An incredible 9 players were hit with slow-play penalty at U.S. Women's Open qualifier

USA Today

15-05-2025

An incredible 9 players were hit with slow-play penalty at U.S. Women's Open qualifier
Aline Krauter found herself in a 7-for-1 playoff Wednesday morning for the final spot of U.S. Women's Open qualifying in Naples, Florida. She birdied the first extra hole but wound up taking the first alternate position at Grey Oaks Country Club. What made the close call especially brutal, however, is that Krauter was one of nine players who received a one-stroke penalty for slow play on Tuesday. One group, in fact, was dinged for slow play in both the morning and afternoon rounds, for a total of 12 penalty strokes handed out on the day.
"I was crushed, obviously," said Krauter, who would've taken the fourth qualifying spot outright had she not received the penalty stroke on her first 18 holes. Germany's Krauter, a winner on the Ladies European Tour, shot rounds of 71-66 to finish at 7 under for the tournament, making birdies on the last two holes in regulation.
Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain took medalist honors at Grey Oaks with a score of 11 under while Gurleen Kaur (9 under) and Amanda Doherty (8 under) finished second and third, respectively. Auston Kim won the playoff for the fourth spot.
Despite playoff loss, Aline Krauter notified of spot in U.S. Women's Open
Nearly 12 hours after the sting of a playoff loss, however, things turned up for an emotional Krauter, who received a call from the USGA informing her that she's now in the field of 156, May 29-June 1 at Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin.
"I feel great about being in the U.S. Open," said Krauter. "To be fair, I always felt like I should be in the U.S. Open, based on my golf score, so it feels right."
But, after what happened Tuesday in regard to pace of play, Krauter still wants to fight for change.
Here's more on the story.