Lopez Fails in Open Qualifying

Nancy Lopez mocked her age, reminisced about college, bemoaned a shaky putter and even gave one of her young playing partners an impromptu rules lesson.

When the round was over, reality set in.

Lopez, a hall of famer with 48 victories on the LPGA Tour, failed to earn a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open during sectional qualifying north of Atlanta.

“I would like to be there,” said Lopez, who wept after shooting a six-over-par 78. “I’ll just have to find something else to do.”

Lopez, 44, one of the most influential players in the history of women’s golf, missed the cutoff by four strokes. She hit her first shot out of bounds, took a bogey and struggled through the round without a birdie at the Standard Club.

“It does hurt,” Lopez said, with reddened eyes and barely able to compose herself. “I really wanted to play well today. I’m disappointed about not playing well as much as anything.”

Lopez was forced to take part in sectional qualifying--made up mostly of young amateurs and club pros, with a sprinkling of LPGA players--when the U.S. Golf Assn. declined to give her an exemption for the third year in a row.

Lopez hasn’t won a tournament since 1997 and the USGA decided this year to give out only one exemption: Liselotte Neumann, a former Open champion. Lopez has never won the Open.