Incoming UVa Golfer Qualifies for U.S. Women's Open

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Charlottesville, VA Incoming Virginia freshman women’s golfer Brittany Altomare has qualified for the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open. The native of Shrewsbury, Mass. won the sectional qualifying tournament held at Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Station, N.J. on Monday.

Altomare shot rounds of 75 and 71 to finish at 2-over 146, three shots ahead of recent Wake Forest graduate Nannette Hill, who earned All-America honors in 2009. A total of four players from the sectional advanced to the national championship tournament. She is one of 24 amateurs who will compete in this year’s event.

This year’s U.S. Women’s Open will take place July 9-12 at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. The field of 156 competitors will be cut to the lowest 60 scores, including ties, and any player within 10 strokes of the leader(s), after 36 holes of play. The first two rounds of the event are televised on ESPN while the weekend action will be broadcast by NBC.

Altomare won the 2008 North & South Junior, was first at the 2006 Westfield PGA Championship and was medalist at the 2005 Scott Robertson (14-and-under). She was a member of the 2006 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team that played at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, splitting 12 matches with the team from Europe.

She was a four-year member of the Shrewsbury High School boys golf team and captained the squad as a junior and senior. This year her team finished fourth at the state tournament. She is a three-time Massachusetts Junior State champion. She set the course record at the International Country Club (Bolton, Mass.) when she shot a 66 at the age of 13.