Rianne Malixi.—CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Philippines’ Rianne Malixi put it all together in her final 15 holes on Monday to shoot a five-under-par 67 and lead five other players from the Soule Park Course in Ojai, California, into the US Women’s Amateur proper scheduled next month at Bel Air Country Club.
After close misses for birdie on Nos. 1 and 2 and scrambling to save par on the next, the decorated 17-year-old was an unstoppable force the rest of the way as she topped this part of the qualifying tournament together with Kelly Xu of the United States.
The duo will form part of the 156-strong field in the Aug. 7 to 13 championship that will be held over one of the most revered venues in the United States.
Jeneath Wong of Malaysia and American Kellie Vongsaga, who matched 69s, and Hong Kong’s Arianne Lau and Caroline Canales of the United States, who carded identical 70s, were the others who made it out of this qualifying, which the United States Golf Association held over various venues all over the country.
US Open slot
Rianne Malixi. -CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The August event will play stroke in the first two rounds to determine the top 64 qualifiers, before play shifts to match starting Aug. 9.
Anyone who survives the first round will play 36 holes the following day, with the quarterfinals and the semifinals slated in the next two days.
The title match will also be over 36 holes.
The most recent notable champion of the US Women’s Amateur is current pro sensation Rose Zhang, the 2020 champion who won her Ladies Professional Golf Association debut less than a month back in the Mizuho Open.
Winning the tournament proper would also mean automatic entry into the 2024 US Women’s Open, the tournament Yuka Saso won a couple of years ago.
Meanwhile, Malixi, who reached the first round of her recent head-to-head campaign in the British Women’s Amateur, will prime up for the main August event by vying in the IMG Junior World starting July 11 at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California.