It’s the dream of every serious golfer to make it into the U.S. Open. Only a fortunate few do.

To qualify, amateurs must have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 4.4 under the USGA Handicap System. Only the very best players need apply. This year we counted twenty-seven amateurs in the qualifying field.

After two rounds of play, seven of the original twenty-seven amateurs made the cut (9 over par 151), for a total of 72 players competing in the final two rounds. Alexis Thomson, of Florida, is the leading amateur.

(From the official website:) Alexis made the cut Friday at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open – her third appearance.  Thompson carded career-best U.S. Women’s Open rounds during both days of the event to be tied for eighth at 2-over-par 144 (71-73).  The 14-year-old, home-schooled reigning U.S. Girls’ Junior Golf Championship winner leads the seven amateurs who made the cut with 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion Jennifer Song two strokes back tied for 19th at 4-over-par 146 (72-74).   Tied for 28th at 5-over-par 147 are University of North Carolina sophomore Allie White (74-73) and 14-year-old Allison Lee (75-72), of California.  Both are making their first U.S. Women’s Open appearance.

See all the standings as the field begins their third round.