Lucy Li, 11, youngest US Women’s Open qualifier

ELEVEN-year-old American Lucy Li has become the youngest player to qualify for the US Women’s Open by winning the sectional qualifier at Half Moon Bay in California.

Lucy Li is the youngest player to qualify for the US Women's Open. Picture: AFP/Getty

But she will amazingly not be the youngest ever competitor in the event, with Beverly Klass turning professional as a 10-year-old in 1967 and playing in the US Open that year.

Klass, who was the victim of an abusive father, made the cut in three of her four tournaments before the LPGA barred her by instituting a minimum age of 18.

Li shot rounds of 74 and 68 on the par-72 Old Course on Monday to win by seven shots and secure her place at Pinehurst from June 19-22.

The women’s US Open is being held the week after the men’s event on the same course, Pinehurst No. 2.

Li already has some experience of a major championship venue after winning the girls aged 10-11 division in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt contest at Augusta that preceded the Masters this year.