2005 U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS FACT SHEET

July 11-16
Swope Memorial Golf Course, Kansas City, Mo.

PAR AND YARDAGE – Swope Memorial Golf Course will play at 6,047 yards and a par of 35-36—71. HOLE

BY HOLE – Holes 1-9 will play at 2,836 yards and par 35.

COURSE SET-UP:

• Teeing ground – Height of grass – ½ inch
• Fairways and approaches – Height of grass – 6/10 inch
• Putting green collars – Height of grass – one mower width at ½ inch
• Putting greens – Height of grass – 5/32 inch with a speed of 9.5-10 feet on USGA stimpmeter
• Intermediate rough – Height of grass – 1 ½ inches
• Primary rough – Height of grass – approximately 3 inches

The course is hilly and fairways are tight and lined with trees. Some of the greens feature multiple tiers.

ARCHITECT – A.W. Tillinghast designed Swope Memorial Golf Course, which opened in 1934. The course has been operated since 1934 by Kansas City (Mo.) Parks and Recreation and was closed in 1989 to be restored to the first Tillinghast design of 1934.

K.C. PARKS AND SWOPE – The course is named after Thomas H. Swope, an influential land developer, who donated the land for the park to Kansas City in 1896. A hilly, tree-lined layout with small greens, Swope Memorial offers one of the most spectacular views of the Kansas City skyline in the area. It is operated by the parks and recreation department of Kansas City, Mo. Swope Memorial (www.swopememorial.com.com) was the site of the PGA Tour's Kansas City Open in the 1950s. The course was also the site of many exhibition matches featuring players like Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead, as well as entertainer Bing Crosby. Swope Memorial is hosting its first USGA Championship.

GROUPINGS AND STARTING TIMES – Pairings and starting times will be distributed to the media the the week before play begins. They will also be posted on the USGA Internet site at www.usga.org.

WWW.USGA ORG/CHAMPIONSHIPS – Log on to the USGA Internet site (www.usga.org/championships) for the latest U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links information during the championship.

DEFENDING CHAMPION – Ya-Ni Tseng, a 15-year-old from Chinese Taipei, defeated defending champion Michelle Wie, 14, of Honolulu, Hawaii, 1 up in the 2004 final at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club's Green Course in Williamsburg, Va.

"Nothing really worked out for me," said Wie. "From the start to the end, I just played terribly. I think I played the worst that I've played all week."

"I'm really not intimidated by Michelle," said Tseng through an interpreter. "I look at myself as a long hitter too. My friends who happened to also play in this tournament watched Michelle play and they told me, ‘You're going to do fine and you're just as good.'"

Tseng became the second-youngest winner of this championship behind Wie, who captured the title as a 13 year old, the youngest titlist of a USGA "adult" championship. She also is the second golfer from Chinese Taipei to win the Women's Amateur Public Links title. Candie Kung won the championship in 2001. Tseng advanced to the third round of match play in both the U.S. Girls' Junior and U.S. Women's Amateur in 2004.

MISSOURI AND THE USGA – The ‘Show-Me' State is hosting its first Women's Amateur Public Links and its 14^th USGA championship.

EXEMPTIONS – A total of 21 exempt players, including six of last year's eight quarterfinalists, have entered the 2005 championship. In fact, five were participants in the 2005 U.S. Women's Open (in bold). They are:

• Brianna Broderick, Richmond, Mo. – 2004 Women's Amateur match play
• Amie Cochran, Torrance, Calif. – 2004 U.S. Women's Open, 2004 Women's Amateur match play, 2005 Women's Open
• Marina Choi, Los Angeles, Calif. – 2004 Women's Amateur match play
• Kailin Downs, Bend, Ore. – 2004 Women's Amateur match play
• Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif. – 2003, 2004 WAPL quarterfinalist
• Selanee Henderson, Apple Valley, Calif. – 2004 Girls' Junior quarterfinalist
• Kwan-Chih Lu, Chinese Taipei – 2^nd round of 2003 Women's Amateur match play
• Amanda McCurdy, El Dorado, Ark. – 2004 Women's Amateur match play (finalist), 2005 Women's Open
• Tina Miller, Miami, Fla. – 2004 Women's Open, 2005 Women's Open
• Angela Park, Torrance, Calif. – 2004 WAPL quarterfinalist, 2005 Women's Open
• Jenna Pearson, Wheaton, Ill. – 2004 WAPL quarterfinalist
• Kelly Schaub, Denver, Colo. – 2003 Women's Open
• Nara Shin, Chula Vista, Calif. – 2004 WAPL quarterfinalist
• Jenny Suh, Fairfax, Va. – 2004 Women's Amateur match play
• Mayule Tomimbang, Kissimee, Fla. – 2004 Women's Amateur match play
• Ya-Ni Tseng, Chinese Taipei – 2004 WAPL Champion

THE FIELD – A total of 769 contestants entered the 2005 championship for the field of 144 (753 entered in 2004). The record of 1,085 was set in 1986.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY –

Monday and Tuesday, July 11-12 – Qualifying, 18 holes, stroke play (field of 144 reduced to the lowest 64 players, who advance to match play).

Wednesday, July 13 – First round, 18 holes, match play.

Thursday, July 14 – Second and third round, 18 holes, match play.

Friday, July 15 – Quarterfinals and semifinals, 18 holes, match play.

Saturday, July 16 – Final, 36 holes, match play. Award ceremony following play.

ADMISSION – Admission is free. Tickets are not needed for this USGA championship, and spectators are encouraged to attend.

FOR THE WINNER – The champion receives:

• A gold medal and custody of the Robert F. Dwyer Trophy for one year.
• A 10-year exemption from sectional qualifying for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championships
• A two-year exemption from sectional qualifying for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.
• A one-year exemption from sectional qualifying for the next U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship.
• An exemption from local qualifying for the next five U.S. Women's Open championships.

THE TROPHY – The U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship Trophy was presented in 1977 by Robert. F. Dwyer, of Portland, Ore. Dwyer was a member of the USGA Executive Committee from 1962 through 1974 and a member of the USGA Public Links Committee. At the same time, the USGA presented a team trophy.

WHO CAN PLAY – The championship is open to women amateur golfers who, since Jan. 1, 2005, have been bona fide public course players and have not held privileges at any course that does not expend playing privileges to the general public, or privileges of any private club maintaining its own course and have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 18.4. The Handicap Index limit is being implemented for the first time this year. A bona fide public course player may hold incidental privileges of a course not open to the public when such privileges are provided by (1) an educational institution at which she is a student, or (2) a federal armed service of which she is a member, or (3) an industry by which she is employed. Entries closed on May 25.

QUALIFYING – National qualifying was held from June 4-18. The closest qualifying site, on June 9, was Overland Park (Kan.) Golf Course with four berths available (see attached link for results: http://www.usga.org/news/qualifying/2005/qualifying_wapl.html.) Entries closed on May 25.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS – The Women's Amateur Public Links Champion has been decided on the 18^th hole on eight occasions. Kelly Fuiks (1977), Kelli Antolock (1983), Tracy Hanson (1991), Connie Masterson (1993) and Jody Niemann (1999) and Michelle Wie (2003) all won their final matches by a 1-up margin. In 1979, Lori Castillo won her final match, 2 up, and in 2001 Candie Kung won her final match, 2 up. The 2004 final was decided on the last (36^th) hole when Ya-Ni Tseng defeated Michelle, 1 up. The final match has never been decided in extra holes.

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – The 2004 WAPL Team Championship was won by the team from Bolingbrook, Ill.. Thirty-four teams competed.

HISTORY – In June 1977, when the deadline for entries to the very first U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship were tallied, this championship had attracted a field of 686 players – more than the combined fields of the 1977 Women's Amateur, Women's Open, Senior Women's Amateur and Girls' Junior. The total was amazing for several reasons. First, this was a new championship that would need time to build interest. Secondly, some states didn't even have organizations to assist women public course players, conduct sectional qualifying, or raise funds. The 686 entries were drawn from only 24 states.

The 1977 championship was played at Yahara Hills Golf Course (East Course) in Madison, Wis. Kelly Fuiks, 19, of Phoenix, Ariz., was the first champion. Fuiks won again in 1978 and was selected for the 1980 USA Curtis Cup team before turning professional.

Pearl Sinn accomplished a unique double in 1988 when she won the Women's Amateur as well as the WAPL. When she repeated as WAPL Champion in 1989, she and Curtis Strange, who won the U.S. Open, were the only two to repeat as USGA champions that year.

PAST CHAMPIONS – Former WAPL winners who have gone on to professional careers include Danielle Ammaccapane, Heather Farr, Lori Castillo, Tracy Kerdyk, Pearl Sinn, Tracy Hanson, Jill McGill, Jo Jo Robertson, Amy Spooner, Jody Niemann, Catherine Cartwright and Candie Kung. Former WAPL runners-up include Lauri Merten and Vicki Goetze. Virada Nirapathpongporn, the runner-up in 2003, won the 2003 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.

LOCAL USGA GRANTS INITIATIVES: The First Tee of Greater Kansas City

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, provides access to the game of golf for 500 kids from throughout the Kansas City metro area. This organization has received three grants, including one merit grant, for a total of $41,500 since 2001. Held at the Blue River Golf Academy, program participants have access to a 3-hole short-course as well as a 9-hole, par-3 course throughout the year. The First Tee of Greater Kansas City aims to provide quality, professional golf instruction while constantly improving the life skills of each child involved in the program.

Contact:
Program Director Mike Brown
7501 Blue River Road
Kansas City, Mo. 64132
Phone: 816-513-8949;
Mike_brown@kcmo.org

YMCA of Greater Kansas City

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City runs junior golf programming at 13 different locations throughout the Kansas City area. While serving over 600 kids every summer, this program provides a free set of golf clubs to kids that complete the program. The YMCA of Greater Kansas City has received three grants for a total of $31,240 to support scholarships for kids to participate in the program as well as instruction and equipment costs.

Contact:
Program Director, Mike Rhoades
3100 Broadway, Suite 1020
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: 816-942-2020;
Mike-rhoades@ymca-kc.org

LOCAL ORGANIZING – The general chairman of the 2005 WAPL is Martha Linscott (816) 513-8952; the golf manager is Dick Nogosek (816) 513-8943 and the superintendent is Mike Schurman.

USGA CHAMPIONSHIP STAFF – The USGA's director of the championship in advance of the championship is Teresa Belmont, who can be reached at Golf House at (908) 234-2300, ext. 1349. Stephanie Parel will serve as the director on site. Christi Dickinson, of the USGA Women's Committee, is in charge of the championship.

MEDIA CENTER – Pete Kowalski is the USGA Media Contact on site. Prior to the championship he can be reached at (908) 234-2300 x1322 or by cell phone (908) 216-8435. The Media Center phone number is (816) 513-8981.