GEORGIA Hall has been handed a shock spot in next month's US Women's Open after 1998 champion Se Ri Pak withdrew from the tournament.

Bournemouth's Hall thought her chances of taking part had ended after she missed out in a five-way play-off in her European sectional qualifier at Buckinghamshire Golf Club at the end of last month.

However, Pak's decision has handed the 19-year-old Hall, the first alternate, a berth in the tournament for the first time.

No reason has been given for Pak's withdrawal. The South Korean pulled out of two events earlier this month citing a pulled back muscle and illness.

The US Women's Open is set to take place at the 6,406-yard Lancaster Country Club, a par-70 layout in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Hall is currently ranked 52nd in the Ladies European Tour order of merit in her rookie year, with winnings of 12,646.38 euro from four events.

She earned 1,461.11 euro for her tied-40th finish at the three-round Deloitte Ladies Open in Amsterdam, which finished on Sunday.