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Interlachen hopefuls include young and old

Entries for this summer's tour major in Minnesota includes a range from schoolgirls to the AARP-eligible set.

By MARK CRAIG, Star Tribune

Last update: May 1, 2008 - 8:37 PM

Samantha Wagner of Easton, Pa., doesn't consider it a big deal that her handicap index is 1.7.

"I've been playing for almost nine years," Wagner said by phone during a round of golf Thursday in Windermere, Fla.

Yeah, Samantha, but you're also 11!

From Wagner, the youngest applicant, to New York City's Barbara Israel, the oldest at 62, the United States Golf Association received a near-record 1,236 entries for the 2008 U.S. Women's Open that will be played June 26-29 at Interlachen Country Club in Edina.

Entries arrived from 45 states and 38 countries. The only states not represented are Alaska, Delaware, Maine, Mississippi and Wyoming.

Sixty-three applicants just beat Wednesday's deadline, pushing the final total to within 15 of last year's record total of 1,251. This is the fifth consecutive year in which the number of entries for the championship surpassed 1,000.

Sixty golfers are fully exempt from qualifying, including Twin Cities native and 2003 champion Hilary Lunke. That number will increase on June 1 when the top 35 on the LPGA Tour money list will receive full exemptions.

The local round of qualifying will be held at 16 sites beginning May 9 and continuing through May 19. Wagner will compete in a May 15 local qualifier in Lancaster, Pa. The Twin Cities will have a local qualifier May 13 at Woodhill Country Club in Wayzata.

Sectional qualifying will be held at seven sites on June 9. The popular Michelle Wie and Twin Cities resident and LPGA Tour veteran Michele Redman will be trying to qualify at Woodmont Country Club near Washington, D.C.

Eligibility requires a handicap index of 4.4 or lower. Wagner, believe it or not, was eligible at 10 but did not enter last year. Her father, Chris, is a scratch golfer, and her brother, C.J., is a 4.5.

"It feels really great to try and qualify," said Wagner, whose family splits the year between Florida and Pennsylvania. "I really, really like golf."