Andrews, a University of North Carolina graduate who lives on a horse farm in Southern Pines and has won seven LPGA tournaments, earned her way into the Open being held at Pine Needles May 31-June 3, by shooting 69 in a qualifying event on Monday.
Playing at Brentwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., Andrews was one of 27 players to win berths into the 56th Open. Her 3-under-par 69 was four-shots behind qualifying medalist Angela Jerman, an amateur from Columbus, Ga., but it was enough to get her into the elite field.
It wasn’t easy, as Andrews suffered an early double bogey to put her quest in jeopardy. But she rallied, and with consecutive birdies on holes 8 and 9, fought her way under par.
“It means a lot to me to qualify,” Andrews told reporters during a telephone interview. “I really feel that I’m just starting to get my game to where I want to be. So, hopefully, this will give me confidence.”
Maggie Will, a Whiteville native who was seeking to play in her 10th U.S. Open, wasn’t as fortunate. She shot a 2-under-par 70, then lost in a 17-player sudden-death playoff for the final spot.
Andrews, who has played in 11 Opens and had a second-place tie in 1993, appears to have her game back on track after several career-hampering situations. Following her best year in 1998 when she won the Longs Drugs Challenge and a career-high $715,428, she has had to deal with shoulder surgery, her mother’s fight with cancer and the death of one of her favorite horses.
She missed the cut at Pine Needles in 1996 when she opened with a 79. Her second-round 70 was a shot too high to keep her in the field.
Andrews had hoped to receive an exemption into the Open because of her past record, solid play of recent weeks and because of being a local resident. But when the USGA not only passed over her, but the great Nancy Lopez as well, she was determined to qualify.
She called her coach, Jack Lumpkin, and spent some time working with him at Sea Island, Ga., then made the cut in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship two weeks ago. This past week, she had a top-20 finish in the Electrolux Championship in Nashville.
Amber Marsh, an amateur from Jamestown, previously qualified at Atlanta on May 11 with a 73. Carol Semple Thompson, one of the all-time great amateurs, qualified with a 72 in Pittsburgh. Candy Hannemann of the Duke University golf team, qualified with a 73 in Atlanta.
The final of seven qualifying events to complete the Open field of 160 players is Tuesday.
