Lancaster Country Club set to stage historic US Women's Open

LANCASTER — The world’s best women’s golfers are four weeks away from converging at Lancaster Country Club for the U.S. Women’s Open.

The 79th annual edition of the game’s longest-running women’s major will feature a record prize purse and could draw record crowds. The tournament, which will officially run from May 30 to June 2, is at LCC for the second time after a historically successful trip in 2015.

A month before the opening tee shot, United States Golf Association (USGA) executives and multiple former champions visited the club for U.S. Women's Open media day on Tuesday. Mike Whan, the USGA’s CEO since July 2021 and former LPGA commissioner from 2010-21, spoke with excitement about returning to the venue.

“There’s a reason why we’re back,” Whan said. “This place, this community, this experience was special.”

Past champions In Gee Chun and Allisen Corpuz also spoke to reporters Tuesday. Chun, who won the 2015 title at LCC as a 20-year-old in her first event outside of her native South Korea, has made Lancaster a “second home.” She makes regular returns to support the In Gee Chun LCC Educational Foundation, which was founded in 2019 and has awarded more than $470,000 in scholarships. 

Corpuz, a 26-year-old Hawaii native, broke through on the big stage with a three-stroke victory in last year’s U.S. Women’s Open at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. The impact of that win — Corpuz’s lone professional triumph — is still sinking in for the world’s No. 19-ranked player.

“The more time passes, the more I realize how many people watched,” Corpuz said. “It’s just been awesome to be able to feel like I’m sharing this win with the rest of the world.”

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The LPGA’s 2024 season has been commandeered by Nelly Korda, who enters this month with wins in her last five tournaments, most recently claiming her second career major at the Chevron Championship in Houston on April 21. Only two tournaments remain before the U.S. Open, and there’s no question that the World No. 1 will be the headlining attraction in Lancaster.

Most of the field will be playing the course for the first time, although Chun and 2015 runner-up Amy Yang are both back. Chun is now a three-time major champion, which ties her with Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist for the most in the currently exempt field. Korda, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Jin Young Ko, Minjee Lee and Lilia Vu are among the standouts chasing their third career major.

Setting the stage: The USGA expects the century-old golf course, designed by William Flynn, to test every club in players’ bags. Renovations since the 2015 U.S. Open include the uprooting of several trees and an extensive bunker restoration. The course will officially measure 6,629 yards, up from 6,483 nine years ago, and play to a par 70 in the tournament.

Dozens of media members — including yours truly, alongside former York Dispatch sports editor Steve Heiser — played the U.S. Open layout Tuesday afternoon. Lancaster Country Club has three nine-hole courses, with Flynn’s Meadowcreek and Dogwood nines serving as the front and back. (The Highlands course was added in 1994.)

The Meadowcreek course will offer plenty of stunning views as players descend down a hill and cross the Conestoga River. Water will be in play on holes 4-7 before groups climb back toward the clubhouse. The Dogwood nine won’t have nearly as much water in play — save for No. 12, a dramatic downhill par 3 with a creek fronting the green — but should provide a strong setting for the swelling crowds during championship weekend. 

A record 135,000 fans attended the 2015 tournament. This year’s championship, for which tickets are still available, is on track to exceed that total. Corporate hospitality is sold out and the USGA reported a record level of volunteer interest.

“This community is embracing this championship,” USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said, “and the players feel it and they’ll feel welcome.”

Nearly 1,900 players registered for the tournament, with local and sectional qualifying setting the final field of 156. (Central York graduate Julianne Lee competed in a qualifier in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 25 but did not advance to sectionals.) The top 60 and ties on the leaderboard after Thursday and Friday play will make the cut and stay for the weekend.

The USGA partnered with Ally Financial to boost this year’s U.S. Women’s Open purse to $12 million, which will be the largest ever for a women’s major. The 2015 event at LCC had a $4.5 million purse; last year’s tournament at Pebble Beach had an $11 million prize fund. 

This year’s Women’s Open will be the USGA’s 999th championship all-time, with the men’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst bringing the total to 1,000 two weeks later. With big money at stake and big crowds looking on, all signs point to an unforgettable week in southern Pennsylvania.

“It’ll be tough,” Corpuz said, “but also really fun.”