Lindy Duncan, Maria Fassi among late additions to U.S. Women's Open field
It's already been a special week for Maria Fassi. She's competing in her native Mexico for the first time as a professional and, moments before she met with the press on Tuesday at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, the former NCAA champion received an email from the USGA informing her that she's now in the field for the 80th U.S. Women's Open. Fassi was the first alternate from the Westminster, Colorado, qualifying site.
"Just very, very relieved, very excited," said Fassi of teeing it up next week at Erin Hills. "It had been a lot of work in the qualifier to get in this position even."
Fassi got into the field after KLPGA player Jungmin Hong declined her spot earlier this week. Hung was one of five players who got in off the updated Rolex Rankings list on Monday. Lindy Duncan (50th), Mi Hyang Lee (64th), and Manon De Roey (73rd) moved into the top 75 as of May 19 and have already accepted their spots. The USGA is still waiting to hear back from South Korea's Shinsil Bang, who ranks 61st.
Duncan, 34, is in the midst of a breakout season on tour after coming up short in a playoff at the Chevron Championship. The Duke grad was ranked 176th to start the year and has four top-12 finishes in seven starts this season.
The USGA had held seven spots to fill off the Rolex Rankings and, after only using five, put two alternates from qualifying into the field – Yuna Nishimura and Gemma Dryburgh.
Arkansas' Maria Jose Marin got in after winning the individual NCAA title on Monday and has already accepted the invitation. This will be the Colombian's first Women's Open appearance.
The field of 156 players has 154 spots accounted for as of Wednesday. A spot will be given to the winner of the Riviera Maya Open, should she not already be in the field. Should Bang decline, the USGA will go back to the alternate list from qualifying to fill the spot.
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