Out of the original field of 32 golfers, there were 20 Coloradans entered, compared with two Canadians, a Korean and a Kansan.

But at the end of the day, those numbers meant little as the four U.S. Women’s Amateur berths went to the two Canadians, the Korean and the Kansan.

Actually, a Coloradan tied for the fourth-lowest score, but Shinwoo Lee of Aurora wasn’t at the club when a playoff for the final spot was going to take place. So with that, Lauren Falley of Topeka, Kan., who shot a 76 like Lee, earned the national berth.

“That’s not what I was expecting,” Falley said.

One of the Canadians, highly acclaimed Nicole Zhang, landed medalist honors with an even-par 72, while countrywoman Anna Young tied for second at 74 with Korean-born Jennifer Yang, a University of Washington golfer. Falley, an Oklahoma State golfer, shared fourth place with Lee but gained the final berth due to Lee’s absence come playoff time.

All four qualifiers punched their tickets to the Women’s Am, which will be played Aug. 6-12 in Cleveland. (The qualifiers are pictured above, from left, Falley, Yang, Young and Zhang.)

While Young, Yang and Falley qualified for their first U.S. Women’s Amateur, Zhang brought a little star power to Thursday’s qualifying tournament. This will not only be her third consecutive Women’s Am — she made match play two years ago — but she also competed in the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open immediately following her senior year of high school. She’s also played a couple of U.S. Girls’ Juniors.

“It’s definitely special (to go to USGA championships),” Zhang said. “I feel like they’re the best-run tournaments in the world. And I really enjoy traveling to the events. They always choose really great golf courses, and it’s fun to see all my friends again.”

Zhang was the top-ranked freshman in the country during her first and only season (2010-11) playing at Notre Dame, but after not competing last season, she’s transferred to Northwestern.

On Thursday, Zhang used a stellar start to carry her to medalist honors. With four birdies, she was 4 under par through 11 holes. But a double bogey and a couple of bogeys down the stretch left her at even par overall.

Yang likewise started fast — 2 under through four holes — while both Young and Falley finished with a flurry, playing the last four holes in 2 under.

While both Young and Yang are from out of state, this is the second time each has qualified in Colorado for a USGA championship. Last year, Young went to Valley Country Club to earn a spot in the U.S. Girls’ Junior. And last month, Yang went to Spring Valley Country Club to land a berth in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, where she advanced to the final 16.

“It’s a really big deal” to make it to the U.S. Women’s Amateur, said Yang, whose brother Andy plays golf for the University of Denver. “It’s nice.”

Young, who is transferring from the University of Tulsa to the University of Florida, likewise is relishing her first trip to the Women’s Am.

“It will be awesome,” she said. “I’m super excited. Hopefully it will be one of many for the next couple of years. I’m really excited to go.”

For Falley, this is not only her first U.S. Women’s Amateur, but her first USGA championship of any sort.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said the 2008 Kansas 4A state high school champion. “I’ve been trying to qualify ever since I was little for the U.S. Girls’ and all that, so it’s kind of a chip off the shoulder finally to do it.”

U.S. Women’s Amateur Sectional Qualifying
At Par-72 Pinery CC in Parker

ADVANCE TO U.S. WOMEN’S AMATEUR
Nicole Zhang, Calgary, Canada – 33-39–72
Jennifer Yang, Seattle, Wash. – 35-39–74
Anna Young, Canada, Saskatchewan, Canada – 38-36–74
Lauren Falley, Topeka, Kan. – 39-37–76

ALTERNATES (In order)
Shinwoo Lee, Aurora, Colo. – 38-38–76
Samantha Stancato, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 38-39–77

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Calli Ringsby, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – 38-39–77
Somin Lee, Denver, Colo. – 38-39–77
Amy Hodgkinson, Longmont, Colo. – 39-39–78
Juanita Rico, Laramie, Wyo. – 37-41–78
Allie Johnston, Castle Rock, Colo. – 37-42–79
Paige Crawford, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 38-41–79
Maggie Yuan, Draper – 39-40–79
Paige Spiranac, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 39-41–80
Marilyn Hardy, Houston, Texas – 40-40–80
Christina Spinzig, Evergreen, Colo. – 39-43–82
Kathleen Kershisnik, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – 42-40–82
Megan McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. – 43-39–82
Patricia Lee, Lone Tree, Colo. – 38-45–83
Kelly Moran, Boulder, Colo. – 40-43–83
Jessie Joachim, Hudson, Colo. – 42-42–84
Taylor Buck, Littleton, Colo. – 41-43–84
Anna Christenson, Denver, Colo. – 40-44–84
Dominique Dinallo, Pueblo, N.M. – 40-45–85
Jennifer Kempton, Littleton, Colo. – 43-43–86
Emily Woodard, Cheyenne, Wyo. – 45-47–92
Ryan Ashburn, Largo, Fla. – 47-46–93
Stacey Blunt, Federal Way, Wash. – 47-46–93
Kaylee Koeppen, Scottsbluff, Neb. – WD
Molly Dorans, Erie, Colo. – WD
Emily Talley, Boulder, Colo. – NS
Janet Moore, Greenwood Village, Colo. – WD
 

All of the top five finishers at state in 2011 — and nine of the top 11 — will be in the field when this year’s 5A championship is contested Monday and Tuesday (May 21-22) at Aurora Hills Golf Course.

Meanwhile, the 4A state tournament will feature six of the top 10 finishers from a year ago. The 4A meet will be played at Boomerang Golf Links in Greeley, also Monday and Tuesday.

Senior SeungHa Choi of Overland will defend her 5A title, but the 2011 CWGA Junior Match Play champion figures to face a formidable challenge at Aurora Hills. After all, the top five finishers at state last year were separated by only three strokes.

Also in the field this time is 2011 CWGA Junior Player of the Year Allie Johnston (pictured) of Rock Canyon. Johnston is coming off a stellar year in which she won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play by eight shots, captured an AJGA title in Texas, placed second in the prestigious Mary Cave Cup and qualified for two USGA championships.

Another contender figures to be Shinwoo Lee of Cherry Creek, who’s finished second or third in three previous 5A state tournaments. Meanwhile, Patricia Lee of Highlands Ranch has been a 5A runner-up the last two years.

Calli Ringsby of Cherry Creek could also challenge for the title after finishing tied for second last year and later placing second in the CWGA Stroke Play Championship as a 15-year-old.

Other returning players from the top 10 in the 2011 5A state meet are Shannon Lubar of Chatfield (seventh), Claudia Davis of Arapahoe (ninth) and Hannah Wood of Arapahoe and Taylor Buck of ThunderRidge (tied for 10th).

Several of those players have signed to play Division I college golf, with Johnston headed to Texas-San Antonio, Patricia Lee to Georgetown and Lubar to the University of Denver.

Cherry Creek and Arapahoe, who have finished 1-2 in the last two 5A state meets (with each winning a title), figure to be the teams to beat again.

In Class 4A at Boomerang, the field features two players who have been regulars in the top five at the state tournament in recent years.

Bryce Schroeder of Pueblo South was the 4A runner-up last year and finished fifth in 2010. And Regis’ Kathleen Kershisnik placed second in 2009, third in 2010 and fourth last year. Schroeder will play college golf at Wichita State and Kershisnik at Wyoming.

Other returning top-10 finishers from 4A state in 2011 are Taylor Dorans of Broomfield (sixth each of the last two years), Shannon Spinuzzi of Pueblo South (sixth), Katherine Kemp of Cheyenne Mountain (ninth) and Alex Briggs of Broomfield (10th).

Pueblo South, Broomfield and Regis, who finished a close 1-2-3 in the team race last year, likely will battle it out again next week.

For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE for 5A, and CLICK HERE for 4A.