McCurdy Mahon at U.S. Amateur in Kansas City this week

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas junior golfers Amanda McCurdy and Courtney Mahon return to the links this week at the 2005 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links in Kansas City, Mo., Monday-Saturday. McCurdy is coming off her first, the first by any Lady Razorback, appearance at the U.S. Women’s Open in Cherry Hills, Colo., where the El Dorado, Ark., native finished tied for 38th. Mahon has also had a busy summer with several amateur events under her belt. The duo, along with the field of 767 other golfers, has to advance through qualifying with 18 holes of stroke play Monday and Tuesday. The field will be reduced to 64 players who advance to match play Wednesday-Saturday. Mahon opens the event at 8:30 a.m., Monday from the 10th tee and the Topeka, Kan., native is paired by Yu-Jin Bang of Orlando, Fla., and Stephanie Ruiz, of Edmond, Okla. Mahon tees off at 1:20 p.m., Tuesday from the first hole. McCurdy opens play on hole 10 at 12:30 p.m., Monday along with Shannon Johnson of Sioux Falls, S.D, and Patty Chawalitmetha of Bellflower, Calif. She starts at 7:30 a.m., from the first hole on Tuesday. McCurdy finished as the Amateur runner-up last year in a thrilling week of golf culminating in the Lady’Backs’ first appearance on national television. McCurdy came down to the wire. Her runner-up finish earned McCurdy an exemption to this year’s Open where she made the cut and finished tied for 38th overall. This year’s Amateur winner receives a golf medal and custody of the Robert F. Dwyer Trophy for a year, a 10-year exemption from sectional qualifying for the Amateur Public Links, a two-year exemption for the Amateur Championship, a one-year exemption for sectional qualifying at the next Mid-Amateur Championship and an exemption from local qualifying for the next five U.S. Women’s Open Championships. The event is open to amateur players who have not held privileges at private clubs and who have a USGA handicap not exceeding 18.4. The Swope Memorial Golf Course will play 6,047 yards with a par 71. The tight course is hilly with five par three, nine par fours and four par five holes. Admission to the event is free and fans are encouraged to attend. For more information about Arkansas golf log on to LADYBACKS.COM.