Ana Belac, a 29-year-old Slovenian professional golfer, turned the U.S. Women's Open qualifier in Naples, Florida, into her personal showcase. Playing at The Wilderness Country Club on May 6, Belac fired a stunning 6-under par 65 in the second round to claim victory in the 36-hole qualifying tournament and secure her spot in America's national championship.

Belac's final round brilliance propelled her past Spain's amateur standout Paula Francisco by six strokes. Francisco had grabbed the early lead with a 1-under 68 on the par-71, 5,725-yard layout, but Belac surged ahead with a flawless second 18 that left the 56-player field in her wake.

For Belac, the win came as a pleasant surprise. "I didn't have a whole lot of expectations, cause I've never made it through a qualifier," she admitted. "But I was able to stick to my own game, and had some experience in the LPGA Tour for five years. So a lot of experience paid off today."

Her consistency was unmatched—Belac was the only golfer in the field to break 70 on both rounds, a testament to her composure under pressure. As the top two finishers, Belac and Francisco will now tee it up at the U.S. Women's Open next month at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, a legendary venue that hosts the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational and will welcome golf during the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Belac credited her short game for the breakthrough performance. "I feel I was really solid with my wedges. I felt if I drove it well, I could set up my wedges," she explained. "My putter got hot, so I was able to take advantage of opportunities to score. Today was a good reset, and I felt good things could happen out there if I just relaxed and played my game."

Among the local competitors, Jenny Suh Thompson was the low American, finishing third with a 1-under par 141, followed by Louisane Gauthier in fourth. Both will serve as alternates for Riviera. Other area golfers included Emma McKoan of Naples (145), Minna Byun-Archer of North Fort Myers (153), and several others from the Southwest Florida region, though none could match Belac's brilliance on the day.