Six Blue Devils To Compete In 2003 U.S. Women's Open in North Plains, Oregon

June 19, 2003

DURHAM, N.C. - Three current members of the Duke women's golf team and three former Blue Devils have earned invitations to play in the U.S. Women's Open. The current members of the Duke squad include senior's Virada Nirapathpongporn and Leigh Anne Hardin along with sophomore Liz Janangelo. Former Blue Devils Candy Hannemann, Jean Bartholomew and Beth Bauer will also be playing.

The U.S. Open will be played this year at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course in North Plains, Oregon from July 3-6.

Hardin will be making her third straight appearance in the U.S. Open after carding a 36-hole total of 148 at the Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J. on June 10 to qualify. The Martinsville, Ind., product will be looking to make her first cut at the U.S. Open in 2003. Nirapathpongporn, a Bangkok, Thailand native, will be making her second straight appearance in the open after posting a total of 146 at the Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, N.C. Last year, Nirapathpongporn missed the cut with rounds of 75, 78.

Janangelo, from West Hartford, Conn., earned her third invitation to play in the U.S. Open after turning in a 149 at the Webster Golf Club/Ontario Golf Club in Rochester, N.Y. on June 17. A 2003 NGCA first team All-America, Janangelo qualified in 2002 and 2000, but missed the cut both years.

Hannemann, a current member of the Future's Tour, will be making her third appearance in the U.S. Open. Hannemann qualified with a total of 147 at the Lake Forest Country Club/Rosemont Country Club in Hudson, Ohio on June 16. A Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, product, Hannemann is coming off low amateur honors in 2001 as she carded rounds 73-73-72-73=291 to finish tied 30th at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Pinehurst, N.C. in 2001.

Bartholomew qualified for the U.S. Open with a 150 at the Webster Golf Club/Ontario Golf Club in Rochester, N.Y. It will mark her eighth appearance in the U.S. Open with her best finish in 1996 as she tied for 28th, prior to joining the LPGA Tour.

Bauer, the 2002 LPGA Rolex Rookie of the Year, received an automatic bid in 2003 as she finished in the top 40 of the LPGA money list last season. This will mark her fifth appearance in the U.S. Open and is coming off her best open finish last season with a four-day total of 289, which was tied for 18th.

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