The Thriftway Washington State Women’s Open will once again be played at the Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club in Federal Way, June 2-4.

This is the eighth year for the Washington State Women’s Open. Along with the 36-hole professional tournament, the Kusak Cup, a Solheim Cup format featuring six United States professionals and six professionals of “the World” will again be played. This year will feature a top amateur player on each side. This year, Metropolitan Market will be sponsoring a skins event.

This year’s purse for the Washington State Women’s Open will be a minimum of $20,000, with $4,000 going to the winner. There will be a $1,000 senior purse, as well.

Each year some of the best professional and amateur golfers from the Northwest, Canada, Australia, Thailand, England, South Africa and Japan compete in this tournament, as well as players from all over the United States.

Last year, Russamee Gulyanamitta, of Rayong, Thailand, took home the first-place prize of $4,000. She is currently playing full-time on the LPGA Tour and experiencing great success. Corina Kelepouris, of Dayton Valley, Alberta, Canada was runner up.

Renee Skidmore, of Everett, received top honors as the leading amateur, with Kelly Brown of Bellingham, coming in second. Last year’s senior division winner, a former LPGA tour player, Kitty Young-Robyn of Imperial Beach, Calif., will be returning to defend her title.

Big Break V Hawaii participant, Julie Wells, of Wilsonville, OR will be returning this year, as well as former LPGA touring pro Nancy Harvey of Swift Current, Canada.

In the history of the tournament, more than $150,000 has been raised for local charities. This year, the Muscular Dystrophy Association will receive a charitable donation.

For more information about the Thriftway Washington State Women’s Open, contact tournament director Erin Szekely at (425) 488-9738, or e-mail at erin@golfingwitherin.com. Players can register for the tournament on line at www.golfingwitherin.com, or at www.progolfevents.com.