After years of relentless practice and two previous attempts, senior Sarah Lim achieved a goal most young golfers can only dream of: She qualified for the 2025 U.S. Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in women’s golf. Lim secured her spot on April 28 after scoring 139 at The Olympic’s Lake Course in San Francisco — finishing second out of fifth in her bracket.
Each year, 156 female golf players compete in the U.S. Open, which will be held at Erin Hills, Wisconsin this summer. Qualification for the 2025 U.S. Open wrapped up early May, with only 5.6% of the athletes in attendance advancing to the actual tournament, which will be held May 29-June 1.
Qualifying matches take place all over the world, from the United States to Canada to Japan to Italy. According to a United States Golf Association post, the average age of qualification is 33.
The tournament itself is open to all ages of athletes. To qualify, there are two rounds in a day at each qualifying course, with each athlete playing 18 holes in each round, competing against the best in the world.
“One reason it’s so hard is because on top of having to play your best you can, mentally, it’s a lot to wrap your head around seeing all these players you look up to in college and professionals too,” Lim said.
Compared to previous years, Lim practiced a lot more intensely and frequently, setting herself up for success. While competing at the qualifying tournament, she valued trusting herself in the process, as she knew if she did so, she would play her best.
In recent years, Lim found her performance competitive enough to qualify for the U.S. Open.
“In the last two years, I think it didn’t seem as obtainable for me because I wasn’t playing to the level I am now,” Lim said. “Now, I feel as if I am playing at the elite level, comfortably.”
Lim prepared for the qualifier during her off-days, making sure to exercise her mental focus and form.
Such mental focus comes from Lim’s work on her mental game in the past few years, which is important in the day-long tournament. The tournament’s 2-round style fatigues many athletes mentally, and Lim feels her dad pushed her through the challenge further than anyone else.
“The thing about golf is there is not one single shot or round that is going to be the exact same, so finding the mental strength to accept the challenges and not get mentally drained or overwhelmed is something that I’m constantly working on,” Lim said.
However, her dad, who is her caddy and a coaching figure to Lim, helped her think calmly and reassured her how to play properly.
Lim is also graduating the week after the Open wraps up and has committed to playing for Princeton’s girls’ golf team. With her new team, she strives to win not only individually but also in team tournaments, like the NCAA championship. Beyond college, she also hopes to play golf professionally someday.
“It’s a surreal moment to qualify for the U.S. Open. I haven’t fully wrapped my head around it yet,” Lim said. “For me, it’s a defining moment in my golf career and I hope my performance sets me up to go professional.”