Tamulis' Open bid denied in playoff

Kris Tamulis almost made it to her third U.S. Women's Open.

The Naples High and Florida State University graduate was part of a 10-way playoff for the final two qualifying spots in the Baltimore, Md., area on Monday. But Tamulis was eliminated with a bogey on the second playoff hole.

Tamulis, coming off a tie for 29th at the McDonald's LPGA Championship on Sunday, shot 80-72 for a 152 total at Green Valley Spring Hunt Club in Owings Mills, Md., and Woodholme Country Club in Baltimore.

"I'm disappointed, but I was thrilled to even get into the LPGA Championship and thrilled to do well there," said Tamulis, who three-putted her 35th hole.

There were 136 golfers going for 35 spots. Tamulis made it through qualifying in 2002 and 2004, but missed the cut both times.

Tamulis was in one of the first groups to finish the second round. She left the course for an hour, then her caddie called and told her she better head back. At first, it appeared there would be a nine-way playoff for eight spots, but that changed as the final scores came in.

"I three-putted a ton and missed a lot of short putts," she said.

Tamulis will use the time off to regroup. She figured she played 152 holes of golf in the past week through tournament rounds and practice rounds. She had to play 30 holes on Saturday in the LPGA Championship because of a weather delay on Friday.

"I'm just exhausted," she said.

Bonita Springs' Catherine Cartwright and part-time Estero resident Karen Weiss, a former LPGA Tour player, both failed to advance.

Cartwright, who missed the cut at the LPGA Championship, shot 78-77 for a 155, while Weiss shot 79-80 for a 159.

Fort Myers' Valerie Osborn failed to qualify at the Country Club of Heathrow near Orlando. Osborn, who works at Pelican's Nest Golf Club, shot 76-78 for a 154. Osborn would have been part of a playoff for the final three alternate spots, but all of the would-be golfers for those spots left.

The four qualifiers at Heathrow were Vicky Hurst (148), Colleen Cashman-McSween (150), Randi Gauthier (151) and Nicole Hage (151). Madison Pressel, the younger sister of Morgan Pressel, shot a 161.

The Women's Open is June 29-July 2 at Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I.