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WWGA PRESS RELEASES
Women’s Western Golf Association
Women’s
Western Golf Associaiton For Immediate Release Contact: Judy Anderson
Jennie Arseneault defeats Mary Narzisi in
Morning broke with rain storms in Newnan, Georgia, which delayed the start of the final match in the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 108th National Amateur Championship at Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club. Due to the inclement weather, the final match was shortened from 36 to 18 holes. A full 18 holes was needed for Jennie Arseneault, a University of Virginia Senior from Grinnell, Iowa, to defeat Mary Narzisi, a Sophomore at the University of Minnesota from Omaha, Nebraska, 1 up. Arseneault tied for 3rd in the two day qualifying round with a score of 142 on the 6,396 yard, par 72 golf course. Arseneault has an impressive Junior Golf resume which included being on both the 2005 Junior Solheim Cup and Canon Cup (West) teams. After entering Virginia in January, 2006, she has reached the Quarterfinal rounds of both the 2006 WWGA 106th National Amateur Championship and the 2006 USGA Women’s Amateur Championship. She also qualified for the USGA Women’s Open and was the 2006 All Atlantic Coast Team. In 2007, she was out with a back injury and just in the last few weeks has she felt like she was in 2006. Obviously her timing was good as she played some great golf this week dominating some of her matches with results of 7 & 6 and 5 & 4. After defeating her teammate, Calle Nielson, narrowly in the semifinals, she faced her toughest match today against Narzisi. Speaking about her golf, she started playing when she was 4 at her father’s encouragement . Her competitive spirit was born at that early age competing against her brother who was two years older. She won her first tournament, a three hole event, at the age of 5. Later this summer, she plans to play the North-South and then play her final season at Virginia. Narzisi also has an impressive Junior Golf resume, which included being Nebraska State Class A Individual Champion in 2005 and 2006 and Medalist in the Nebraska Junior Girls Match Play Championship in 2006. She also participated in the USGA Junior Girls Championship, AJGA competitions, and the Trusted Choice Big “I” Tournament. She just finished her first season at Minnesota where she played in a team-high 10 tournaments. Narzisi may not have been the lowest handicap entered in the tournament, but she certainly had the right attitude. When asked what her expectations were when entering the WWGA Amateur, she said: “to win. No one should ever enter any golf tournament without the intent to be the winner.” She came very close, especially after being three up on Arseneault after the 5th hole. Arseneault showed her grit and fought back winning the 6th, 8th and 9th hole to even the match at the turn. Narsizi won the 14th hole to take a 1 up lead, but Arseneault won the 16th and 17th hole to take a one up lead to the 18th tee. Both players matched pars on the 18th hole to give Arseneault the win. After the match, Kelli Berns, Narsizi’s teammate at Minnesota who served as her caddy in the final match, said: “Mary is a great golfer. She has my respect. She may not have won today, but she will win another tournament soon.” How ironic it was that after 143 entered this event located in Atlanta, with many participants hailing from south of the Mason-Dixon line, two players from the Corn Belt ended up playing each other in the final. Congratulations to both players for a day of fine golf. As we do at the end of each WWGA tournament, we wish to acknowledge the staff and members of Canongate Golf, including those at SummerGrove Golf Club, for their assistance in staging this fine tournament. We also would like to extend a special thanks to Joe Guerra, Chief Executive Officer of Canongate Golf, for his role for hosting this Championship. We also want to thank Bob Wagner for his continued expertise in providing information for our website, www.WWGA..org. The next tournament will be the WWGA 82nd National Junior Championship at Knollwood Country Club, Granger, Indiana, July 14-18. Entry applications are still available at www.WWGA.org. Entries will close on July 5th.
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For Immediate Release Contact: Judy Anderson Mary Narzisi and Jennie Arseneault ready to face each other in tomorrow’s Women’s Western Golf Association’s 108th National Amateur Championship 36 Hole Final
A lot of golf was played today and in the end two golfers remain to play tomorrow’s 36 Hole Final Match in the Championship Flight of the Women’s Western Golf Associaiton’s (WWGA) 108th National Amateur Championship at Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan, Georgia. Mary Narzisi, a Sophomore at The University of Minnesota from Omaha, Nebraska, will face Jennie Arseneault, a Senior at The University of Virginia from Grinnell, Iowa, in the final match. From a field of 143 who started play on Monday, many of them who could be called “southerners”, it will two women from the center of the country staying one more day to compete for the title of Champion. In the morning quarterfinal matches, Narzisi, defeated University of Arkansas Junior, Kristin Ingram, from Pasadena, California, 2 up. Ingram led early in the match but Narzisi showed her grit and fought back to win on the 18th hole. Meanwhile, Arseneault took an early lead on Wake Forest graduate Laura Crawford, Lancaster, South Carolina, to close it out 5 and 4. In other Quarterfinal matches, Kathleen Ekey, a Senior at the University of Alabama from Sharon Center, Ohio, had a hard fought match with Candace Shepperle, a Junior at Auburn University from Hoover, Alabama. Their match seesawed with Ekey taking the victory 1 up. Calle Nielson, Nashville, Tennessee, a teammate of Arseneault’s at Virginia, defeated Chihiro Ikeda, Laguna, Philippines, 3 and 2. In the afternoon semifinal matches, Narzisi went 1 up on the 2nd hole. Ekey evened the match on the 11th hole, but lost the 12th hole to be 1 down again. Ekey won 14 and 15 to take a 1 up lead. She lost the lead on the 18th when her drive ended up in the bunker on the left side of the fairway. Unable to match Narzisi’s par, the match went on for extra holes. On the 2nd hole, Ekey’s bogey lost to Narsizi’s par and Narsizi took the match. In the mean time, Arseneault won the first two holes to get a 2 up lead. She held a lead until the 13th hole when Nielson birdie beat Arseneault’s par. Nielson won the 14th hole, lost the 15th and never regained the lead. Arseneault birdied the 17th hole, and tied the 18th to take the match. Tomorrow’s final in the Championship Flight will start at 8:00 AM. If the players want to take a break between the rounds, they will be allowed to do so. An Awards Presentation will take place after the match is completed. The Public is invited to watch the match at no charge. In other flight Finals today, First Flight was won by Andrea Watts, Bradenton, Florida; Second Flight, Kelli Berns, South Haven, Minnesota; Third Flight, Tama Caldabaugh, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; Fourth Flight, Molly Boyle, Seattle, Washington; and Fifth Flight, Bonnie Grizzard, North Palm Beach, Florida. The WWGA is grateful to the entire Canongate organization and to the staff at SummerGrove Golf Club for their generosity for allowing us to host our 108th National Amateur Championship here in Newnan and for the wonderful service and hospitality that was provided to the players during the past week. For further information about the 108th National Amateur Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org.
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For Immediate Release Contact: Judy Anderson
#1 Seed beaten in Women’s Western Golf
Today Championship Flight’s Round of 32 and the Round of 16 were both played at the Women’s Western Golf Association’s 108th National Amateur Championship at Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan, Georgia. Both the morning and afternoon waves brought some upsets. In the morning group, 39th Seed Marisa Milligan, Normal, Illinois, defeated 7th Seed Marika Lendl, Bradenton, Florida by a score of 3 and 2. Lendl had set the SummerGrove Golf Club golf course record with a 67 on Tuesday on the second day of the two day qualifying rounds for Match Play. 42nd Seed Chihiro Ikeda, Laguna, Philippines, defeated 10th Seed Cindy LaCrosse, a Senior at the University of Louisville from Tampa, Florida, 4 and 2. 25th Seed Alexandra (Allie) Bodemann, a Wake Forest University Sophomore from Palm City, Florida, defeated 8th Seed Whitney Neuhauser, Barboursville, Virginia, a Junior at the University of Virginia. In a match between close friends which developed playing Junior Golf, Alabama Senior Kathleen Ekey, Wadsworth, Ohio, defeated Auburn’s NCAA Freshman of the Year, Cydney Clanton, Rockwell, North Carolina, 3 and 2. Both Ekey and Clanton have qualified for next week’s USGA Women’s Open and plan to travel there together and play their practice rounds together as well. In the afternoon matches, Auburn’s Candace Schepperle, Hoover, Alabama, was on her way to setting a new course record in the defeat of Katie Miller, Jeannette, Pennsylvania, 5 and 4. Miller, a 2007 graduate of the University of North Carolina, was 3 under on her own card but when the match ended on hole 14, Schepperle had 8 birdies on her card without a bogey on this 6,396 yard, Par 72 course.47 The top seed, Dottie Ardina, Laguna, Philippines, lost her afternoon match to Kristin Ingram, Pasadena, California, 3 and 1. Ardina, winner of last year’s WWGA’s 82nd National Junior Championship and an impressive junior golf resume, is only 14 years old. Ingram, a Junior at the University of Arkansas, played brilliantly after being down to Ardina early in the match. In other matches, Laura Crawford, Lancaster, South Carolina, a recent graduate of Wake Forest University, defeated Alina Lee, Athens, Georgia, 2 up. Jennie Arseneault, Grinnell, Iowa, a Junior at the University of Virginia, defeated Sarah Thead, a sophomore at Auburn University from Poway, California, 5 and 4. Mary Narzisi, Omaha, Nebraska, a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, defeated Alexandra (Allie) Bodemann, Palm City, Florida, 1 up. Ardina, Lee, and Bodemann are all past Champions of the WWGA National Junior Championships. Tomorrow, the Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches will be played in Championship Flight. A 36 Final will be played on Saturday. The Public is welcome to attend free of charge. In First Flight, Augusta, Georgia resident Laura Coble defeated Jennifer Domagalski, Okermos, Michigan. Laura Lindsey, Lenox, lost to Kelli Berns, South Haven, Minnesota, 2 and 1, in the Second Flight. In Fourth Flight, Kelsey Branton, Cartersville, defeated Morgan Deutsch, St. Louis, Missouri, 2 up. Semifinal and Final Matches will be played in the flights on Friday. The WWGA wants to apologize for a mistake in yesterday’s results. Chihiro Ikeda, Laguna, Philippines, defeated Amanda Johnson, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 3 and 2. We also neglected to mention that Julie Tomlinson, Noblesville, Indiana, scored her 1st Hole in One on the 168 yard, 13th hole, in yesterday’s match against Catherine O’Donnell, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Tomlinson, a 2006 graduate of Ohio University, lost to O’Donnell, 3 and 2. For further information about the 108th National Amateur Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org. -30-
For Immediate Release Contact: Judy Anderson
Match Play starts at Women’s Western Golf
Association Today the focus switched from Stroke Play to Match Play at the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 108th National Amateur Championship at Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan, Georgia. After the rain delay of yesterday, a playoff took place at 7:00 AM to fill the 64th place in Championship Flight. In a 3 hole Playoff, Laura Ormson, Granger, Indiana, beat out Lindsey Bergeon, Sarasota, Florida; Tiffany Phelps, McKinney, Texas; Anya Tanpinco, Pasay City, Phiippines; and Andrea Watts, Bradenton, Florida. Those players who did not win the Playoff were placed in the First Flight. Also delayed from yesterday was the announcement of the Maschmeyer Cup and Derby Cup winners. Winners of the WWGA Maschmeyer Cup are the four players from the same state that have the lowest combined scores for the 36 hole qualifying rounds. The winning state for 2008 is Florida with the total score of 581 with players Marika Lendl, Bradenton, (144); Courtney Harter, Clearwater, (144); Cindy LaCrosse, Tampa, (145); and Meghan Chapman, Seminole (148). The Derby Cup is awarded to two players from the same WWGA member club having the lowest combined scores for the 36 hole qualifying rounds. The University of Virginia is the victor with 283 by Calle Nielson, Nashville, Tennessee (141) and Jennie Arseneault, Grinnell, Iowa (142) on this Par 72 golf course. 32 Matches were played today in Championship Flight. Marika Lendl, who yesterday set a Course Record on this 6,396 yard golf course with her round of 67, defeated Beth Williams, Atlanta, Georgia, 7 and 5. Newnan, Georgia resident, Kathlyn Stanier, lost her match to Rachel Smith of Mansfield, Texas. In what we might call “upsets” Marlowe Boukis, Lutherville, Maryland, seeded #56 defeated the #9 seed, Courtney Harter, Clearwater, Florida; #60 seed Mandi Morrow, Kent, Ohio, and daughter of Kent State University’s Women’s Golf Coach, Mike Morrw, defeated #5 seed, Mari Miezwa of Tempe, Arizona; and #50 seed, Lila Barton, Dallas, Texas, defeated Meghan Chapman, Seminole, Florida. In Championship Flight matches involving Georgia state players, Leigh Crosby, Athens, defeated Martina Gavier, a native Argentine now attending Kent State University, on the 20th Hole; Katie Miller, Jeannette, Pennsylvania, defeated Margaret Shirley, Roswell, 4 and 2; Erick Still, Waycross, Georgia, defeated Eleana Collins, Pinehurst, North Carolina, 4 and 3; and Alina Lee, Athens, defeated Inhong Lim, Columbus, Ohio, 1 up. The 36-hole Championship Final Match will take place on Saturday, while other Flight finals will be contested on Friday afternoon. The public is welcome to attend everyday free of charge. The players have expressed their enjoyment of the course at SummerGrove Golf Club. SummerGrove is one of 19 clubs that make up Canongate in the Atlanta area. What some to consider to be a novel idea, Canongate offers the facilities of all 19 private clubs with one Membership. They also have 5 clubs in the Houston area that are set up with the same concept. For further information about the 108th National Amateur 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
Match Play set to start tomorrow at
Despite an 1 ½ hour rain delay, the second qualifying
round was completed just as night fell at the Women’s Western Golf
Association’s (WWGA) 108th National Amateur Championship at
Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan, Georgia. Due to the weather delay, a playoff will be held at 7:00 AM for the last place in the Championship Flight. The five contenders are Laura Ormson, Granger, Indiana; Lindsey Bergeon, Sarasota, Florida; Anya Tanpinco, Pasay City, Philippines; Tiffany Phelps, McKinney, Texas; and Andrea Watts, Bradenton, Florida. The four players who don’t take the last spot in Championship Flight will be placed in the First Flight. The low round of today was turned in by Marika Lendl, Bradenton, Florida, with a 67. Lendl, who is playing in the tournament with her sister, Isabelle, is the daughter of tennis great, Ivan Lendl. She was the winner of the Ione D. Jones/Doherty Cup in 2007 and will enter the University of Central Florida this fall. Calle Nielson, Nashville, Tennessee, who just completed her Freshman year at the University of Virginia and named First Team All Atlantic Coast Conference for 2007-2008, shot 68. Her teammate, Whitney Neuhauser, Bourbonsville, Virginia, followed with a 69. Another Virginia Cavalier teammate, Carly Truitt, Marysville, Ohio, shot 70. Laura Crawford, Lancaster, South Carolina, a recent Wake Forest graduate and the winner of last week’s Women’s Eastern Amateur Championship, shot 71. The Medalist and winner of the Margaret Lenz Trophy as Low Qualifier was given to Dottie Ardina, Laguna, Philippines with a six under par total of 138 (70-68) on this 6,396 yard, par 72, golf course. Ardina won last year’s WWGA 82nd National Junior Championship at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio. She also was a semifinalist at last year’s WWGA 107th National Amateur Championship at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois. She is 14 years old and has a very impressive resume which includes winning the U. S. Kids Championship 5 years in a row from 2002 to 2006 and won the Callaway Junior World Championship for 8 and under in 2002. Calle Nielson placed second in the race as Low Qualifier. The 36-hole Championship Final Match will take place on Saturday, while other Flight finals will be contested on Friday afternoon. The public is welcome to attend everyday free of charge. For further information about the 108th 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 Associaiton For Immediate Release Contact: Judy Anderson Date: June 16, 2008
Play
underway at Women’s Western 108th
The 1st round of two day qualifying took place on Monday at Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan, Georgia. 143 golfers started the day and 5 players shot 2 under par for a 70. They were Dottie Ardina, Laguna, Philippines; Candace Schepperle, Hoover, Alabama; Margaret Shirley, Roswell, Georgia; Courtney Harter, Clearwater, Florida; and Mari Miezwa, Tempe, Arizona. Ardina, last year’s winner of the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) National Junior Championship, will be a Freshman in high school this fall. Schepperle will be a Junior at Auburn University from where Shirley has just graduated; Harter just finished her Freshman year at the University of Alabama; and Miezwa, who graduated from Colorado College in 2001, was a Quarterfinalist in the 2006 USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. 71’s were turned in by Jennie Arsenault, Grinnell, Iowa, a Junior at the University of Virginia, and Cindy LaCrosse, Tampa, Florida, a Senior at the University of Louisville. Tied at 72 were Auburn ‘s Cydney Clanton, who was recently named NCAA College Freshman of the Year, and MIlena Savich, Carmel, Indiana, who will enter the University of Michigan in the fall. Clanton has qualified as an Amateur at next week’s USGA Women’s Open where Savich has qualified as an alternate to the same event. Also tied at 72 is Laura Crawford, Lancaster, South Carolina, a recent graduate of Wake Forest University. Coming in with scores of 73 were Kathleen Ekey, Wadsworth, Ohio, a senior to be at the University of Alabama who has also qualified for next week’s USGA Women’s Open; Calle Nielsen, Nashville, Tennessee, a teammate of Arsenault’s at Virginia; Brooke Pancake, Chattanooga, Tennessee, a recent graduate of the University of Alabama; Mandi Morrow, Kent, Ohio, who will enter Kent State University in the fall where her father, Mike, is Women’s Golf Coach; and Jennifer Hong, a Senior to be at Northwestern University and a past winner of the WWGA Amateur in 2005. Other past winners of the WWGA National Junior Championship are also entered into the event. Alexandra (Allie) Bodemann, Palm City, Florida, the 2006 winner, scored 74; Emma Jandel, Dayton, Ohio, the 2005 winner, shot 75; and Alina Lee, the 2004 winner, shot 72. Stephanie Na, the #1 Amateur in Australia, also shot a 75. Juniors Isabelle Lendl, Bradenton, Florida, shot 77 and Encinitas, California resident, MacKinzie Kline, shot 78. Defending Champion Mallory Blackwelder, Lexington, Kentucky, shot 80. Georgia Residents Beth Williams, Atlanta, who attended Georgia State University, and Katelyn Stanier, Newnan, a Sophomore at Samford University, shot 75. Other players from the state of Georgia included Leigh Crosby, Athens, a Junior at the University of Georgia, with a 76 and Tess Fordham, Metter, whom has just graduated from Georgia, shot 77; Natalie Foster, Lookout Mountain, shot 77 and Laura Coble, Augusta, shot 79. Tomorrow the second round of qualifying will take place. After the conclusion of this round, players will be placed in Flights. The low 64 players will contend for the Championship title while the remaining players will compete in subsequent flights based on their qualifying scores. Single elimination Match Play will be played each day starting Wednesday. The 36-hole Championship Final Match will take place on Saturday, while other Flight finals will be contested on Friday afternoon. The public is welcome to attend everyday free of charge. For further information about the 108th 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 Associaiton Contact: Judy Anderson Date: June 15, 2008
Players are in Newnan, Georgia ready for Monday’s Over the weekend, players from 30 states, Argentina, Australia, Canada and the Philippines have made their to Newnan, Georgia, for Monday’s start of the Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 108th National Amateur Championship at Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club. Traveling the farthest are two Australians: Stephanie Na, Adelaide, and Stacy Keating, Melbourne. Na is the #1 ranked Amateur in Australia and the winner of the Karrie Webb Series. Keating, ranked #5, was the finalist in the Australian Amateur Match Play tournament. They both plan to play other amateur events over the summer, including qualifying for the USGA Women’s Amateur, before making the long trip back home. Defending Champion, Mallory Blackwelder, Lexington, Kentucky, is on site with her mother, Myra, currently the women’s golf coach at the University of Kentucky. In 1970 and 1971, Myra was the Medalist in the very same event her daughter is competing in this year. Among other players spotted playing practice rounds were Dottie Ardina, Laguna, Philippines, the defending Champion of last year’s WWGA National Junior Championsip at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio, and Allie Bodemann, who won the WWGA Junior in 2006 at Sugar Mill Country Club, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Cydney Clanton, the NCAA Freshman of the Year from Rockwell, North Carolina, and Kathleen Ekey, Wadsworth, Ohio, are two of the amateurs that have qualified for next week’s USGA Women’s Open that played practice rounds today. Junior players Isabelle Lendl, Bradenton, Florida, and MacKinzie Kline, Encinitas, California, were also preparing for tomorrow’s 1st round of Qualifying. Two 18-hole Qualifying Rounds will take place on Monday and Tuesday. After the conclusion of these rounds, players will be placed in Flights. The low 64 players will contend for the Championship title while the remaining players will compete in subsequent Flights based on their qualifying scores. Single elimination Match Play will be played each day starting Wednesday. The 36-hole Championship Final Match will take place on Saturday, while other Flight finals will be contested on Friday afternoon. The public is welcome to attend everyday free of charge. SummerGrove Golf Club’s golf course, designed by Jemsek Golf, is nationally ranked by Golf Digest and has been designated an Audubon International Signature Member course due to its natural wildlife habitat and wetlands. The players will be challenged navigating holes of rolling hills with manicured Zoysia fairways, bentgrass greens and thousands of hardwoods and native dogwood trees in the preserved areas of the wetlands. In 2002, Canongate 1 Golf Club in Sharpsburg, Georgia, hosted the WWGA’s 76th National Junior Championship where Monique Gesauldi, St. Augustine, Florida, defeated Jean Reynolds, Newnan, Georgia for the title. Barrington Hall Golf Club, Macon, Georgia, hosted the 94th WWGA National Amateur Championship in 1994 where Stephanie Neill defeated Kelly McCall in the final. The WWGA was founded in 1901 under the sponsorship of the Western Golf Association (which sponsored the PGA Western Open for many years) 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. In 1920, the WWGA added an annual tournament for Juniors. This year’s 82nd National Junior Championship will be held at Knollwood Country Club, Granger, Indiana, July 14-18. 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 the annual National Amateur and Junior 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 providing funding to inadequately funded Women’s collegiate golf programs. Over $3.1 million of college scholarships have been granted during the last 37 years and the WWGA is currently helping support over 70 women from 26 states attend the college of their choice. For further information about our organization and the 108th National Amateur 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 The Women’s Western Golf Association set to sponsor their 108th National Amateur Championship at Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan, Georgia, June 16th. 21st The nation’s oldest golf association for women, the WOMEN’S WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION (WWGA), will stage their 108th National Amateur Championship June 16th to June 21st at Canongate at SummerGrove Golf Club in Newnan, Georgia. Contestants from 31 states, Australia, Canada and the Philippines are expected to play. As of today, there are 46 players carrying a handicap index between 0.0 and +4.1. Last year at the 107th National Championship, Mallory Blackwelder, Lexington, Kentucky, defeated Stefanie Page, Houston, Texas, in the final at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, Illinois. Blackwelder, who will be in Newnan to defend her title, is currently a student at the University of Kentucky. She is the daughter of Myra VanHoose Blackwelder, the 1980 LPGA Rookie of the Year and currently is the Women’s Golf Coach at Kentucky. Myra was the Medalist in both the 1970 and 1971 WWGA National Amateur Championships. Mallory’s father, Worth, is a caddie on the LPGA tour most recently looping for future Hall of Fame Member Juli Inkster. Among other entrants for this year’s Championship are Cydney Clanton, Rockwell North Carolina; Isabelle and Marika Lendl, Bradenton, Florida; Alison Walshe, Medford, Massachusetts; Stephanie Na, Port Adelaide, Australia; Haley Brown, Columbus, Ohio; Calle Nielson, Nashville, Tennessee; Kristy McLaughlin, Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada; Kathleen Ekey, Wadsworth, Ohio; Thuhashini(Tui) Selvaratnam, Tempe, Arizona; Stacey Keating, Sanctuary Lakes, Australia; Marlowe Boukis, Lutherville, Maryland; Sarah Thead, Poway, California; Carly Truitt, Marysville, Ohio; Kelsey Lindenschmidt, West Chester, Ohio; Nicole Fererro, Lodi, California; Courtney Harter, Clearwater, Florida; Kristin Ingram, Pasadena, California; Katie Miller, Jeannette, Pennsylvania; Catherine O’Donnell, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; and Ashley Lance, Franklin, Tennessee. 14 Junior players are entered, the youngest of which is Sarah Abada from the Philippines. Entries close on June 9th. Erin Packer, a resident of Tyrone, Georgia, and a member of Newnan Country Club in Newnan, Georgia, has entered the tournament. Other players from Georgia include Laura Coble, Augusta; Rebecca Durham, St. Simon’s Island; Leigh Crosby, Athens; Margaret Shirley, Roswell, Kaley Branton, Cartersville; Erica Still, Waycross; Tess Fordham, Metter; Beth Williams, Atlanta; Sarah Butts, Carrollton; Alina Lee, Athens; Alei Mitchell, Waycross; Laura Lindsey, Lenox; Natalie Foster, Lookout Mountain; and Lauren Darnell, Gainesville. Included in the field are the four immediate past Champions of the WWGA National Junior Championship. Dottie Ardina, Sta Rosa Laguna, Philippines, won the 2007 Tournament at TPC River’s Bend, Maineville, Ohio; Alexandra (Allie) Bodemann, Palm City, Florida, won the 2006 Tournament at Sugar Mill Country Club, New Smyrna Beach, Florida; Emma Jandel, Dayton, Ohio, won the 2005 event at Knollwood Country Club, Granger, Indiana; and Alina Lee, Athens, Georgia, won the 2004 Tournament at The Hawthorns Golf & Country Club, Fishers, Indiana. Ardina, who turned 14 last December, also reached the semifinal round at last year’s WWGA National Amateur Championship at Stone Creek and has just completed her Freshman year in high school in Bradenton, Florida. Bodemann now attends Wake Forest University and Jandel studies at Ohio State University. Lee expects to graduate from the University of Georgia this year. Past winners of the Amateur championship include current LPGA members Beth Daniel, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lang and Grace Park as well as LPGA Hall of Fame Members Patty Berg, JoAnne Gunderson Carner, Nancy Lopez and Louise Suggs. Two 18-hole Qualifying Rounds will take place on Monday, June 16th and Tuesday, June 17th. After the conclusion of these rounds, players will be placed in Flights. The low 64 players will contend for the Championship title while the remaining players will compete in subsequent Flights based on their qualifying scores. Single elimination Match Play will be played each day starting Wednesday, June 18th. The 36-hole Championship Final Match will take place on Saturday, June 21st while other Flight finals will be contested on Friday afternoon, June 20th. The public is welcome to attend everyday free of charge. SummerGrove Golf Club’s golf course, designed by Jemsek Golf, is nationally ranked by Golf Digest and has been designated an Audubon International Signature Member course due to its natural wildlife habitat and wetlands. The players will be challenged navigating holes of rolling hills with manicured Zoysia fairways, bentgrass greens and thousands of hardwoods and native dogwood trees in the preserved areas of the wetlands. In 2002, Canongate Golf Club in Sharpsburg, Georgia, hosted the WWGA’s 76th National Junior Championship where Monique Gesauldi, St. Augustine, Florida, defeated Jean Reynolds, Newnan, Georgia for the title. Barrington Hall Golf Club, Macon, Georgia, hosted the 94th WWGA National Amateur Championship in 1994 where Stephanie Neill defeated Kelly McCall in the final. The WWGA was founded in 1901 under the sponsorship of the Western Golf Association (which sponsored the PGA Western Open for many years) 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. In 1920, the WWGA added an annual tournament for Juniors. This year’s 82nd National Junior Championship will be held at Knollwood Country Club, Granger, Indiana, July 14-18. 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 the annual National Amateur and Junior 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 providing funding to inadequately funded Women’s collegiate golf programs. Over $3.1 million of college scholarships have been granted during the last 37 years and the WWGA is currently helping support over 70 women from 26 states attend the college of their choice. For further information about our organization and the 108th National Amateur Championship, visit our website at www.WWGA.org or contact Judy Anderson at judithwanderson@msn.com.
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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 |
