AMES, Iowa – Former Iowa State women’s golfer Joy Chou has earned a spot to play in this week’s U.S. Women’s Open, held July 6-9, at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.

 

Chou, a Taipei, Taiwan, native, was an alternate for the field after advancing to final qualifying at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis and finishing in third place (73-74=147 +3). She was one stroke behind the final qualifying spot.

 

On Sunday, Chou got the call she had been hoping for and will be just the fifth Cyclone to play in the major event, joining ISU Hall of Famers Shelley Finnestad and Beth Bader, Prima Thammaraks and Celia Barquin Arozamena.

 

“I am so happy, and this will be an amazing experience to compete in the U.S. Open,” Chou said. “At the start of the year I wrote down a number of goals. Making the U.S. Open was at the top of the list.”

 

Chou played at Iowa State from 2017-21. In 2019, she fired a 64 at Mountain View, which is tied for the second-best round in school history. Her 69 in the 2019 NCAA Regional at Cle Elum is the second-best NCAA Tournament 18-hole round in school history.

 

Chou won the Iowa Women’s Amateur in 2020 and 2021.

 

She is currently a member of the Epson Tour, the LPGA Tour’s developmental circuit. She’s made a pair of cuts in seven starts.

 

Cyclones In The U.S. Women’s Open

1998 – Baltimore Country Club (East Course) – Shelley Finnestad

2002 – Prairie Dunes Golf Club – Beth Bader

2003 – Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club – Beth Bader

2004 – The Orchards Golf Club – Beth Bader

2005 – Cherry Hills Country Club – Beth Bader

2006 – Newport Country Club – Beth Bader

2007 – Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club – Beth Bader

2009 – Saucon Valley Country Club – Beth Bader

2018 – Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club – Celia Barquin Arozamena

2019 – Country Club of Charleston – Prima Thammaraks

2023 – Pebble Beach Golf Links – Joy Chou