Gabby Woods Qualifies for U.S. Women's Amateur
Findlay, Ohio – On Thursday, July 13, University of Findlay women's golfer Gabby Woods finished as a co-medalist in qualifying event that grants her a spot in the 2023 United States Women's Amateur which will be held August 7-13 in at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, California.
In the qualifier, which was held at Walnut Grove Country Club in Dayton, Ohio, Woods, an all-American last season, shot 70, tying for top spot in the field. The top two finishers then earned spots in next month's event. Findlay's standout made six birdies on the day, including a birdie on the 18th, to close out her round at two-under.
"For me, personally … it hasn't really set in yet," said Woods. "From an individual standpoint, it's probably the biggest thing I've accomplished. Thinking about how many people qualify for this tournament from a world basis, I'm seeing that it's a pretty big deal."
Woods, who is ranked in the top 1000 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), will be competing in a field of 156 players all vying for the title in the world's biggest amateur event which will be taking place at the renowned Bel-Air Country Club. The course will play north of 6,100 yards and is a par 71 for the event.
The US Amateur Champion comes with a long list of benefits including exemptions to the next ten US Women's Amateur Tournaments, an invite to the 2024 US Women's Open, and an invite into the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur. Past champions include recent notables such as Rose Zhang (2020), Lydia Ko (2012), Danielle Kang (2010-11), and Morgan Pressel (2005).
The event is a marathon that begins on August 7th and 8th with 18 holes of stroke play on each day. From there, the top 64 players then begin a match play tournament that spans five days and potentially yields 126 holes over the final five days.
*Quotes from article in the Wilmington News Journal – Mark Huber