Kedronová Set for U.S. Women’s Open Debut at Riviera
6/3/2026 10:01:00 PM | Women's Golf
KENT, Ohio – Kent State junior Veronika Kedronová will make her U.S. Women's Open debut this week at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., as the championship runs June 4-7. The reigning two-time MAC Golfer of the Year, ranked No. 22 nationally by Clippd, is set to tee off at 4:58 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 4, in the opening round.
"Veronika, her teammates and coaches are excited for her to compete against the best players in the world on the biggest stage," said head coach Casey VanDamme. "Looking forward to a great week and seeing her first major. Go Flashes!"
Kedronová will play the first two rounds alongside two seasoned LPGA Tour professionals. Her group includes South Africa's Paula Reto, a former Purdue All-American making her fifth U.S. Women's Open appearance who broke through for her first LPGA Tour win at the 2022 CP Canadian Women's Open and represented South Africa at the 2016 Olympics, and Gina Kim, a former Duke standout and 2019 NCAA champion who tied for 12th in the 2019 U.S. Women's Open as an amateur and has since won four Epson Tour titles.
The Golden Flash earned her place in the field the hard way. Kedronová became the first Kent State golfer to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open during her college career, winning a 36-hole qualifier at New Albany Country Club with a 1-under 143 to claim one of two available spots and edging Ohio State's Nellie Ong by one stroke. She is the first Golden Flash to reach the championship since Kirby Dreher (2013) and Taylor Kim (2016) did so as recent graduates.
She arrives at Riviera off the finest season in recent program history. Kedronová posted a 70.0 adjusted scoring average across 32 rounds with four wins and four top-three finishes, capped by a 7-under 203 medalist performance that led the Golden Flashes to their 27th consecutive MAC title and a WGCA All-America Second Team selection, the only such honor among golfers from a MAC institution.
Thursday's first round begins Kent State's pursuit of the weekend at one of golf's most demanding tests. The 81st U.S. Women's Open will be played at The Riviera Country Club, June 4-7.
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