Michelle Wie has entered for the United States Open at Pinehurst in June - and officials at the United States Golf Association are studying history books to see if she is the first female to try to qualify.

Wie, not 16 years of age until October, will begin her attempt in an 18-hole local qualifying tournament on May 13th at the Turtle Bay course in Hawaii where she finished second on the LPGA Tour in February.

She would most likely need to finish in the top two to move on to a main 36-hole qualifier in June.

A spokesman for the USGA said they were unsure whether Babe Zaharias, who played three times on the PGA Tour in 1945, ever tried to qualify but were looking into it. Unlike the British Open, which is thought to be reconsidering its all-male stance, the US Open has never had such a stipulation.

"To make it through qualifying will be challenging," said Wie's father. "I hope she can make it into the main qualifier in June. That would be a good experience. For her to make it into the main event will be difficult. Her chances will be low."

Wie has also entered for the Public Links amateur championship for a second time. Victory in that would qualify her for the 2006 US Masters.