The U.S. Women’s Open will return to Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania in 2024, the USGA announced Tuesday.
Nobody’s more excited about it than In Gee Chun.
She broke through to win the U.S. Women’s Open when it was played there for the first time in 2015, with the community quickly embracing the South Korean winner as an adopted daughter. The event set U.S. Women’s Open records with the USGA announcing 134,016 attended for the week.
“It was my first time in the United States, and they made me feel comfy,” Chun said. “I really appreciated it.”
So much so that Chun, 24, returned the love, establishing a charitable foundation to benefit the local community. Back in May, she returned to Pennsylvania to launch the In Gee Chun Lancaster Country Club Educational Fund. She put up $10,000 of her own money to seed the foundation, which provides scholarships to Lancaster youth, including Lancaster Country Club caddies and children of club employees. She raised additional $20,000 while there for a junior clinic and benefit dinner.
“So many people helped me become who I am,” Chun said of her affection for Lancaster. “Now, it’s time to help people who need my help.”
It was the first of Chun’s two major championship titles. She added the Evian Championship in 2016.
Chun said she cherishes so many memories of Lancaster, including local fans who warmed to the “Dumbo” nickname she goes by in South Korea.
Why the nickname?
“Because I have many curiosities,” Chun said.
She has a fan club in South Korea called “The Flying Dumbos.” Local Lancaster fans walked with her fan club members the week she won.
“It was my first time playing the U.S. Women’s Open, and during the tournament they called out “Let’s go, Dumbo,’” Chun said. “I was surprised they knew my nickname.”
Lancaster Country Club members made Chun a lifetime member.
“The 2015 U.S. Women’s Open was one of the most successful in the championship’s history,” said USGA CEO Mike Davis. “The golf course is one of the best in the United States, and the community’s support for golf is record-setting. We can’t wait to return to crown the 79th U.S. Women’s Open champion.”
The 2024 U.S. Women’s Open will be staged May 30-June 2 at Lancaster Country Club.
Here are other upcoming U.S. Women’s Open sites and dates:
Country Club of Charleston (S.C.) – May 30-June 2, 2019.
Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas – June 4-7, 2020.
The Olympic Club in San Francisco – June 3-6, 2021.
Pine Needles Lodge 7 Golf Club – June 2-5, 2022.
Pebble Beach Golf Links – June 1-4, 2023.
