Fact Sheet

June 16-21
Erin Hills Golf Course, Erin, Wis.

PAR AND YARDAGE – Erin Hills Golf Course will play at 6,178 yards and a par of 36-37—73.

HOLE BY HOLE –

Holes 1-9 will play at 3,060 yards and par 36.

Holes 10-18 will play at 3,118 and par 37.

COURSE SET-UP – The championship setup will result in a USGA Course Rating® of 75.8 and a Slope Rating® of 130.

Teeing ground – Height of grass – .45 of an inch
Fairways and approaches – Height of grass – ½ inch
Putting green collars – Height of grass – one mower width at .45 of an inch
Putting greens – The greens will have a speed of 10.5 feet on the USGA Stimpmeter
Intermediate rough – Height of grass – 1 ½ inches
Primary rough – Height of grass – The graduated rough (fescue) will feature 2½-3 inches for the first cut and 3½-4 inches for the second cut.

ARCHITECTS – Ron Whitten, Michael Hurdzon and Dana Fry collaborated to design Erin Hills Golf Course, which opened in 2006.

ABOUT ERIN HILLS – Robert Lang purchased the property in 1999 and a year later, he invited Whitten, Hurdzon and Fry out to look at the landscape with the hope of building a golf course. The natural setting proved to be perfect for a championship layout. Construction began in September 2004 and completed in 2006. The course had such potential that the USGA awarded the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship before it opened to the public. This past February, the USGA awarded Erin Hills a second championship, the 2011 U.S. Amateur.

GROUPINGS AND STARTING TIMES – Pairings and starting times will be distributed to the media 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 – Mina Harigae, 17, of Monterey, Calif., defeated Stephany Fleet, 20, of Dewitt, Mich., 4 and 3, to win her first national title at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky.

A veteran of USGA competitions, this was Harigae’s 13th appearance in a national championship. In contract, Fleet, a junior-to-be at Eastern Michigan University, was competing in her first USGA event.

Harigae has been on the national radar since winning the California Women’s Amateur as a 12-year-old. She won that competition four times before the age of 16.

In the morning 18 of the scheduled 36-hole final, Harigae made seven birdies against one bogey to take a 5-up lead into lunch. By the 30th hole of the match, Harigae owned a 6-up advantage, but Fleet did not go down without a fight. She birdied holes 31 and 32 before the two halved the 33rd hole with pars to end the match.

Harigae, who will attend Duke University in the fall, became the fifth high-school-age player to win the Women’s Amateur Public Links title since 2000. Prior to that, no player under the age of 18 had captured this championship.

"It means so much to me," said Harigae, a two-time semifinalist at the U.S. Girls’ Junior. "I worked so hard to get here and now it’s paid off."

A week after the WAPL, Harigae became one of four amateurs to make the 36-hole cut at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Resort in Southern Pines, N.C. She also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur, where she lost to eventual winner Maria Jose Uribe of Colombia.

WISCONSIN AND THE USGA – This is the 10th USGA championship to be played in Wisconsin and the third time the Women’s Amateur Public Links will be staged in the state. The inaugural WAPL in 1977 was contested at Yahara Hills in Madison and the 1986 WAPL was held at Sentry World Golf Course in Stevens Point. In September, Wisonsin will play host to the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Milwaukee Country Club. In 2007, Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis., hosted the U.S. Senior Open.

EXEMPTIONS – A total of 29 exempt players, including defending champion Mina Harigae and runner-up Stephany Fleet, have entered the 2008 championship.

Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up; 2008 USA Curtis Cup playing member; 2006 USA Curtis Cup playing member; 2006 USA Women’s World Amateur Team playing member; 2006 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J. – 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior quarterfinalist

Wonjoo Choi, Murrieta, Calif. – 2007 WAPL quarterfinalist

Mari Chun, Pearl City, Hawaii – 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur second round

Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play

Lauren Doughtie, Suffolk, Va. – 2008 U.S. Women’s Open

Stephany Fleet, Dewitt, Mich. – 2007 WAPL runner-up

Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif. – 2007 WAPL champion; 2007 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2008 USA Curtis Cup playing member; 2006 WAPL quarterfinalist; 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur second round; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Selanee Henderson, Apple Valley, Calif. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play

Ha-Na Jang, Korea – 2007 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play; 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur second round; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. – 2006 WAPL champion; 2008 USA Curtis Cup playing member; 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play; 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur second round

Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii – 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion; 2006 WAPL runner-up; 2006 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2007 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2008 USA Curtis Cup playing member; 2006 USA Women’s World Amateur playing member; 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior quarterfinalist; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Rebecca Kim, Tigard, Ore. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play

Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga. – 2006 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii – 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior quarterfinalist; 2007 WAPL quarterfinalist; 2006 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev. – 2008 USA Curtis Cup playing member; 2007 U.S. Open qualifier; 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play; 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur second round; 2006 U.S. Open qualifier; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play

Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play; 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur second round; 2006 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz. – 2007 WAPL quarterfinalist

Ryann O’Toole, San Clemente, Calif. – 2007 WAPL quarterfinalist

Angela Oh, Maple Shade, N.J. – 2006 WAPL quarterfinalist; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Cyd Okino, Honolulu, Hawaii – 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Victoria Park, Irvine, Calif. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play

Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill. – 2008 U.W. Women’s Open qualifier

Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play

Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla. – 2007 WAPL quarterfinalist; 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior quarterfinalist; 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play

Jennifer Song, Korea – 2007 U.S. Open qualifier; 2008 USA Curtis Cup alternate; 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play; 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

Ashley Tait, Littleton, Colo. – 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur match play

THE FIELD – A total of 678 entries were accepted for the 2008 championship, which will feature a field of 156 competitors. The record of 1,085 was set in 1986.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY –

Monday and Tuesday, June 16-17 – Qualifying, 18 holes, stroke play (field of 156 reduced to the lowest 64 players, who advance to match play).
Wednesday, June 18 – First round, 18 holes, match play.
Thursday, June 19 – Second and third round, 18 holes, match play.
Friday, June 20 – Quarterfinals and semifinals, 18 holes, match play.
Saturday, June 21 – 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.
• Exemption from sectional qualifying for the next two U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships (if age eligible).
• An exemption from local qualifying for the next five U.S. Women’s Open championships (if still an amateur).

THE TROPHY - The 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, 2008, have been bona fide public course players and have not held privileges at any course that does not extend 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 was introduced for the 2006 WAPL. 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 7.

QUALIFYING – National qualifying was held from May 15-31. The closest qualifying site was Erin Hills Golf Course, site of this year’s championship, on May 25 with six berths available. See http://www.usga.org/news/qualifying/2008/qualifying_womensapl.html for full results of all the WAPL sectional qualifiers.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS – The Women’s Amateur Public Links Champion has been decided on the 18th 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 (36th) hole when Ya-Ni Tseng defeated Michelle Wie, 1 up. Wie also went the full 36 holes in 2003 in defeating Virada Nirapathpongporn. For the first time in WAPL history, the 2005 final match went extra holes, with Eun Jung Lee defeating Tiffany Chudy in 37 holes.

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – The 2007 WAPL Team Championship was won by the team from Glendale, Mo. A total of 36 teams were entered.

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. She is now married to noted instructor David Leadbetter.

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, Candie Kung, Ya-Ni Tseng, Michelle Wie, Annie Thurman Young and Eun Jung Lee. 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 ORGANIZING – The co-general chairman of the 2008 WAPL are Kent Instefjord and Suzanne Schroeder (262) 670-8600. Instefjord is the director of golf and Schroeder is the office manager. The superintendent is Jeff Rottier.

USGA CHAMPIONSHIP STAFF – The USGA’s director of the championship is Teresa Belmont, who can be reached at Golf House at (908) 234-2300, ext. 1349 or via e-mail at tbelmont@usga.org. Gail Rogers of the USGA Women’s Committee is the Chairman of the Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship Committee.

MEDIA CENTER – Rhonda Glenn and David Shefter are the USGA Media Contacts on site. Prior to the championship Shefter can be reached at (908) 234-2300 x1315 or by cell phone (908) 566-5691 or via e-mail at dshefter@usga.org. Rhonda Glenn can be reached at 908-234-2300 or via e-mail at rglenn@usga.org.