STANFORD, Calif. – Incoming freshman golfer Albane Valenzuela will compete for Switzerland in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Brazil. The 18-year-old Swiss clinched a spot in Rio by tying for 67th in the U.S. Women's Open Championship last Sunday at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.
Valenzuela finished 52nd in the final Olympic world rankings and is one of only three amateurs to qualify for the 60-player field. The 72-hole medal play competition will be held Aug. 17-20.
It was the latest in a series of impressive performances by Valenzuela, who was accepted to Stanford in 2015 and deferred last year. In March, she tied for low amateur in the ANA Inspiration, the LPGA's first major championship of the year.
Looking to strengthen her resume and move up in the world rankings, she participated in several Ladies European Tour events, tying for fifth in Morocco and fourth in the Czech Republic.
"Albane has had a terrific year," said Anne Walker, the Milias Director of Women's Golf at Stanford. "She is a remarkable scholar-athlete who speaks four languages, will compete in three major championships this year and at the same time move to Palo Alto in September to pursue her degree."
Valenzuela will play for the Cardinal this fall.