What Will the Best Amateur Player Win at the 2024 US Women’s Open?

The US Women’s Open is the oldest of all the female golf majors. Both pros and amateurs bring their A-game to the tournament. It becomes a golden opportunity for any amateur to establish themselves in the golf world even before they turn pro. At this year’s 79th US Women’s Open too, amateurs are shining through, as pros seem to struggle. But what exactly do amateur golfers get at the US Women’s Open? Is it only reputation, or are there some other perks?

Catherine Lacoste won the 1967 US Women’s Open by scoring 294 and 2 strokes against her opponents. However, she is the only golfer on the list of US Women’s Open winners who does not have a single dollar from that year’s purse. Why? To answer that, let us look at what amateurs can or cannot get at the US Women’s Open.

Amateur golfers do not get any prize money, even if they win a tournament. Such was the case with Catherine Lacoste. The fundamental distinction between amateurs and professionals can be traced to the fact that amateurs would not profit from any event they played in. This year’s prize money, $12 million, is the highest purse on the LPGA Tour, and hence, if an amateur wins or finishes well, she will not be entitled to the prize money.

But the low amateurs with the best finish in an event do not go home empty-handed. According to the Golf Compendium, the lowest-scoring amateur receives a special silver medal. They also mentioned, “The U.S. Women’s Open low am also receives an exemption from qualifying for that year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur.” However, there is a catch: not every golfer is eligible for these rewards. Only those amateur golfers who make the cut are eligible for the designated reward.

Shocking as it may be, several amateurs have ranked among the top ten players in the tournament over the years. Nine amateur women golfers were entitled to the runner-up positions. And this season might be as exciting, given that some amateur golfers are showing great potential. Among the 22 amateurs who teed up in 2024, Megan Schofill and Asterisk Talley are attracting much attention.

Who are the amateurs shining at the Lancaster?

While Megan Schofill has just won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in 2023, Asterisk Talley is a 15-year-old golfer. Sporting News stated, “Talley claimed a win in the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, placed eighth in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball title with Sarah Lim.” Before the third round commences, Schofill and the 15-year-old Talley proudly sit at T5, tied with six others.

Apart from these two, Catherine Park, who ranks 12th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and Adela Cernousek, the former number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, are also in the race to the top. Park finished at T13 on Friday, whereas Cernousek was at T34. Interestingly, after the first round, the top four amateurs on the leaderboard combined to be 1-under-par, whereas the top four in the Rolex Rankings in the field were a combined 21-over.

Who would bet on having the best amateur finish this season? Let us know in the comments below.