SALLY WATSON WINS PLACE IN US WOMEN'S OPEN - WILL PLAY IN IT AS A PRO

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Two-time Curtis Cup player Sally Watson this week won a United States Women's Open championship qualifier at Broadmoor Golf Club, Colorado.
With only two places available in the major at Sebonack Golf Club, Southampton, New York State, Sally headed a field of 51 players with scores of 72-76 for 148 in testing
conditions.
It will be a third appearance in a women's major tournament for the 21-year-old.
Edinburgh-born Watson graduates at the end of four years as a student at Stanford University, California on June 16, which is the reason she did not enter the British women's open amateur championship which is being played at Machynys Peninsula, near Llanelli, South Wales that week. She was the leading match-play qualifier in the "British" at Carnoustie last June.
Although she has qualified for the US Women's Open as an amateur, Watson, a former Scottish U18 girls champion who played for GB and I in the 2008 and 2010 Curtis Cup matches against America, she will play in the event as a professional.
This is permitted under USGA rules as long as she declares this to be the case in advance.
"I plan to play a combination of Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour and LETAS events before competing in  the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Qualifying Schools at the end of the year," said Sally.
As the dates of the US Women's Open are June 27-30, it is unlikely Watson will be able to make it back to Scotland in time for the Paul Lawrie Tour events at Downfield  (July 2) and Carnoustie Burnside (July 3). More likely that she will make her debut as a pro in Scotland at the competitions at Blairgowrie Rosemount (July 11) and Alyth (July 12).
Sally Watson is the leading Scot in the Women's World Amateur Golf Rankings. When she turns pro, the new No 1 will also be a US college player, Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh, a student at Tulane University, New Orleans.