Women’s Amateur Golf

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December 21, 2012 | 10:34 a.m.

Inaugural Women's Porter Cup to take place in 2013

Golfweek Staff

The inaugural Women’s Porter Cup Invitational will be held on June 12-14 at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, N.Y.

The field will be approximately 60 players, by invitation only, with some of the best women’s amateur players from around the world.

The format will be a 54-hole stroke-play competition, with no cut.

The decision to begin a women’s event comes at a time where there are a limited number of women’s amateur tournaments during the summer months.

“Annually hosting the Porter Cup and Senior Porter Cup, the Niagara Falls Country Club has a long and distinguished association with competitive amateur golf,” said Steve Denn, the Porter Cup's tournament director. “By adding the Women’s Porter Cup, we are reaffirming our commitment to the amateur’s place in the game while providing a hospitable venue for the world’s best female players to showcase their talent.”

The men's Porter Cup, which annually features some of the top college and amateur players in the country, will be contested for the 55th time just a few weeks later, on July 24-27. The Senior Porter Cup will take place in September.


December 21, 2012 | 8:46 a.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn

Ariya Jutanugarn
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day.

Find the entire series here.

• • •

No. 2: Ariya Jutanugarn

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: 2

2012 in review: Won Women’s Western Amateur; won PGA Junior Championship; won Canadian Women’s Amateur; won Thunderbird International; won Rolex Girls Junior; won Polo Golf Junior Classic; won LET Q-School; Rolex Player of the Year

Jutanugarn is perhaps the only amateur who is more commonly referred to only by her first name. But when you win two major amateur events, four major junior tournaments and tack on a Q-School title, that’s understandable.

When Jutanugarn, a 17-year-old from Bangkok, Thailand, entered a tournament this year, chances were great that she ...

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December 20, 2012 | 6 a.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 3 Stephanie Meadow

Alabama's Stephanie Meadow at No. 14 on Wednesday at the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships.
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day.

No. 3: Stephanie Meadow

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: 13

2012 in review: Member of Alabama’s national championship-winning team; one collegiate victory; GB&I Curtis Cup team; won Ladies British Amateur; qualified for U.S. Women’s Open

The biggest sign that Meadow had made it big in 2012 was when, in early July, her name was thrown in with Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. Meadow made so many headlines late in the spring that she became known as the next great golf prodigy of Northern Ireland.

Meadow was crucial in Alabama’s romp to the national title. She opened with rounds of 69-73 at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in ...

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December 19, 2012 | 9:59 a.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 4 Charley Hull

Charley Hull fired a 1-under 71 in the first round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day.

Find the entire series here.

• • •

No. 4: Charley Hull

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: 7

2012 in review: Won Harder Hall Invitational; made cut at Kraft Nabisco Championship; GB&I Curtis Cup team; qualified for Ricoh Women’s British Open

Controversy surrounded Hull at the beginning of the year after it was announced that she had received one of a handful of sponsor exemptions set aside for top amateurs at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Playing in the Kraft, her first LPGA major, would cause Hull to miss a practice session for GB&I Curtis Cup hopefuls. Missing that session, the LGU said, meant she couldn’t play for the team.

Hull ...

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December 18, 2012 | 11:04 a.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 5 Moriya Jutanugarn

Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand hugs Japan's Ayako Uehara after the final round of LPGA Q-School. Both players earned their tour cards.
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day.

Find the entire series here.

• • •

No. 5: Moriya Jutanugarn

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: N/A

2012 in review: Won the South Atlantic Amateur; won the Scott Robertson Memorial; runner-up at Women’s Western Amateur; runner-up at Canadian Women’s Amateur; advanced to quarterfinals at North & South Women’s Amateur; qualified for U.S. Women’s Open (cut)

Jutanugarn, 18, finished second to her sister Ariya, 17, in two major amateur events and one AJGA invitational in 2012. That’s frustrating by almost anyone’s standards, but the smiling Thai never showed that. Her solution was always to work harder and get better.

After finishing third in her first major amateur ...

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December 17, 2012 | 6 a.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 6 Austin Ernst

Austin Ernst hits her tee shot at No. 18 during the final round of LPGA Q-School. Ernst earned her LPGA Tour card.
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day. Find the entire series here.

• • •

No. 6: Austin Ernst

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: N/A

2012 in review: Won North & South Women’s Amateur; U.S. Curtis Cup team; Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, U.S. team (T-66)

Ernst was arguably the biggest surprise player to turn professional in 2012. The 20-year-old LSU superstar announced plans early in the summer to try her hand at Q-School rather than return for her remaining two seasons with the Tigers.

Prior to that announcement, Ernst traveled to Scotland with seven fellow U.S. college players. She and Alabama’s Brooke Pancake made a spunky duo that drew a crowd.

One of the ...

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December 16, 2012 | 6 a.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 7 Lisa McCloskey

Lisa McCloskey plays from the tee on the first hole as seen during the second round of stroke play at the 2012 U.S. Women's Public Links at Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Station, N.J. on Tuesday, June 19, 2012.
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day. Find the entire series here.

• • •

No. 7: Lisa McCloskey

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: N/A

2012 in review: U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links stroke-play medalist; U.S. Curtis Cup team member (2 points); U.S. Women’s World Amateur team member (T-4); advanced to third round of U.S. Women’s Amateur; NCAA Central Regional co-medalist

McCloskey rang in her last summer as an amateur with a trip to Scotland for the Curtis Cup. Barely two weeks removed from leading USC to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship, McCloskey was the player at Nairn Golf Club during Curtis Cup week who exuded confidence ...

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December 15, 2012 | 6 a.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 8 Lindy Duncan

Duke's Lindy Duncan watches her tee shot at No. 8 on Thursday at the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships. Duke is T11 after three rounds.
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day. Find the entire series here.

• • •

No. 8: Lindy Duncan

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: 11

2012 in review: College Player of the Year; three collegiate titles; U.S. Curtis Cup team member (1 point); named to U.S. Copa de las Americas team

Duncan will go down as one of the best players in Duke’s rich women’s golf history after finishing her junior season (2011-12) with four collegiate victories and a scoring average, 71.07, which is second only to current LPGA player Amanda Blumenherst. It was for those efforts that Duncan won College Player of the Year honors in the spring.

A quiet player ...

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December 14, 2012 | 1:02 p.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 9 Jaye Marie Green

Jaye Marie Green hits her shot at No. 17 during the semifinals at the 112th U. S. Women's Amateur Championship.
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day. Find the entire series here.

• • •

No. 9: Jaye Marie Green

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: 6

2012 in review: Runner-up at U.S. Women’s Am; quarterfinalist at the North & South Women’s Amateur; runner-up at the Ione D. Jones/Doherty Women’s Amateur; qualified for U.S Women’s Open; made the cut at the Kraft Nabisco Championship; won AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions

The South Florida native generally makes early-year headlines on the Florida Orange Blossom Circuit, and began 2012 with a fifth-place finish at the South Atlantic Amateur, where she was attempting to defend her 2011 title. If the U.S. Golf Association had broken its all-college theme ...

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December 13, 2012 | 6 a.m.

Top 10 female amateurs: No. 10 Bronte Law

Bronte Law advanced to the second round of match play at the 2012 U.S. Women's Amateur.
Julie Williams

The amateur season roared in with talk of the Curtis Cup in Scotland, and died down with the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, which made patriotism a big part of 2012. But in terms of women’s amateur golf, 2012 also was the year of the Kiwi (read: Lydia Ko) and the last summer of the Jutanugarn sisters.

Golfweek will spend 10 days counting down the top amateur players of the past year. Who will be No. 1? Who else will make the list? Check back each day. Find the entire series here.

• • •

No. 10: Bronte Law

R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking: 7

2012 in review: Ladies British Open Amateur stroke play, 6th; GB&I Curtis Cup team member (1 1/2 points); advanced to second round at U.S. Women’s Amateur; made cut at Ricoh Women’s British Open

Each summer, there’s a player who draws a trail of college coaches at least half a par 4 long. That’s what this Englishwoman’s gallery looked like around the shady fairways of the Country Club in Cleveland during the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Law was T-37 in stroke play that week, and advanced to the second round of match play ...

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November 26, 2012 | 3:09 p.m.

Squire Creek to host 2015 U.S. Women ...

Golfweek Staff

The U.S. Golf Association has announced Squire Creek Golf Club in Choudrant, La., as the host of the 2015 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. It will be Squire Creek’s debut as a USGA championship venue.

Squire Creek, a Tom Fazio design, opened in 2002 and hosted U.S. Open local qualifying in 2008 and ’09. The club has twice hosted the Louisiana Mid-Amateur and will be the site of the 2013 Louisiana Women’s State Amateur. Squire Creek is the home course for the Louisiana Tech University men’s golf team.

“The USGA is delighted to bring the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship to Squire Creek Country Club and pleased to return to the state of Louisiana for the first time since 1966,” said Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., USGA vice president and Championship Committee chairman. “We are confident the club will stage a successful national amateur championship and the course will test the players’ skills.”

The 2015 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur will be played Oct. 3-8.

The 2013 championship will be conducted at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, N.C., from Oct. 5-10. In 2014, the championship will be played at Harbour Trees Golf ...

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November 19, 2012 | 4:36 p.m.

2016 US Women's Amateur headed to Rolling Green GC

FAR HILLS, N.J. – The U.S. Golf Association says the 2016 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship will be held at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., outside Philadelphia.

The William Flynn design will be hosting its second USGA championship. The club was the site of the 1976 U.S. Women's Open. In that championship, JoAnne Carner beat defending champ Sandra Palmer by two strokes in an 18-hole playoff. It was Carner's second Open title and eighth USGA crown, the most by a female.

The course, opened in 1926, will be celebrating its 90th anniversary during the year of the Women's Amateur.

The 2013 Women's Amateur will be held in August at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina. In 2014, the championship is headed to Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, N.Y. The 2015 site has not been announced.


October 22, 2012 | 3:31 p.m.

USGA names 4-player Copa de las Americas squad

Washington's Chris Williams
Golfweek Staff

The U.S. Golf Association as announced the four-player team that will represent the United States in January at the Copa de las Americas. The co-ed team will include Lindy Duncan, Erynne Lee, Chris Williams and Steven Fox.

Williams and Fox were members of the U.S. team that recently won the World Amateur Team Championship in Antalya, Turkey. Williams, a senior at Washington, won the Mark H. McCormack Medal, awarded to the No. 1 player in the R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking. Fox is the reigning U.S. Amateur champion and a senior at Chattanooga.

Duncan, a senior at Duke, was a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup team. She was last year’s college Player of the Year. Lee, a sophomore at UCLA, represented the U.S. earlier this fall at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship.

The Copa de las Americas is an amateur team competition for countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. There are three 72-hole competitions – men’s, women’s and overall – with 18 holes played on each of the four days. Jim Williams of Orinda, Calif., will captain the Americans. He is a member of the ...

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October 17, 2012 | 4:55 p.m.

Jutanugarns have dominated, but now must go their own ways

Ariya Jutanugarn (left) with her older sister Moriya Jutanugarn.
Julie Williams

From behind the zoom lens of a hefty Canon camera, Ariya Jutanugarn’s laughter rings out. On a cool afternoon in Cleveland, not even an hour removed from breezing into match play at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Jutanugarn has reversed this photo shoot.

Playing around the shady, foliage-protected swimming pool at The Country Club, Jutanugarn expertly handles the photographer’s gear – she has her own Instagram account, you know – relinquishing the camera only to ham it up in the spotlight. Older sister Moriya joins. Soon, they’re trying to shove each other’s heads into the water and splashing while fully clothed. Then they return to their iPhones.

Sure, this day has been a grind, and though many a competitive round ends on a putting green or practice range at sunset, these Thai sisters truly love golf.

They will be good at this, good in front of the spotlight. Just a year ago, Ariya, 16, still leaned heavily on Moriya, 18, as much for her caddie services as for translation.

These days, Ariya sometimes repeats a word slowly and interrupts with, “What does that mean?” before digging deep to answer the question thoroughly. Most interviews end with this ...

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October 16, 2012 | 1:48 p.m.

With fourth Women's Mid-Am title, Stasi joins elite company

Meghan Stasi during the South Atlantic Amateur
Golfweek Staff

With her fourth career victory at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur on Oct. 11, Meghan Stasi joined Ellen Port as the only four-time champions of the event.

Stasi, 34, of Oakland Park, Fla., defeated Liz Waynick, 6 and 5, at Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio to claim the honor. Stasi also won Women’s Mid-Am titles in 2006, ’07 and ’10. She is the 16th golfer in history to win the same USGA championship at least four times.

Nathan Smith also joined that category last month after winning his fourth U.S. Mid-Amateur.

“Never in my life did I think I would be here right now,” said Stasi. “So I’m so appreciative to everybody… It’s a very long week for all involved, and you really just have to stay mentally and physically prepared. A few matches were very grueling, but I just stayed on top of my game and hoped for the best.”

Stasi, a member of the victorious U.S. Curtis Cup team in 2008, won five consecutive holes to close out her match against Waynick. Stasi’s 6-and-5 margin of victory matched the largest for a Women’s Mid-Amateur final.

Stasi had a ...

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