WWGA Tournaments
The WWGA dates back to the early beginnings of competitive golf for women and takes pride in a history as long and prestigious as its initial sponsor, the Western Golf Association. The first tournament was called the “Western Women’s Championship” and was played in 1901 at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Illinois. The first champion, Bessie Anthony, toured the fairways in confining wardrobe, ankle length skirt, still collared white blouse with leg of mutton sleeves a wide brimmed hat.
In 1903 the farsighted pioneers in women’s golf were committed to the game and organized their own Association changing the name to the Women’s Western Golf Association with a constitution to hold an annual championship for women amateur golfers. In its infancy membership was limited to clubs within 500 mils of Chicago, west of the Allegheny Mountains, thus the name ‘Women’s WESTERN’ golf.
By 1907 membership had grown to 33 clubs in five Midwestern states. During the 1900s women’s golf was on the rise and the area for membership was soon extended to include the entire United States. Today club membership represents thousands of women from across the country. The WWGA continues to be a major force in the growth of women’s golf.
Each year the Women’s Western conducts
two national championships, the AMATEUR and JUNIOR.
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Since its inception in 1903, this tournament heralds the finest players throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, as well as many countries. It has been held consecutively, not even two world wars nor the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic kept it from being played.
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
One of the oldest junior tournaments in the country, it was first introduced in 1920 for girls 18 years of age and younger. With the exception of a few years during WW II and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, this tournament has been held consecutively.
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
In the fall of 1979, the WWGA held its first Senior tournament for women 50 years of age and older. A Super-Senior Event for women 65 years of age and older was established in 2001. After the 2007 tournament, it has been on hiatus.
PAST CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Women’s Western Open Championship has the distinction of being the first women’s major championship ever held. The event was inaugurated by Mrs. Paul (Edna) Walker from Glen View Club in Golf, Illinois while she served as President of the WWGA in 1929-30. Her desire was to provide an opportunity for professional women golfers and unattached players to compete with amateur players from WWGA Member Clubs in a Women’s Western Championship.
At the time the winner received the Women’s Western Open pin to be worn for one year. In 1937 Edna Walker presented the Association with a beautiful silver bowl made from trophies she and her husband Paul had won. (See page 14 for photo of trophy.) The Open was an annual golf competition; from 1930 to 1954 it was match play and stroke play between 1955 and 1967. The Walker trophy was retired in 1967 when the Open was discontinued. From 1979 to 1986 the cup was awarded to the WWGA Senior Champion. The cup is on display at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.
Patty Berg holds the record for the most victories with seven, which is the overall record of the combined eras of match and stroke play. During match play competition, Berg, Louise Suggs and Babe Zaharias hold the record for most victories with four. In the stroke play era, Berg and Mickey Wright hold the record for most victories with three. The most consecutive in the combined eras is two and was done by the following: Berg, Suggs, Zaharias, Opal Hill and Wright. Berg and Betsy Rawls are the only two golfers to win the competition in match play and stroke play. In the match play era, 9 & 8 was the largest margin of victory in 1934, 1935 and 1942. During stroke play, Kathy Whitworth holds the record for the lowest, an 11 under par which she shot in 1967 at the final playing of the Open Championship.
Derby Medal Invitational This tournament was a 54-hole stroke play tournament. It was held from 1929 to 1941 when competition was suspended due to WW II. Past winner names engraved on the Cup included Patty Berg, Helen Hicks, June Beebe and Marion Miley.