UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. (JUNE 23, 2005) - Former Nittany Lion women's golf standout Katie Futcher recently qualified for the U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship, and will tee off today at 11:15 a.m., and again at 4:27 p.m. Friday, at the Cherry Hills Country Club, in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. The event runs today through Sunday.

Futcher, a two-time all-American while golfing at Penn State from 2000-03, qualified for the U.S. Women's Open via local and regional qualifiers. This will be playing in her first U.S. Women's Open, which is a USGA sponsored event. She is grouped with Kristen Samp and Dori Carter, and they will begin on Hole 1.

Futcher, a native of The Woodlands, Texas, was two-time All-American, a three-time Academic All-American, and a three-time All-Big Ten selection while winning five tournaments as a Penn State golfer. She is competing in her first season on the Futures Tour.

Her best finish this season was at the Jalapeno Futures Golf Classic in McAllen, Texas, where she finished tied for 26th with a 72-74-73-219.

The U.S. Women's Open will air on ESPN2 beginning at 5 p.m. tonight and Friday. It will also be broadcast on NBC beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.