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Women’s Western Golf Association FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WOMEN’S WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT SITES FOR 2008 Golf, Ill. … Many national and regional golf associations for women can truthfully say they have lived with the game of golf for a long, long time … but few can mean this as literally as the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA.) The Women’s Western will bring its 108th National Amateur Championship to Newnan, Ga. (a suburb of Atlanta) June 16-21. Top women amateurs from across the U. S. as well as many foreign countries will play Canongate’s SummerGrove Golf Course designed by Jemsek Golf. The WWGA’s 82nd National Junior Championship will be held July 14-18 at Knollwood Country Club in Granger, Ind. (South Bend suburb). The WWGA’s National WWGA Senior Championship will not be held in 2008. A brief history of the WWGA … in 1901, the WWGA was founded under the sponsorship of the Western Golf Association. In 1903 the WWGA “broke ranks” (from the Western Golf Association) to form its own organization with a constitution to hold an annual championship for amateur women. Twenty years before women were allowed to vote the Western “ladies” were conducting golf tournaments! The WWGA Amateur tournament is the oldest, most consecutively played women’s championship, not even two world wars kept it from being played. That dream has been kept alive going on 108 years. The WWGA shines with names of truly great legends in women’s golf – Patty Berg (an 8-time winner), Babe Zaharias, Nancy Lopez, Louise Suggs, Dot Germain, Kathy Whitworth, Betsy Rawls, Carol Mann, Mickey Wright, Betty Jameson, Marion Miley, Pat Lesser, Debbie Massey and JoAnne Gunderson Carner, to cite a few. The current LPGA roster beams with even more top names whose beginnings in the professional arena stem from wins, or reaching as high as the finals, semifinals or quarter-finals in the WWGA Amateur and/or Junior tournaments … Cristie Kerr, Meredith Duncan, Candie Kung, Hilary Homeyer Lunke, Vicki Goetz Ackerman, Candy Hannemann, Beth Daniel, Amy Alcott, Emilee Klein, Michelle McGann, Pearl Sinn, Grace Park, Kellee Booth, and Moira Dunn are just a sample on this distinguished list. It goes without saying, the WWGA Amateur and Junior Championships have proved veritable springboards for furthering the golfing careers for so many young women. Today, the WWGA, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with over 400 member clubs throughout the United States, reaches over 40,000 women nationwide. The WWGA has Directors from across the country who volunteer their time, effort and energy to the administration of the organization and on-site management of the three Championships. All the Officers and Directors involved with the Association travel at their own expense to wherever the tournaments are being held – be it in the north, south, east or western part of the country. There is no paid staff. For more information on the WWGA tournaments – contact the tournament chairmen listed on the WWGA’s Home Page, www.WWGA.org. During the AMATEUR and JUNIOR tournaments contact the Publicity Chairman: Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com For information on or about the WWGA contact Susan Wagner at WWGAsfw@aol.com
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Women’s Western Golf Association FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAMGOCHIAN CAPTURES WOMEN'S WESTERN SENIOR TITLE
Debbie Jamgochian, Greenwich, Conn., easily captured the 29th
Women's Western Senior Championship held at Naples Beach Hotel &
Golf Club with rounds of 72-71-74. Runner-up was Mary Ann Beattie,
Chesterfield, MO 75-75-76.
Jamgochian won the 2007 Senior French Open in April and the 2007
Southern Senior New England Championship. She was 8th in the
British Mid-Amateur and played on the USGA State Team from
Connecticut.
"This has been an awesome year for me, winning the French Open
and now the Women's Western Senior Championship," Jamgochian
said.
Jamgochian, a single digit handicapper, is 53-years-old and has been
playing golf since she was a child but didn't play competitively for
thirty years as she was raising her family. She has been the Club
Champion at Winged Foot Golf Club eleven times.
In 2001 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. "I was
playing golf and turned to my caddie and said I see double,"
she said. After visiting a number of physicians and learning her
fate, she spent the next six months bedridden. For the next four
years she was weak and couldn't work out but her one goal was
playing golf again.
In spite of her MS her faith has been unshaken. "I am a very
spiritual person; I don't take any medications, but vigorously work
out on the treadmill and try to do 100 push-ups every morning,"
she said. Asked about her hobbies she replied, "Golf."
Runner-up Mary Ann Beattie was a Professional Tennis player
(1964-1972) and was ranked in the top-10 in the U. S. She has been
the St. Louis District Invitational Champion in 2000 and 2007.
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Women’s Western Golf Association FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NAPLES BEACH GOLF CLUB TO HOST WOMEN’S WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Golf, Ill. … the Women’s Western Golf Association will bring its 29th National Senior Championship to Naples, Fla. from October 29-31. Top ranked senior women amateurs from across the country will compete for the ALICE DYE TROPHY at the Naples Golf Club. Built in the late 1920’s, the course is the oldest in the Naples community. It has been redesigned several times; in 1948 by Mark Mahanna and other modifications being made during 1989, 1993 and 1998 by well-known Golf Course Architect Ron Garl. Early entries include reigning Champion PAMELA CLARK BROWN, Landenberg, Pa. and six-time Champion JEAN LANE SMITH from Eagle, Ida. Other notable players entered include DEBBIE JAMGOCHIAN, Greenwich, Conn.; SALLEY WESSELS, Mount Morris, Ill.; KATIE FALK, Milwaukee, Wisc.; LEE KELLY, Jupiter Hills, Fla.; BARBARA BYRNES, Mesa, Ariz.; ALISON REIFERS, Dublin, Oh.; DEBRA MIELKE, McKinney, Tex.; JANIS CLEMENS, Sedalia, Mo.; and SANDI YOUNG, La Quinta, Calif. The tournament is a 54-hole stroke play event with a 36-hole stroke qualifying round to establish flights. For more information and updates visit the WWGA website at www.WWGA.org Information during the tournament – contact SUSAN WAGNER, Public Relations Director at WWGAsfw@aol.com -30-
Women’s Western Golf Association FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Anderson Date: July 13, 2007
Dottie Ardina defeats Kelly Shon in WWGA National Junior Final After 5 days of competition, Dottie Ardina won the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 81st National Junior Championship at TPC River’s Bend inMaineville, Ohio. She defeated Kelly Shon, Port Washington, New York, by a score of 3 and 2. Ardina shot 2 under on the first nine holes to take a 3 up lead at the turn. She quickly won the 10th and 11th holes but lost the 12th when Shon chipped in. Shon also won the 14th hole to get her back to 3 down. The girls tied at the 15th hole for Ardina to take the match. Ardina has a very impressive resume for a 13 year old. She has won the U. S. Kids Championship for the 8-12 age group five years in a row (2002-2006). In 2002, she won the Callaway Junior World Championship for 8 and under. She also won the Junior World Championship title last year for the 11-12 age group. In 2006, she won the Hong Kong Women’s Championship and the Indonesian Ladies Amateur Championship. In 2007, she has won the Asia Women’s Sabah Amateur Championship, the Malaysian Women’s Amateur Championship, and the DHL Philipppines Women’s Championship. In June she was a semifinalist at the Women’s Western 107th National Amateur Championship at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois, where she lost to Champion Mallory Blackwelder 1 up. Ardina will turn 14 in December. Ardina was very happy to win this tournament. She has been traveling in the United States this summer along with five of her teammates from the Philippines. She has found a lot of support and encouragement from them. After the match concluded, Ardina and her teammates were off to spend the rest of the day at King’s Island Amusement Park only a few miles away. Tomorrow she will travel to San Diego for the Callaway Junior World Championship and on to the USGA Junior Girl’s Championship the following week. In the fall, she will relocate to Bradenton, Florida, and enroll in the David Leadbetter Golf Academy along with some of her teammates. Shon, who has won some International Junior Golf Tour and Plantation Junior Golf Tour events, was delighted to get as far as she did in this tournament. She enjoyed playing with Ardina and found her to be a great player. She faults her putter for losing the early holes but started rallying too late in the match to defeat Ardina. Shon will also be competing at the Callaway Junior World Championship and USGA Junior Girl’s Championship so Shon may again cross paths with Ardina in the next few weeks. Shon said she had had a great week and gave special thanks to her TPC River’s Bend, her fellow competitions and the “ladies in blue” who put the Championship together Again, the WWGA is grateful for the opportunity to stage their 81st National Junior Championship at TPC River’s Bend and would again like to thank the staff and the membership for their warm hospitality this past week. The WWGA’s 82nd National Junior Championship will be Knollwwod Country Club in Granger, Indiana next July. We invite all of this year’s competitors to join us again next year. For further information about our organization and the 81th National Junior Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Anderson
Kelly Shon to face Dottie Ardina in
WWGA National Junior Final The final of Championship Flight is scheduled to begin at 9:30 am. In today’s morning matches, Low Qualifier Christine Meier, Rochester Hills, Michigan, defeated Jaclyn Jansen, Effingham, Illinois, on the 20th hole. Dottie Ardina, Sta Rosa Laguna Philippines, defeated West Chester resident Kelsey Lindenschmidt, 2 and1; Kelly Shon, Port Washington, New York, defeated Doris Chen, West Bradenton, Florida, 20 holes; and Catherine O’Donnell, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, defeated Ali Nelson, Moorhead, Minnesota, 2 and 1. In the afternoon semifinals, Ardina defeated Meier, 6 and 5 and Shon defeated O’Donnell, 4 and 3. Ardina was four under on the front nine and had a five up lead at the turn. She needed only four more holes to close out the match. Ardina, a seminfinalist at the Women’s Western Amateur Championship in June, has a very impressive golf resume which includes Champion of the 11-12 age group at last year’s Callaway Junior World Championship and winner of both the Asian Women’s Sabah Amateur Championship and the DHL Philippines Championship earlier this year. Meier said after losing the match that “it was fun to watch her play” and “she enjoyed the match” despite the loss. Ardina will be fourteen years old in December. Shon is a native Korean who has lived in the New York City area for the last seven years. She was also four under on the front side and was five up at the turn. Doris Chen, who lost to Shon in their morning match, caddied for her friend in the afternoon match. Shon has won some International Junior Golf Tour and some Plantation Junior Golf Tour events. Shon just completed her Freshman year in high school and also has a bright future. In the Championship Consolation Flight final, Marie Dhel Dela Paz, Antipolo City, Philippines, will face Kathleen Glavin, Dayton, Ohio. Megan Keating, Cincinnati, will face Emily Dixon, Zionsville, Indiana in the Fourth Flight Final. Ann Busam, Cincinnati, will face Brooke O’Brien, Hilliard, Ohio, in the Fourth Flight Consolation Final. In Fifth Flight Consolation, Kathleen Casey, Mason, will face Kelsey Hughes, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Hughes used to live in the area when her father, Bill, was the General Manager and Director of Golf at TPC River’s Bend. The WWGA is most grateful to the membership and staff of TPC River’s Bend for their hospitality and cooperation in staging this tournament. Special thanks go to Chris Wood, General Manager and Director of Golf; Neal Jones, Head Golf Professional; Dave Faucher, Golf Course Superintendent; and David Marra, Food and Beverage Director. Without their help and support, this tournament would not have run smoothly. We also would like to thank the rest of the TPC River’s Bend staff as well as the many members who acted as volunteers during the tournament and housed some of the contestants. For further information about our organization and the 81th National Junior Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
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Women’s Western Golf Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Anderson Date: July 11, 2007
West Chester’s Kelsey Lindenschmidt reaches the
Quarterfinals at At 7:30 am, matches started for Championship and First Flight which were able to be completed on Tuesday. Quarterfinals are now set for the Championship Flight with Kelsey Lindenschmidt of West Chester the lone Ohioan left in competition. Lindenschmidt, a recent graduate of Ursuline Academy in Cincinnati who plans to enter Northwestern University in the fall, defeated Maria Imelda Piccio, Philippines, by a score of 5 and 3. Lindenschmidt reached the Quarterfinals at the WWGA 79th National Junior Championship at Knollwood Country Club in Granger, Indiana two years ago but lost to eventual Champion Emma Jandel of Datyon on the 19th hole. Lindenschmidt’s golf career has included wins at both the 2004 and 2005 Ohio State Junior Girls Championship and the 2004 Ohio State Women’s Amateur Championship. She also has placed second at both the 2005 and 2006 Ohio State High School Girls Championship. In other local matches in Championship Flight, Jaclyn Jansen, Effingham, Illinois, defeated Alex Carl, Union, Kentucky, 3 and 2. Carl, a junior to be at Notre Dame Academy, has been named to the All-Stars First Team by The Cincinnati Enquirer and Player of the Year by The Northern Kentucky Post. Dottie Ardina, Sta Rosa Laguna, Philippines, defeated Masonite Alexis Nelson by a score of 4 and 3. Nelson has been a Cincinnati All-Star for the last two years. In other matches in Championship Flight, Medalist Christine Meier, Rochester Hills, Michigan, defeated Kelly Short, Muncie, Indiana, 3 and 2; Kelly Shon, Port Washington, New York, defeated Chihiro Ikeda, Manila, Philippines, 4 and 3; Doris Chen, Bradenton, Florida, defeated Alexandria Buelow, Palm City, Florida, on the 21st hole; Catherine O’Donnell, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, defeated Devon Brown, Rancho Santa Fe, California, 2 and 1; Ali Nelson, Moorhead, Minn. defeated Cyna Marie Rodriquez, Manila, Philippines, 2 and 1. In Championship Consolation Flight, Rachel Nelson, West Chester, lost to Marie Dhel Dela Paz, Antipolo City, Philippines, 2 and 1. Tomorrow all flights will play starting at 7:30 am. Championship Flight and Championship Consolation Flight will play an additional round starting at 1:00 pm. Finals in all flights will start be played Friday morning. The public is invited to attend at no charge. The WWGA would like to note that in yesterday’s Press Release, Christine Meier was mistakenly listed from Canton, Ohio instead of Rochester Hills, Michigan. We apologize for the error. For further information about our organization and the 81th National Junior Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com. -30-
Women’s Western Golf
Association
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Medalist advances at Women’s Western Golf Association’s 81st National Junior Championship rain played havoc with today’s play at the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 81st National Junior Championship at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio. A 3 ¼ hours delayed started at 9:30 am and another 1 ½ hour delay started at 4:30 pm. Today’s last match teed off at 6:45 pm. Despite the rain, West Chester resident Kelsey Lindenschmidt defeated 4th Seed Marie Dhel Dela Paz, Antipolo City, Philippines, 4 and 2 in Championship Flight. Alexis Nelson, Mason, defeated Samantha Swinehart, Lancaster, 2 and 1. Maria Imelda Piccio, Bacolod City, Philippines, defeated Rachel Nelson, West Chester, 2 and 1. Devon Brown, Rancho Santa Fe, California defeated Kathleen Glavin, Dayton, 8 and 7. Yesterday’s Medalist, Christine Meier, Canton, defeated Kristi Cardwell, Kokomo, Indiana, 4 and 2. 2nd Seed Chihiro Ikeda, Manila, Philippines defeated Amelia Hill, St. Simons Island, Georgia, 2 up. 3rd Seed Catherine O’Donnell, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, defeated Brittany Talman, Issaquah, Washington, 2 and 1. The only other flight that completed play today was First Flight. All remaining matches are scheduled to resume at 7 am with Wednesday’s scheduled matches beginning at 7:30 am. Weather permitting, all scheduled matches for Wednesday will be played. Due to the rain delay, pairings for Wednesday have not yet been completed. For further information about our organization and the 81th National Junior Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
Women’s Western Golf
Association
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Christine Meier leads the field in qualifying Chihiro Ikeda, a Japanese native now living in the Philippines, followed with a 70. Tied at 71 were Catherine O’Donnell, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and Marie Dhel Dela Paz, Antipolo City, Philippines. At 72 was Dottie Ardina, Sta Rosa Laguna, Philippines. The low scorer from Ohio was Mason resident Alexis Nelson who shot a 75. Nelson is the defending Junior Girls Champion at TPC River’s Bend. For the past two years she has been a Cincinnati All-Star. A score of 77 was the magic number for Kathleen Glavin, Dayton; Samantha Swinehart, Lancaster; Shamira Marshall, Macedonia; and Rachel Nelson, West Chester. Kelsey Lindenschmidt, also of West Chester, shot a 79. Lindenschmidt, a recent graduate of UrsulineAcademy in Cincinnati, plans to attend Northwestern University in the fall. For the last two years, she has placed second in the Ohio State High School Championship and during the same period she won the Ohio State Junior Girls Championship. Tomorrow the tournament switches to single elimination Match Play. The low 32 scores will be placed in Championship Flight. The other players will be placed in respective flights based on their qualifying scores. All players will play on Tuesday and on Wednesday when Consolation Flights will be set up for the loser’s of Tuesday’s matches. Matches will be played again on Thursday and Finals will be played on Friday morning. The public is invited to attend at no charge. For further information about our organization and the 81th National Junior Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
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Women’s Western Golf
Association FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Anderson Date: June 23, 2007
The Women’s Western Golf Association is set to sponsor their The nation’s oldest golf association for women, the WOMEN’S WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION (WWGA), will stage their 81st National Junior Championship at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio, from July 9th to 13th. Junior Golfers from 21 states, Canada and the Philippines will compete for the title of WWGA Junior Champion. Last July, the WWGA’s 80th National Junior Championship was held at Sugar Mill Country Club in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Alexandra (Allie) Bodemann, Palm Ctiy, Florida, defeated Jessica Yadloczky, Casselberry, Florida, in the Final match to win the Championship. In 2005, Emma Jandel, Dayton, Ohio, now attending Ohio State University, was named Champion at the WWGA 79th National Junior Championship at Knollwood Country Club, Granger, Indiana, after defeating Piper Miller, Laguna Beach, California, for the title. Past winners of this tournament also include current LPGA members Cristie Kerr, Grace Park, Candie Kung, Candy Hanneman and Malinda Johnson as well as LPGA Hall of Fame members Nancy Lopez, Carol Mann and Jo Anne Gunderson (Carner). Both Nancy Lopez and Candy Hanneman won the title three years in a row.
Early entrants include Maria Dhel Dela Paz, Antipolo City, Philippines;
Dottie Ardina, Laguna, The Philippines; Lila Barton, Dallas, Texas;
Catherine O’Donnell, Ponte Vedra, Florida; Devon Brown, Rancho Santa Fe,
California; Lauren Stratton, Spring Hill, Tennessee; Vernonica Valereio,
Temecula, California; Brittany Tallman, Issaquah, Washington; Trisha
Witherby, Richmond, Indiana; Alex Lederhausen, Hinsdale, Illinois; Kelly
Shon, Port Washington, New York; and Melanie Audette, Lakeland,
Florida. TPC River’s Bend is one of 21 premier private, resort and daily fee properties that make up The TPC Network which is managed by PGA Tour Golf Course Properties, Inc. Situated in the hills overlooking the scenic, historic Little Miami River with breathtaking panoramic views, this Arnold Palmer designed golf course creates a challenging venue with its whispering creeks, gentle elevation changes, and a winding route for the players. In 2002, the course was named by Golf Digest as a “Top 10 Best New Private Courses in America” and one of the “Best in State” by Golf Digest in 2005-2006 and again in 2007-2008. TPC River’s Bend previously hosted the PGA Champions Tour Kroger Classic in 2002, 2003 and 2004. One 18 hole qualifying round will take place on Monday, July 9th. After the conclusion of the round, players will be placed in flights. The lowest 32 players will contend for the Championship title while the other players will compete in various flights based on their qualifying scores. Single elimination matches will be played each day with consolation flights set up after the conclusion of play on Tuesday. All flight finals will take place on Friday morning, July 13th when a new WWGA Junior Champion will be named. In addition to holding its 81th National Junior Championship this year, the the 107th WWGA National Amateur Championship was held at Stone Creek Golf Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois, June 11th to 16th where Mallory Blackwelder, Versailles, Kentucky was named Champion. The 29th National Senior Championship is scheduled for October 29th to 31st, at the Naples Beach Resort and Golf Club in Naples, Florida. The WWGA was founded in 1901 under the auspices of the Western Golf Association (which sponsored the Western Open each year) and proudly claims a history as long and as prestigious as its initial sponsor. In 1903, the WWGA broke ranks with the Western to form its own organization with its constitution to promote amateur golf for women and girls. Today the WWGA, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization has over 400 Member Clubs from all over the United States. Over 70 women volunteer to serve as Directors to facilitate all facets of the organization including on-site management of their 3 annual Championships. There is no paid staff and each Director travels to the tournaments at their own expense. The Women’s Western Golf Foundation (WWGF) was formed in 1971 as an outgrowth of the WWGA. This charitable trust receives and distributes scholarship funds to deserving your collegians as well as provides funding to inadequately funded Women’s collegiate golf programs. Over $3.0 million of college scholarships have been granted during the last 36 years and the WWGA is currently helping support almost 70 women from 25 states attend the college of their choice. For further information about our organization and the 81th National Junior Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
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Women’s Western Golf Association For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Anderson Date: June 16, 2007
Mallory Blackwelder defeats
Stefanie Page in Mallory Blackwelder must have some good golfing genes. She is the daughter of Myra, incoming Women’s Golf Coach at the University of Kentucky, and Worth, a LPGA caddie for many years, presently carrying the bag for Juli Inkster. On Saturday, Mallory defeated Stefanie Page, 5 and 4, in the 36-hole final in the Championship Flight of the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 107th National Amateur Championship at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois. The Final Match started at 7:00 am this morning. Blackwelder took an early lead after Page bogeyed the 2nd hole. Both players birdied the 5th hole, and Blackwelder birdied the 6th hole to take a 2 up lead. Page won the 8th and 9th hole to get the match back to even. Blackwelder won the 10th and 11th holes, lost the 12th to leave her a 1 up. The match ended the 1st round of 18 with Blackwelder 1 up. Blackwelder had 3 birdies, one bogey and one double bogey for a 72. Page had 2 birdies and 4 bogeys for 2 over 74. After a few minutes break, play resumed for the second round of 18. Blackwelder took command early with birdies on the 20th, 23rd, 24th and 25th holes to play that nine 4 under. Page played that nine in par 36 but quickly found herself down 5 at the end of 27 holes. Page birdied the 12th hole to regain a shot, but Blackwelder birdied the 14th hole to end the match. Blackwelder, a University of Florida Gator, returns to Kentucky with her name on the Alexander Cup along side such names as Nancy Lopez, Patty Berg, Beth Daniel, Cristie Kerr, Grace Park, Brittany Lang and Stacy Lewis. Page was disappointed not to win the Championship Match today for she grew up in The Woodlands, Texas, playing junior golf with Stacy Lewis, last year’s Champion. Page, however, was excited to make it to the final match and was pleased that all her hard work had paid off. Blackwelder was both elated and exhausted having had to play 9 rounds of golf to win the title. She tried to stay focused, hydrated, and kept grinding through all the rounds. She was also very appreciative of her father’s help on the bag. She only had to focus on each shot because he seemed to take care of everything else. Both girls were very complimentary about the Stone Creek Golf Course. Despite a drought in this part of the country, the greenskeeper and his staff had the course well prepared for this tournament. Blackwelder seemed to really like holes #5, #6, and #7 which she played 8 under in her last three rounds. The Women’s Western Golf Association again would like to thank all the staff of Stone Creek Golf Club for the hard work and generosity over the past week. The Women’s Western Golf Association has closed another chapter in its rich history with the conclusion of its 107th National Amateur Championship. The WWGA will also be sponsoring the 81st National Junior Championship at TPC River’s Bend, Maineville, Ohio, July 9th to 13th; and its 29th National Senior Championship at Naples Beach Resort and Golf Club, Naples, Florida. Congratulations, Mallory! -30-
Women’s
Western Golf Association For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Anderson Date: June 15, 2007
Texan Stefanie Page to face
Kentuckian Mallory Blackwelder At Stone
Creek Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois, Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches
were played today in the Championship Flight of the Women’s Western Golf
Association’s (WWGA) 107th National Amateur Championship.
In the Morning Quarterfinal Matches, Stefanie Page, The Woodlands,
Texas, def. Allison Stewart, Vermillion, South Dakota, 4 and 2; Maria
Imelda Piccio, Bacolod City, Philippines, def. (her cousin) Ana
Imelda Tanpinco, Pasay City, Philippines, 3 and 1; Dottie Ardina,
Laguna, Philippines, def. (Birthday Girl) Sara Ovadia, Santa Barbara,
California, 1 up; and Mallory Blackwelder, Versailles, Kentucky, def.
Marisa Milligan, Normal, Illinois, 3 and 1. In the second match, Blackwelder was down three after three holes but birdied the 5th, 6th and 7th holes to get back to even. The match stayed even until Ardina’s par at the 14th hole beat Blackwelder’s bogey to give Ardina a 1 up lead. Blackwelder evened the match at the 16th hole when Ardina bogeyed. All stayed even until the 18th hole where Ardina’s drive ended up in the right rough which ended up giving her a bogey on the hole to lose to Blackwelder’s par. Blackwelder, a Junior to be at the University of Florida, has had her father, Worth, as her caddie this past week. It’s lucky for Blackwelder that the LPGA has a break this week, as her father’s full time job is being a caddie for Juli Inkster on the LPGA tour. Blackwelder’s mother, Myra, has recently been named Women’s Golf Team Coach at her alma mater, the University of Kentucky. Although
Blackwelder stated after her match that “this is the longest
tournament she has ever been in”, she still has a Final match tomorrow.
Both Page and Blackwelder played 36 holes on Thursday and Friday yet
they still face a 36-hole final starting at 7:00 am tomorrow. The girls
have elected to play straight through in hopes of completing the match
before the high heat of the day appears (expected to be in the mid to
upper 90’s). Now all they have to hope for is little or no wind for
both know the Stone Creek course is much more challenging with a
swirling wind that seems to appear each afternoon. The public is
invited to attend the Championship Final at no charge. -30-
Women’s Western Golf Association For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Anderson
Date: June 14, 2007
Top Seed falls in Women’s Western Golf -30-
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Anderson Date: June 13, 2007
Top seeds advance in Women’s
Western Golf Association’s Lauren Mielbrecht, Gulf Stream, Florida, started her quest today to obtain the title of Champion at the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 107th National Amateur Championship. Last year’s Champion, Stacy Lewis, The Woodlands, Texas, won the Title after winning Medalist Honors in the 2-day Qualifying Rounds. Mielbrecht was the Medalist this year and is hoping to follow in Lewis’ footsteps. Mielbrecht defeatead Sarah Prascsak, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 7 and 5. Second Seed, Dottie Ardina, Sta Rosa Laguna, Philippines, defeated Britt Kuntson, South Bend, Indiana, 6 & 5. #3 Seed, Jean Reynolds, Newman, Georgia, defeated Maggie Wood, Boonville, Indiana, 2up, and #4 Seed, Laura Kueny, Whitehall, Michigan, defeated Kelsey Johnson, Orchard Park, New York. In Championship Flight, twelve year old, Katherine Hepler, from Lincoln, Illinois, lost today to Julia Potter, Granger, Indiana, by a score of 7 and 6. Mt. Zion resident, JJ Flynn, lost to Christina Pachuta, Perry, New York, 1 up in First Flight. Champaign resident Jenna Dombrowski had a Bye in Fourth Flight. Univeristy of Illinois Women’s Golf Team members Kristine Cook, Stephanie Mory, and Seul Ki Park all advanced in Championship Flight. Cook, Fishers, Indiana, defeated Kim Hunley, Aurora, Illinois, 2 and 1; Mory seeded 5th from Haselett, Michigan, defeated Andrea Ratigan, AnnArbor, Michigan, 2 and 1; and Park, Northbrook, Illinois, with an Eagle 2 on the Par 4 14th hole, defeated Amber Lundskog, San Diego, California, 3 and 1. Nancy Featherstone, Franklin, Illinois, had her hands full losing to Marie Dhel Dela Paz, Antipolo City, Philippines, by a score of 7 and 5. In First Flight, Casey Burden needed 19 holes to defeat Jill Marcum, Iowa City, Iowa. In Second Flight, Kristin Kallergis, Lake Forest, Illinois, defeated Lindsay Haines, Crete, Illinois, 2 and 1. In Third Flight, incoming Freshman Raquel Hopton, Valparaiso, Indiana, defeated Ana North, Rock Island, Illinois, 2up, and Kelsey O’Neal lost her match to Brittany Atterbury, Rockton, Illinois, 5 and 4. In side events, The Derby Cup, which is awarded to the two players from the same club with the lowest combined Gross Score from the 2-day Qualifying Rounds, was won by Forest Akers Golf Course, (East Lansing, Michigan), the home course for the Big Ten Champions Michigan State University Spartans Women’s Golf Team. The players were Sara Brown, Tucson, Arizona, and Laura Kueny, Whitehall, Michigan, who turned a combined 2-day total score of 284. The Maschmeyer Cup, which is awarded to four players from the same state with the lowest combined Gross Score from the 2-day Qualifying Rounds, was won by The Philippines. The winning team was Dottie Ardina, Laguna; Maria Dhel Dela Paz, Antipolo City; Cyna Marie Rodriquez, Manila; and Ana Imelda Tanpinco, Pasay City. Their combined 2-day total score was 587. Match play continues tomorrow morning at 7:30 am with Championship Flight teeing off until 9:30 am. The other Flights will follow. Championship Flight’s Round of 16 will play again at 1:00 pm. The public is invited to attend at no charge. For further information about our organization and the 107th National Amateur Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
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Women’s Western Golf Association For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Anderson Date: June 12, 2007
Virginia Cavalier Lauren
Mielbrecht captures
The second day of Qualifying Rounds was played today in the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 107th National Amateur Championship at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois. The Par 72, 6,150 yard course created quite a challenge as the wind picked up as the day progressed. Lauren
Mielbrecht, Gulf Stream, Florida, followed up yesterday’s 68 with a Par
72 for a 2-day total of 140. Mielbrecht, a member of the University of
Virginia Golf Team, did not play Spring season due to a stress fracture
in her left foot which sidelined her for six months. She has only been
playing golf for the last month. Despite a Triple Bogey on the 2nd
Hole, she fought back with five Birdies, ten Pars and only two
Bogey’s in today’s round. Mielbrecht, playing in her 3rd
WWGA Amateur, will have her name engraved on the Margaret Lenz Medalist
Trophy joining past winners Carol Semple Thompson, Beth Daniel, Moira
Dunn, Grace Park, Kellee Booth, Candie Kung, Brittany Lang, Amanda Blumenherst
and Stacy Lewis. The youngest player in the field, Katherine Hepler, Lincoln, Illinois, also found the course more challenging today and followed up yesterday’s 76 with an 82 today for a 2-day total of 158. Kristine Cook, Fishers, Indiana, matched her 75 of yesterday to give a total of 150 to the University of Illinois Team Member. After play was completed, seven players tied at 160 competed for the last three spots in Championship Flight. Those succeeding in the playoff were Hoosiers Maggie Wood, Booneville; Britt Knutson, South Bend; and Sarah Prascsak, Fort Wayne. Those players not making Championship Flight will be placed in respective Flights based on the qualifying scores. Tomorrow single elimination Match Play will start. The First Flight play will start at 7:30 am with the Championship Flight starting at 8:30 am. The winners will advance to Thursday’s second round of Match Play while the match losers will head toward home. For Championship Flight, two rounds of Match Play will take place both Thursday and Friday setting the stage for a 36-hole Final on Sunday. Other Flight finals will take place on Friday afternoon. The public is invited to attend at no charge. In addition to sponsoring their Amateur Tournament, this year the WWGA will also sponsor their 81st National Junior Championship at TPC River’s Bend, Maineville, Ohio, July 9th-13th; and their 29th National Senior Championship at The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, Naples, Florida, October 29th to 31st. For further information about our organization and the 107th National Amateur Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
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Women’s Western Golf Association For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Anderson Date: June 11, 2007
Play is underway in the WWGA’s 107th
National
Early this morning players started their quest to become the winner of the Women’s Western Golf Association’s 107th National Championship at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois. In the 1st day of a 2-day Qualifying Round, Lauren Mielbrecht, a Junior at the University of Virginia from Gulfstream, Florida, had the low round of the day with her score of 68 over the Par 72, 6,150 yard golf course. Following closely with scores of 69 were Julia Potter, a Sophomore from the University of Missouri from Granger, Indiana, and Sara Brown, a Junior at Big Ten Champions Michigan State University from Tuscon, Arizona. Tied at 71 were 13 year old Dottie Ardina, Laguna, Philippines; Jean Reynolds, Newman, Georgia; and Mallory Blackwelder, Versailles, Kentucky. Tied at par 72 were Amanda Johnson, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Carly Nathanson, Dix Hills, New York; and Tara Goedeken, Dodge City, Kansas. Stephanie Mory, Haslett, Michigan, was the lowest member of the University of Illinois Golf Team here with a 72. Kristine Cook, Fishers, Indiana, followed with a 75. The youngest player in the field, 12 year old Katherine Hepler of Lincoln, Illinois, carded a 76. The second Qualifying Round will take place tomorrow, June 12th. After the conclusion of the round, players will be placed in Flights. The low 64 players will contend for the Championship title while the other players will compete in subsequent Fights based on their qualifying scores. Single elimination Match Play will be played each day starting Wednesday, June 13th. The 36-hole Championship Final will take place on Saturday, June 16th while all other Flight finals will be on Friday afternoon, June 15th. The public is invited to attend everyday free of charge. First opened in 1999, Stone Creek has previously hosted the 2001 Men’s Big Ten Championship; the 2002 Women’s Big Ten Championship; and the Illinois State Men’s Amateur Championship in 2004. This year they will also be hosting the Callaway PGA Jr. Championship Series. This links style golf course, designed by Tom and Dick Nugent, has a series of soft small slopes with subtle elevation changes as well as numerous lakes, sculptured bunkers, and stone-laden creeks that meander throughout the course. The grasses include Bent grass tees, fairways and greens, with a lush combination of rye and Kentucky blue as the roughs. The WWGA was founded in 1901 under the sponsorship of the Western Golf Association (which sponsored the Western Open each year) and proudly claims a history as long and as prestigious as its initial sponsor. In 1903, the WWGA broke ranks with the Western to form its own organization with its constitution to promote golf for women and to hold an annual Amateur Championship for women. Today the WWGA, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, has over 400 Member Clubs from all over the United States. Over 70 women volunteer to serve as Directors to facilitate all facets of the organization including on-site management of their 3 annual Amateur, Junior and Senior Championships. There is no paid staff and each Director travels to the tournaments at their own expense. In addition to sponsoring their Amateur Tournament, this year the WWGA will sponsor their 81st National Junior Championship at TPC River’s Bend, Maineville, Ohio, July 9th-13th; and their 29th National Senior Championship at The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, Naples, Florida, October 29th to 31st. The Women’s Western Golf Foundation (WWGF) was formed in 1971 as an outgrowth of the WWGA. This charitable trust receives and distributes scholarship funds to deserving young collegians as well as provides funding to inadequately funded Women’s collegiate golf programs. Over $2.7 million of college scholarships have been granted during the last 36 years and the WWGF is currently helping support over 70 women from 26 states attend the college of their choice. For further information about our organization and the 107th National Amateur Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com. -30-
107th National Amateur
Championship
Contact: Judy
Anderson Date: May 28, 2007
The Women’s Western Golf Association set to sponsor
The nation’s oldest golf
association for women, the WOMEN’S WESTERN
Top women Amateur players
from 20 states, Canada and the Philippines will compete The WWGA previously staged their 103rd National Amateur Championshipat Stone Creek in 2003. Brittany Lang, McKinney, Texas was the Champion. At the time she was a top ranked Junior by Golfweek. She entered Duke University that Fall and played for two years on their Women’s NCAA Championship Golf Teams. Lang was named the Women’s NCAA Freshman Player of the Year in 2004 and was a Member of the 2004 United States Curtis Cup Team. Now a member of the LPGA Tour, she played her rookie season in 2006 and ended up placing 21st on the Money List. Lang defeated Meaghan Francella, Port Chester, New York, in the Final. Francella was attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she had been the Women’s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion in 2003. She was the NCAA Women’s NCAA Eastern Regional Champion in 2004. After 3 years on the Duramed Futures Tour, she is now playing on the LPGA tour. Francella posted her first LPGA win at the Master Card Classic in March, 2007, after defeating Annika Soremstan in a 4-hole playoff. It was only her 6th LPGA start. Last June, the WWGA’s 106th National Amateur Championship was held at Fincastle Country Club in Bluefield, West Virginia. The Champion was Stacy Lewis, The Woodlands, Texas, a member of the University of Arkansas golf team. She defeated Jennifer Hong, a Freshman at Northwestern University from Windemerre, Florida. Last week, Lewis won the Women’s NCAA Individual Golf Championship at LPGA International in Ormond Beach, Florida. A number of players from Illinois have entered the tournament including Marisa Milligan, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois State Women’s Champion in 2005; Ashley Freeman, Belleville; Rikki Sobel, Deerfield; Char McLear, McHenry; and Laura Carson, Lake Bluff. Members of the University of Illinois Women’s Golf Team expected to play Include Casey Burden, Lake Bluff; Kristin Kallergis, Lake Forest; Stephanie Mory, Haslett, Michigan; and Kelsey O’Neal, Glenview. Among other early entrants are Sara Ovadia, Santa Barbara, California, a Semifinalist last year; Mandi McConnell, Grand Blanc, Michigan, a Semifinalist in 2005; Haley Brown, Austin, Texas; Jill Hardy, Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada; Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Tempe, Arizona; Jennifer Selfinger, Columbus, Ohio; Kristin Ingram, Pasadena, California; and Amber Lundskog, San Diego, California. Entries will close on June 4th. Two 18-hole Qualifying Rounds will take place on Monday, June 11th and Tuesday, June 12th. After the conclusion of these rounds, players will be placed in Flights. The low 64 players will contend for the Championship title while the other players will compete in subsequent Fights based on their qualifying scores. Single elimination Match Play will be played each day starting Wednesday, June 13th. The 36-hole Championship Final will take place on Saturday, June 16th while all other Flight finals will be on Friday afternoon, June 15th. The public is invited to attend everyday free of charge. First opened in 1999, Stone Creek has previously hosted the 2001 Men’s Big Ten Championship; the 2002 Women’s Big Ten Championship; and the Illinois State Men’s Amateur Championship in 2004. This year they will also be hosting the Callaway PGA Jr. Championship Series. This links style golf course, designed by Tom and Dick Nugent, has a series of soft small slopes with subtle elevation changes as well as numerous lakes, sculptured bunkers, and stone-laden creeks that meander throughout the course. The grasses include Bent grass tees, fairways and greens, with a lush combination of rye and Kentucky blue as the roughs. The WWGA was founded in 1901 under the sponsorship of the Western Golf Association (which sponsored the Western Open each year) and proudly claims a history as long and as prestigious as its initial sponsor. In 1903, the WWGA broke ranks with the Western to form its own organization with its constitution to promote golf for women and to hold an annual Amateur Championship for women. This dream has been kept alive for 107 years. Today the WWGA, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, has over 400 Member Clubs from all over the United States. Over 70 women volunteer to serve as Directors to facilitate all facets of the organization including on-site management of their 3 annual Amateur, Junior and Senior Championships. There is no paid staff and each Director travels to the tournaments at their own expense. The Women’s Western Golf Foundation (WWGF) was formed in 1971 as an outgrowth of the WWGA. This charitable trust receives and distributes scholarship funds to deserving young collegians as well as provides funding to inadequately funded Women’s collegiate golf programs. Over $2.7 million of college scholarships have been granted during the last 36 years and the WWGF is currently helping support over 70 women from 26 states attend the college of their choice. For further information about our organization and the 107th National Amateur Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
-30- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Golf, Ill. … Many national and regional golf associations for women can truthfully say they have lived with the game of golf for a long, long time … but few can mean this as literally as the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA.) The Women’s Western will bring its 107th National Amateur Championship to Urbana. Ill. from June 11 to 16. Top women amateurs from across the U. S., Canada and the Philippines will play Stone Creek Golf Club designed by Tim and Dick Nugent. Beautifully manicured, the course has bent grass fairways, soft smooth slopes, numerous lakes and stone laden creeks and subtle elevation changes making it a true golfer’s experience. A brief history of the WWGA … in 1901, the WWGA was founded under the sponsorship of the Western Golf Association. In 1903 the WWGA “broke ranks” (from the Western Golf Association) to form its own organization with a constitution to hold an annual championship for amateur women. Twenty years before women were allowed to vote the Western “ladies” were conducting golf tournaments! The WWGA Amateur tournament is the oldest, most consecutively played women’s championship, not even two world wars kept it from being played. That dream has been kept alive going on 107 years. The WWGA shines with names of truly great legends in women’s golf – Patty Berg (an 8-time winner), Babe Zaharias, Nancy Lopez, Louise Suggs, Dot Germain, Kathy Whitworth, Betsy Rawls, Carol Mann, Mickey Wright, Betty Jameson, Marion Miley, Pat Lesser, Debbie Massey and JoAnne Gunderson Carner, to cite a few. The current LPGA roster beams with even more top names whose beginnings in the professional arena stem from wins, or reaching as high as the finals or quarter-finals in the WWGA Amateur and/or Junior tournaments … Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lang, Meredith Duncan, Meaghan Francella, Candie Kung, Hilary Homeyer Lunke, Vicki Goetz Ackerman, Candy Hannemann, Beth Daniel, Amy Alcott, Emilee Klein, Michelle McGann, Pearl Sinn, Grace Park, Kellee Booth, and Moira Dunn are just a sample on this distinguished list. It goes without saying, the WWGA Amateur and Junior Championships have proved veritable springboards for furthering the golfing careers for so many young women. Today, the WWGA, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with 400 member clubs throughout the United States, reaches over 40,000 women nationwide. The WWGA has Directors from across the country who volunteer their time, effort and energy to the administration of the organization and on-site management of the three Championships. All the Officers and Directors involved with the Association travel at their own expense to wherever the tournaments are being held – be it in the north, south, east or western part of the country. There is no paid staff. For more information on the WWGA tournaments – contact the tournament chairmen listed on the WWGA’s Home Page. During the AMATEUR tournament contact Public Relations Chairman: Judy Anderson at Judithwanderson@msn.com -30-
BETTY JAMESON
BETTY
JAMESON HONORED WITH At the WWGA’s Annual Meeting held during the 28th National Senior Championship at Hershey Country Club, Hershey, Pa., President Barbara H. West announced that BETTY JAMESON is the 2006 recipient of the Women’s Western Golf Association’s Woman of Distinction Award. Betty has a long and illustrious golfing career. She is one of the 13 founders of the LPGA and won 13 events during her career – 12 as a pro and one as an amateur. Born in Norman, Okla., she began playing golf at age 11. She was an accomplished amateur winning 14 significant championships before turning pro in 1945. She won the 1932 Texas Publinx title at age 13 and the Southern Championship when she was 15. Her major victory as an amateur was the 1942 Women’s Western Open, then a major championship (held from 1930-1967.) During that year she became the first player to win the Women’s Western Open and the 42nd Women’s Western Amateur Championship. She was the Finalist at the 1937 WWGA Amateur and won the tournament in 1940 as well as in 1942. Betty was the runner-up at the 1949 WWGA Open Championship when Louise Suggs took home the title. She was runner-up to Betsy Rawls in 1952 and won the championship again in 1954 when she defeated Louise Suggs. She conceived the idea of annually honoring the golfer with the lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour and in 1952 donated a trophy for that purpose in the name of Glenna Collett Vare. In 1967 when the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame was instigated, Betty was one of the six inaugural inductees. She was inducted into the Women’s Sports Foundation |
