June 12, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Two former University of North Carolina golfers, Meaghan Francella and Marcy Hart, have qualified to play in the 2008 U.S. Women's Open. The prestigious event will be played June 26-29 at Interlachen Country Club, a par 72 layout, in Edina, Minn.

Francella enjoys exempt tour status and has played in 13 tournament so far this year. She has captured one LPGA victory, the 2007 MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta Presented by Televisa Deportes, where she recorded all rounds in the 60s and defeated defending champion Annika Sorenstam in a four-hole, sudden-death playoff. Francella carded three additional top-10 finishes - a tie for fifth place at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, tie for sixth at the Corona Championship and tie for fifth at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship. In 2006, Francella won the Lakeland Duramed FUTURES Golf Classic and recorded six additional top-10 finishes. She placed fifth on the Duramed FUTURES Tour seasoon-ending money list to earn exempt status for the 2007 LPGA season. Francella played in the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, but missed the cut. Francella, the 2003 ACC champion, played on the 2003 and 2004 Tar Heel golf teams. She was a first-team All-America in 2004 and a two-time All-ACC performer.

Hart qualified for this year's open at the qualifier at Forest Creek Golf Çlub in Pinehurst after firing a two-round total of 142. A member of the 1997-2000 Tar Heel teams, Hart (then Newton) was a two-time All-America and three-time All-ACC performer. She won three collegiate titles and was the champion of the 2000 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. Hart has played in 15 or more LPGA tournaments each year beginning in 2001 and participated in 22 LPGA events in both 2006 and 2007. So far this year she has played in eight LPGA events.. Her best LPGA finish was a tie for third place at the 2006 Wegmans LPGA Championship. Last year, Hart's best finish was a tie for 18th place at the LPGA State Farm Classic. Hart has played in the U.S. Women's Open four times (1998, 2001, 2005 and 2007). She tied for 39th in 2001 and missed the cut in her other appearances.