May 15, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - Abby Fitzgerald became the first women's golfer in Kennesaw State history to qualify for a USGA sanctioned event Thursday, after she earned a chance to compete as a member of Team Georgia at the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship at the Erin Hills Golf Club in Erin, Wisc. on June 16-21.

Fitzgerald finished third in the Georgia Qualifier after shooting a five-over par 76 at The Oaks Golf Club in Covington, Ga., playing her way into a playoff for the third and final spot on Team Georgia. The upcoming junior from Albany wasted no time sealing her spot on the team, birdying the first playoff hole to punch her ticket to the Dairy State.

"This is a great achievement for Abby," said Kennesaw State head women's golf coach Rhyll Brinsmead on Fitzgerald's accomplishment. "It is a testament to the amount of hard work that she has put in, and how she has improved every facet of her game."

The first Women's Championship was held in 1977 at the Yahara Hills Golf Club in Madison, Wisc. and was won by Kelly Fuiks. The event is open to all amateur female golfers who are bona fide public links players in the year leading up to the qualifiers and whose USGA sanctioned handicap does not exceed 18.4.

The players will complete 36 holes of stroke play for the first two days of competition, with the top 64 individual qualifiers advancing to the match play competition. Monterrey, Calif.'s Mina Harigae won last year's event after defeating Stephany Fleet 4-and-3 at the Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky.

Information on the event, including history and archives, can be found on the tournament's official website at www.uswapl.org.