United States Women's Amateur Golf Championship
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The U.S. Women's Amateur is the leading golf tournament in the United States for female amateur golfers. It is played annually and is one of the 13 United States national golf championships organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA), but non-Americans are eligible to compete. It was established in 1895, one month after the men's U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open, and is thus the third oldest USGA championship and 51 years older than the U.S. Women's Open Championship. Along with the British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship, the U.S. Women's Amateur is considered the highest honor in women's amateur golf.
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[edit] Robert Cox Cup
Since 1896 the Robert Cox Cup has been awarded annually by the USGA to the winner. The trophy was donated by Robert Cox of Edinburgh, Scotland, a member of the British Parliament and a golf course designer. It remains the oldest surviving trophy awarded for a USGA championship. Along with a gold medal, a replica of the two-foot high silver case of Etruscan design is given to the tournament winner. The original trophy is on permanent display at the USGA Museum and Library. The Robert Cox Cup is the only USGA trophy donated by someone from another country.
The first tournament attracted a field of 13 and was played over 18 holes. Nowadays, several thousand women enter the event, and the USGA conducts sectional qualifying to reduce the number of contestants to a more manageable number. The main tournament opens with two rounds of stroke play. The leading 64 players than compete in a match play competition. The matches are played over 18 holes except for the final, which is played over 36 holes.
In 1956, Ann Gregory became the first African-American to compete in the Championship, held that year at the Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis, Indiana.
There are no age restrictions on entry, but players must have a handicap index of 5.4 or less. Morgan Pressel qualified as a 13-year-old in 2001 and won in 2005 at the age of 17. Seven of the 2005 quarterfinalists were teenagers, the youngest of them 15, and the other quarterfinalist was only 21. The 2006 winner Kimberly Kim was only 14 years old, breaking the record previously held by Laura Baugh. In 2007, Pearl Jin and Alexis Thompson became the first 12 year-olds to qualify and the first to advance to match play. Jin and Thompson faced one another in the third round match play. Thompson beat Jin, but then lost in the quarterfinals. Because the tournament is dominated by players who are working toward careers as tournament professionals, the USGA has introduced a separate tournament for players over age 25 called the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur, which gives older amateur players an opportunity to compete among themselves for a national title.
The USGA rates Glenna Collett Vare as the most noteworthy champion who won the Robert Cox Cup a record six times. Several U.S. Women's Amateur champions who have gone on to become leading professionals including Patty Berg, Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs and Beth Daniel.
[edit] Winners
| Year | Venue | Winner | Country | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Charlotte Country Club | ||||
| 2009 | Old Warson Country Club | ||||
| 2008 | Eugene Country Club | ||||
| 2007 | Crooked Stick Golf Club | Maria José Uribe |  Colombia |
1 up |  Amanda Blumenherst |
| 2006 | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club | Kimberly Kim | United States |
1 up |  Katharina Schallenberg |
| 2005 | Ansley Golf Club | Morgan Pressel | United States |
9 & 8 |  Maru Martinez |
| 2004 | The Kahkwa Club | Jane Park | United States |
2 up | Amanda McCurdy |
| 2003 | Philadelphia Country Club | Virada Nirapathpongporn |  Thailand |
2 & 1 | Jane Park |
| 2002 | Sleepy Hollow Country Club | Becky Lucidi | United States |
3 & 2 | Brandi Jackson |
| 2001 | Flint Hills National Golf Club | Meredith Duncan | United States |
37 holes |  Nicole Perrot |
| 2000 | Waverly Country Club | Marcy Newton | United States |
8 & 7 | Laura Myerscough |
| 1999 | Biltmore Forest Country Club | Dorothy Delasin | United States |
4 & 3 | Jimin Kang |
| 1998 | Barton Hills Country Club | Grace Park |  South Korea |
7 & 6 | Jenny Chuasiriporn |
| 1997 | Brae Burn Country Club | Silvia Cavalleri |  Italy |
5 & 4 | Robin Burke |
| 1996 | Firethorn Golf Club | Kelli Kuehne | United States |
2 & 1 | Marisa Baena |
| 1995 | The Country Club | Kelli Kuehne | United States |
4 & 3 |  Anne-Marie Knight |
| 1994 | The Homestead | Wendy Ward | United States |
2 up | Jill McGill |
| 1993 | San Diego Country Club | Jill McGill | United States |
1 up | Sarah LeBrun Ingram |
| 1992 | Kemper Lakes Golf Club | Vicki Goetze | United States |
1 up |  Annika Sörenstam |
| 1991 | Prairie Dunes Country Club | Amy Fruhwirth | United States |
5 & 4 | Heidi Voorhees |
| 1990 | Canoe Brook Country Club | Pat Hurst | United States |
37 holes | Stephanie Davis |
| 1989 | Pinehurst Resort | Vicki Goetze | United States |
4 & 3 | Brandie Burton |
| 1988 | Minikahda Club | Pearl Sinn | United States |
6 & 5 | Karen Noble |
| 1987 | Rhode Island Country Club | Kay Cockerill | United States |
3 & 2 | Tracy Kerdyk |
| 1986 | Pasatiempo Golf Club | Kay Cockerill | United States |
9 & 7 | Kathleen McCarthy |
| 1985 | Fox Chapel Country Club | Michiko Hattori |  Japan |
5 & 4 | Cheryl Stacy |
| 1984 | Broadmoor Golf Club | Deb Richard | United States |
37 holes | Kimberly Williams |
| 1983 | Canoe Brook Country Club | Joanne Pacillo | United States |
2 & 1 | Sally Quinlan |
| 1982 | Broadmoor Golf Club | Juli Inkster | United States |
4 & 3 | Cathy Hanlon |
| 1981 | Waverley Country Club | Juli Inkster | United States |
1 up | Lindy Goggin |
| 1980 | Prairie Dunes Country Club | Juli Inkster | United States |
2 up | Patti Rizzo |
| 1979 | Memphis Country Club | Carolyn Hill | United States |
7 & 6 | Patty Sheehan |
| 1978 | Sunnybrook Golf Club | Cathy Sherk |  Canada |
4 & 3 | Judith Oliver |
| 1977 | Cincinnati Country Club | Beth Daniel | United States |
3 & 1 | Cathy Sherk |
| 1976 | Del Paso Country Club | Donna Horton | United States |
2 & 1 | Marianne Bretton |
| 1975 | Brae Burn Country Club | Beth Daniel | United States |
3 & 2 | Donna Horton |
| 1974 | Broadmoor Golf Club | Cynthia Hill | United States |
5 & 4 | Carol Semple |
| 1973 | Montclair Golf Club | Carol Semple | United States |
1 up | Anne Quast |
| 1972 | St. Louis Country Club | Mary Budke | United States |
5 & 4 | Cynthia Hill |
| 1971 | Atlanta Country Club | Laura Baugh | United States |
1 up | Beth Barry |
| 1970 | Wee Burn Country Club | Martha Wilkinson | United States |
3 & 2 | Cynthia Hill |
| 1969 | Las Colinas Country Club | Catherine Lacoste |  France |
3 & 2 | Shelley Hamlin |
| 1968 | Birmingham Country Club | JoAnne Gunderson | United States |
5 & 4 | Anne Quast |
| 1967 | Annandale Golf Club | Mary Lou Dill | United States |
5 & 4 | Jean Ashley |
| 1966 | Sewickley Heights Golf Club | JoAnne Gunderson | United States |
41 holes | Marlene Stewart Streit |
| 1965 | Lakewood Country Club | Jean Ashley | United States |
5 & 4 | Anne Quast |
| 1964 | Prairie Dunes Country Club | Barbara McIntire | United States |
3 & 2 | JoAnne Gunderson |
| 1963 | Taconic Golf Club | Anne Quast | United States |
2 & 1 | Peggy Conley |
| 1962 | Country Club of Rochester | JoAnne Gunderson | United States |
9 & 8 | Ann Baker |
| 1961 | Tacoma Country & Golf Club | Anne Quast | United States |
14 & 13 | Phyllis Preuss |
| 1960 | Tulsa Country Club | JoAnne Gunderson | United States |
6 & 5 | Jean Ashley |
| 1959 | Congressional Country Club | Barbara McIntire |  United States |
4 & 3 | Joanne Goodwin |
| 1958 | Wee Burn Country Club | Anne Quast |  United States |
3 & 2 | Barbara Romack |
| 1957 | Del Paso Country Club | JoAnne Gunderson | United States |
8 & 6 | Ann Casey Johnstone |
| 1956 | Meridian Hills Country Club | Marlene Stewart |  Canada |
2 & 1 | JoAnne Gunderson |
| 1955 | Myers Park Country Club | Patricia Lesser | United States |
7 & 6 | Jane Nelson |
| 1954 | Allegheny Country Club | Barbara Romack | United States |
4 & 2 | Mickey Wright |
| 1953 | Rhode Island Country Club | Mary Lena Faulk | United States |
3 & 2 | Polly Riley |
| 1952 | Waverley Country Club | Jacqueline Pung | United States |
2 & 1 | Shirley McFedters |
| 1951 | Town & Country Club | Dorothy Kirby | United States |
2 & 1 | Claire Doran |
| 1950 | East Lake Golf Club | Beverly Hanson | United States |
6 & 4 | Mae Murray |
| 1949 | Merion Golf Club | Dorothy Germain Porter | United States |
3 & 2 | Dorothy Kielty |
| 1948 | Pebble Beach Golf Links | Grace Lenczyk | United States |
4 & 3 | Helen Sigel |
| 1947 | Franklin Hills Country Club | Louise Suggs | United States |
2 up | Dorothy Kirby |
| 1946 | Southern Hills Country Club | Babe Zaharias | United States |
11 & 9 | Clara Sherman |
| 1942-45: No Championships due to World War II | |||||
| 1941 | The Country Club | Elizabeth Hicks | United States |
5 & 3 | Helen Sigel |
| 1940 | Pebble Beach Golf Links | Betty Jameson | United States |
6 & 5 | Jane S. Cothran |
| 1939 | Wee Burn Club | Betty Jameson | United States |
3 & 2 | Dorothy Kirby |
| 1938 | Westmoreland Country Club | Patty Berg | United States |
6 & 5 | Estelle Lawson Page |
| 1937 | Memphis Country Club | Estelle Lawson Page | United States |
7 & 6 | Patty Berg |
| 1936 | Canoe Brook Country Club | Pamela Barton |  England |
4 & 3 | Maureen Orcutt |
| 1935 | Interlachen Country Club | Glenna Collett Vare | United States |
3 & 2 | Patty Berg |
| 1934 | Whitemarsh Valley Country Club | Virginia Van Wie | United States |
2 & 1 | Dorothy Traung |
| 1933 | Exmoor Country Club | Virginia Van Wie | United States |
4 & 3 | Helen Hicks |
| 1932 | Salem Country Club | Virginia Van Wie | United States |
10 & 8 | Glenna Collett Vare |
| 1931 | Country Club of Buffalo | Helen Hicks | United States |
2 & 1 | Glenna Collett-Vare |
| 1930 | Los Angeles Country Club | Glenna Collett | United States |
6 & 5 | Virginia Van Wie |
| 1929 | Oakland Hills Country Club | Glenna Collett | United States |
4 & 3 | Leona Pressler |
| 1928 | The Homestead | Glenna Collett | United States |
13 & 12 | Virginia Van Wie |
| 1927 | Cherry Valley Club | Miriam Burns Horn | United States |
5 & 4 | Maureen Orcutt |
| 1926 | Merion Golf Club | Helen Stetson | United States |
3 & 1 | Elizabeth Goss |
| 1925 | St. Louis Country Club | Glenna Collett | United States |
9 & 8 | Alexa Stirling |
| 1924 | Rhode Island Country Club | Dorothy Campbell |  Scotland |
7 & 6 | Mary Browne |
| 1923 | Westchester Country Club | Edith Cummings | United States |
3 & 2 | Alexa Stirling |
| 1922 | The Greenbrier | Glenna Collett | United States |
5 & 4 | Margaret Gavin |
| 1921 | Hollywood Golf Club | Marion Hollins | United States |
5 & 4 | Alexa Stirling |
| 1920 | Mayfield Country Club | Alexa Stirling | United States |
5 & 4 | Dorothy Campbell |
| 1919 | Shawnee Country Club | Alexa Stirling | United States |
6 & 5 | Margaret Gavin |
| 1917-18: No Championships due to World War I | |||||
| 1916 | Belmont Springs Country Club | Alexa Stirling | United States |
2 & 1 | Mildred Caverly |
| 1915 | Onwentsia Club | Florence Vanderbeck | United States |
3 & 2 | Margaret Gavin |
| 1914 | Nassau Country Club | Katherine Harley | United States |
1 up | Elaine V. Rosenthal |
| 1913 | Wilmington Country Club | Gladys Ravenscroft | England |
2 up | Marion Hollins |
| 1912 | Essex County Club | Margaret Curtis | United States |
3 & 2 | Nonna Barlow |
| 1911 | Baltusrol Golf Club | Margaret Curtis |  United States |
5 & 3 | Lillian B. Hyde |
| 1910 | Homewood Country Club | Dorothy Campbell | Scotland |
2 & 1 | Mrs. F. M. Martin |
| 1909 | Merion Golf Club | Dorothy Campbell | Scotland |
3 & 2 | Nonna Barlow |
| 1908 | Chevy Chase Club | Katherine Harley | United States |
6 & 5 | Mrs. T. H. Polhemus |
| 1907 | Midlothian Country Club | Margaret Curtis |  United States |
7 & 6 | Harriot Curtis |
| 1906 | Brae Burn Country Club | Harriot Curtis | United States |
2 & 1 | Mary B. Adams |
| 1905 | Morris County Golf Club | Pauline Mackay | United States |
1 up | Margaret Curtis |
| 1904 | Merion Golf Club | Georgianna M. Bishop | United States |
5 & 3 | Mrs. E. F. Sanford |
| 1903 | Chicago Golf Club | Bessie Anthony | United States |
7 & 6 | J. Anna Carpenter |
| 1902 | The Country Club | Genevieve Hecker | United States |
4 & 3 | Louisa A. Wells |
| 1901 | Baltusrol Golf Club | Genevieve Hecker | United States |
5 & 3 | Lucy Herron |
| 1900 | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | Frances C. Griscom | United States |
6 & 5 | Margaret Curtis |
| 1899 | Philadelphia Country Club | Ruth Underhill | United States |
2 & 1 | Margaret Fox |
| 1898 | Ardsley Club | Beatrix Hoyt | United States |
5 & 3 | Maude Wetmore |
| 1897 | Essex County Club | Beatrix Hoyt | United States |
5 & 4 | Nellie Sargent |
| 1896 | Morris County Golf Club | Beatrix Hoyt | United States |
2 & 1 | Mrs. Arthur Turnure |
| 1895 | Meadow Brook Club | Lucy Barnes Brown |  United States |
132[1] | Nellie Sargent |
[edit] Multiple winners
Seventeen players have won more than one U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, through 2006:
- 6 wins: Glenna Collett-Vare
- 5 wins: JoAnne Gunderson Carner
- 3 wins: Beatrix Hoyt, Margaret Curtis, Dorothy Campbell, Alexa Stirling, Virginia Van Wie, Anne Quast, Juli Inkster
- 2 wins: Genevieve Hecker, Katherine Harley, Betty Jameson, Barbara McIntire, Beth Daniel, Kay Cockerill, Vicki Goetze, Kelli Kuehne
Seven players have won both the U.S. Women's Amateur and Open Championships, through 2006:
- Patty Berg: 1938 Amateur; 1946 Open
- Betty Jameson: 1939, 1940 Amateurs; 1947 Open
- Babe Zaharias: 1946 Amateur; 1948, 1950, 1954 Opens
- Louise Suggs: 1947 Amateur; 1949, 1952 Opens
- Catherine Lacoste: 1967 Amateur; 1969 Open
- JoAnne Gunderson Carner: 1957, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1968 Amateurs; 1971, 1976 Opens
- Juli Inkster: 1980, 1981, 1982 Amateurs; 1999, 2002 Opens
Eleven players have won both the U.S. Women's and British Ladies Amateur Championships, through 2006:
- Dorothy Campbell:^ 1909, 1910, 1924 U.S.; 1909, 1911 British
- Gladys Ravenscroft: 1913 U.S.; 1912 British
- Pamela Barton:^ 1936 U.S.; 1936, 1939 British
- Babe Zaharias: 1946 U.S.; 1947 British
- Louise Suggs: 1947 U.S.; 1948 British
- Marlene Stewart Streit: 1956 U.S.; 1953 British
- Barbara McIntire: 1959, 1964 U.S.; 1960 British
- Catherine Lacoste:^ 1969 U.S.; 1969 British
- Carol Semple Thompson: 1973 U.S.; 1974 British
- Anne Quast: 1958, 1961, 1963 U.S.; 1980 British
- Kelli Kuehne:^ 1996 U.S.; 1996 British
^ Won both in same year.
[edit] Notes
- ^ The 1895 tournament was an 18-hole stroke play event; match play did not begin until the following year.
