May 16, 2012

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — South Carolina senior golfer Katie Burnett qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open on Wednesday after shooting rounds of 70-72=142 (-2) in a sectional qualifier at Plantation Bay Country Club.

She won by two strokes in a field of 78 golfers to secure one of five spots available to the U.S. Open, which will be held on July 5-8 at the Black Wolf Run Championship Course in Kohler, Wis.

“This will be the first of many U.S. Women’s Opens in which Katie will play,” South Carolina head coach Kalen Harris said. “Katie has been playing very solid and consistent golf, and this is an accomplishment that’s well deserved. I am very proud of Katie.”

Burnett has been a steadying force for the Gamecocks this season as she was the team’s top finisher in all 10 events. Ranked as the16th best women’s collegiate golfer in the country by Golfweek, Burnett placed in the top 20 eight times this season, including a team-high four top-five showings. She finished tied for third last week at the NCAA East Regional with rounds of 72-71-73=216 (E) to lead Carolina to its second regional title in three years. She leads the team in scoring with a 73.07 stroke average, which ranks first all-time at South Carolina. She also lowered her career scoring average to 74.25, moving her to the top of the program’s career scoring list.

Burnett and the Gamecocks will compete at the NCAA Championship on May 22-25 at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn.