The 14-year-old from Boca Raton shot a 2-over-par 74 Monday at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club to advance to sectional qualifying.
Pressel hoped to return to the Open last year, but she failed to advance past the 36-hole sectional.
'I missed it a lot because it was a great experience for me,' Pressel said. 'I just want to make it through here and then work on my game to get through Heathrow.'
Pressel will compete at a sectional qualifying event June 9 at The Country Club at Heathrow, a suburb of Orlando. The U.S. Women's Open will be July 3-6 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore.
Twenty-eight of the 67 golfers shot 78 or better Monday to advance.
Michelle Shin, a 12-year-old from Cape Coral, nearly made it. She was 2 over with three holes to play but finished with a bogey and consecutive double-bogeys for a 79. She is the second alternate.
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