is one of the top women’s college golfers in the country, ranked sixth by Golfstat and seventh by Golfweek. The 2012 European Ladies Amateur champion won three individual college titles this season. And in last year’s NCAA Championship Finals, she finished an impressive fourth.
Boutier, who is from a suburb of Paris, not only competed in the Women’s British Open last year, but she made the cut, finishing tied with Michelle Wie for 56th place. The U.S. Women’s Open will be her second women’s major championship.
“It’s really awesome,” she said. “It’s one of my biggest dreams. I’ve never tried to qualify before. I played the British Open last year, but I want to try something on a different type of course. Playing in a major is just going to be awesome.”
On Wednesday, Boutier birdied three of her last four holes to secure medalist honors. She made six birdies over her two rounds. While not many players got in practice rounds at Heritage at Westmoor due to the early-week bad weather, Boutier played the course starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
“It helped because the greens are pretty tricky,” she said. “There was a dot on them for the pin positions and it definitely helped me with my strategy.”
Meanwhile, Jackson (left) competed the course blind Wednesday after arriving from Alabama on Tuesday night.
“That was kind of hard, but I had a course book,” said Jackson, a three-time Alabama state high school champion who transferred home after one season at the University of Arizona. “I’ve played in Colorado before so I knew that the ball would fly differently and go farther here. And there’s not too much trouble out here (at Westmoor); it’s wide open, which was nice.”
Jackson finished the day with five birdies, and needed them all given that she had no margin to spare. Like Boutier, she’ll be playing in the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time, though she’s competed in two LPGA Tour events.
“It’s going to be a good experience,” she said. “It’s a good feeling to know even though I came in here blind I’m just happy I played well. And it’s good timing before nationals, a confidence booster.”
Westmoor is one of 24 Sectional Qualifying sites for the U.S. Women’s Open.
U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying
At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster
QUALIFIED FOR WOMEN’S OPEN
Celine Boutier, France 72-70–142
Janie Jackson, Huntsville, Ala. 71-73–144
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Jennifer Coleman, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. 73-72–145
Gabriela Lopez, Mexico 72-74–146
For all the scores from Wednesday’s U.S. Women’s Open qualifying tournament, CLICK HERE.
