Alabama’s Kristen Gillman Qualifies for U.S. Women’s Open

Alabama’s Kristen Gillman fired a 4-under par 140 to win the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier at the Deerwood Club in Kingwood, Texas on Monday.

Gillman’s three-shot victory over Maria Fassi of Arkansas qualifies the sophomore for the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open that will be played at the Shoal Creek Club, May 28-June 3, in Shoal Creek, Ala.

“Playing in the U.S. Open this year was a huge goal of mine,” Gillman said. “Because it is going to be played at Shoal Creek, where we play quite a bit during the school year, it feels amazing to have qualified. Shoal Creek is a great golf course and I think it will be a good test.”

This will be the fourth U.S. Women’s Open in the last five years that has included an Alabama golfer in the field. Emma Talley and Janie Jackson qualified in 2014 and Lauren Stephenson qualified in 2016 and 2017.

“It’s a great honor for Kristen to compete in the U.S. Open,” Alabama head coach Mic Potter said. “And with the tournament being played at Shoal Creek, she will have a chance to play in front of our fans on one of the top golf courses in the country. I’m excited for her and proud to see her represent Alabama women’s golf in the biggest event in our sport.”

The U.S. Open is the fourth major event Gillman will compete in this summer. The Austin, Texas native will also play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Aug. 6-12, in Kingston Springs, Tenn. and will be a member of the United States teams that will compete in the Curtis Cup, June 8-10, in Scarsdale, N.Y. and the Palmer Cup, July 6-8, in Evian-les-Bains, France.

Teammate Lauren Stephenson will join Gillman on the Palmer and Curtis Cup squads. Alabama’s men’s golfer Davis Riley will also be a member of the Palmer Cup squad, which will include UA women’s assistant coach Susan Rosenstiel as a member of the coaching staff.