The Women's Amateur Championship

The Women's Amateur Championship
Tournament information
LocationUnited Kingdom
Established1893
Organised byThe R&A
FormatStroke play and match play
Month playedJune
Current champion
United States Melanie Green

The Women's Amateur Championship, previously known as the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship, was founded in 1893 by the Ladies' Golf Union. It is organised by The R&A, which merged with the Ladies' Golf Union in 2017. Until the dawn of the professional era in 1976, it was the most important golf tournament for women in Great Britain, and attracted players from continental Europe, North America, and the rest of the world. Along with the U.S. Women's Amateur, it is considered the highest honour in women's amateur golf.

The first tournament was played at the Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire, England and was won by Lady Margaret Scott, who also won the following two years; her feat of three straight titles remains the record, matched by Cecil Leitch and Enid Wilson. In 1927, Simone de la Chaume of France, who had won the 1924 British Girls Amateur Golf Championship, became the first golfer from outside the British Isles to win the Ladies Championship. The first competitor from the United States to win the title was Babe Zaharias in 1947.

Format

[edit]

The championship is contested in two phases. It begins with a 36-hole stroke play competition, played over two days. The leading 64 competitors progress to the knock-out match play competition, ties for 64th place being decided by countback. From 1966 up to 2020, all matches in the knock-out phase were played over 18 holes, but from 2021 the final has been played over 36 holes.

Prizes

[edit]

The "Pam Barton Memorial Salver" is awarded to the winner to be held for one year, as the actual Championship Cup is held by the Ladies' Golf Union. The runner-up receives The Diana Fishwick Cup. The leading qualifier receives the Doris Chambers Trophy. If two or more players are tied, the result is decided on countback, the player with the lowest second round score being the winner.

History

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Pre-World War I

[edit]

In late 1892 several members of Wimbledon Ladies Golf Club contacted other ladies' clubs, in hopes of forming a ladies' golf union and holding a ladies' championship. The men's Amateur Championship had been held since 1885. Independently the Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, who had not been sent the circular, also decided to organise a ladies' championship.

The two clubs combined their efforts in the Ladies' Golf Union,[1] holding their first championship from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 June 1893 [2][3] on the ladies' links of the Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, a 9-hole course, then at Mayfield Road.[4] There were 38 entries, requiring 6 knock-out rounds. Two rounds were played per day with the semi-finals and final played on the Thursday.[5] All matches were over 18 holes, with extra holes played to ensure a result. The winner received a championship cup valued at 50 guineas, and a gold medal. The runner-up received a silver medal, and the other semi-finalists received bronze medals. Lady Margaret Scott beat Issette Pearson in the final by a score of 7&5.[6]

The 1894 championship was held in May at Littlestone-on-Sea in Kent. May became the regular month for the championship to be held, although sometimes it was held in early June. The event was extended to the Friday, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals played on the Thursday. The finalists were the same as in 1893, with Lady Margaret Scott winning again, but by a closer margin of 3&2.[7]

In 1895 the event was played at Royal Portrush. The semi-finals and final were played on the Friday, a format that was retained until the introduction of a 36-hole final in 1913. Lady Margaret Scott won for the third time, beating Emma Lythgoe 5&4 in the final.[8] The 1896 event at Hoylake produced a new winner, Amy Pascoe.[9] In 1897 the championship was held in Scotland for the first time, at Gullane. It produced the first Scottish winner, with the final between two sisters, Edith Orr beating Theodora 4&3.[10] The 1898 event at Great Yarmouth & Caister was won by Lena Thomson, the losing finalist in 1896. She beat Elinor Nevile 6&5 in the final.[11]

From 1899 to 1907 the championship was dominated by Irish women. May Hezlet won in 1899, 1902 and 1907 with Rhona Adair winning in 1900 and 1903. Four other Irish golfers were losing finalists, Jessie Magill in 1899, Florence Walker-Leigh in 1903, Maud Stuart in 1905 and Florence Hezlet, May's sister, in 1907. The 1899 event was held at County Down. May Hezlet met Magill in the final.[12] Magill had previously defeated Hezlet during the 1898 final of the Irish Women's Amateur Close Championship, but on this occasion May Hezlet had won the close championship the previous week and she repeated her success, winning 2&1.[13][14] She was less than two weeks past her 17th birthday.[12]

Rhona Adair won the following year at Westward Ho!, beating Isabel Nevile 6&5 in the final.[15] The 1901 championship was held in Aberdovey in Wales, and was won by Molly Graham who beat Adair in the final.[16] May Hezlet won for the second time in 1902, beating Elinor Nevile at the 20th hole. Nevile was the sister of the 1900 runner-up Isabel Nevile. Grace Park, the wife of Mungo Park Jr. was one of the semi-finalists.[17] There were three Irish semi-finalists for the 1903 championship at County Down. Adair won for the second time.[18]

May Hezlet reached the final again in 1904 at Troon and met Lottie Dod. Dod was better known as a tennis player, having won the Wimbledon ladies' singles championship five times between 1887 and 1893. She had reached the semi-finals in 1898 and 1899 but this was her first final. In a close match Dod won by one hole.[19]

In 1905, at Royal Cromer, another Irish golfer, Maud Stuart, reached the final but lost 3&2 to Bertha Thompson.[20] 1906 was the first final since 1898 without an Irish lady. Thompson reached the final again but lost 4&3 to Alice Kennion, the first married woman to win the championship.[21] The 1907 championship was played at County Down and three Irish women reached the semi-finals. May Hezlet won for the third time, beating her sister Florence Hezlet 2&1 in the final.[22]

The 1908 championship was played on the Old Course at St Andrews. Maud Titterton met Dorothy Campbell in the final. It was the first final for both players, although both players had previously reached the semi-finals, Titterton in 1897 and Campbell in 1904, 1905 and 1906. Titterton won a close match at the 19th hole. The start of the final was delayed because Campbell had not won her semi-final until the 22nd hole.[23]

Campbell won her first championship in 1909, beating Florence Hezlet 4&3 in the final at Birkdale.[24] None of the four semi-finalists at Westward Ho! in 1910 had reached that stage before. Elsie Grant Suttie won the title.[25] Campbell reached the final again in 1911 at Royal Portrush, meeting Violet Hezlet, the third of the Hezlet sisters to reach the final. Campbell won the match 3&2, winning her second championship.[26] The 1912 championship at Turnberry was won by Gladys Ravenscroft who beat Stella Temple 3&2 in the final.[27]

In 1913 the final at Lytham & St Annes was extended to 36-holes. It was played on a Friday, with the quarter and semi-finals played on the previous day. Canadian Violet Pooley was one of the semi-finalists.[28] Muriel Dodd beat Evelyn Chubb in the final. Dodd won five holes in a row from the 4th to the 8th holes of the morning round and eventually won 8&6.[29] Dodd was beaten in the semi-finals of the 1914 championship at Hunstanton.[30] The final was between Cecil Leitch and Gladys Ravenscroft. Ravenscroft had beaten Leitch in the semi-finals in 1912, but on this occasion Leitch won a close match 2&1, the morning round having finished all-square.[31]

Inter-war period

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A championship was planned for October 1919 at Burnham & Berrow but was cancelled because of a railway strike.[32] The first post World War I championship was played at Royal County Down in May 1920. Cecil Leitch, the defending champion from 1914, met Molly Griffiths in the final. Leitch was 6 holes up after the morning round and won 7&6.[33]

Joyce Wethered made her first appearance at Turnberry in 1921. She and Leitch would dominate the event in the 1920s, meeting in the final in 1921, 1922 and 1925. They had also met in the final of the 1920 English Women's Amateur Championship, with Wethered winning. In the 1921 Women's Amateur Championship, the result was reversed. Leitch was 8 up with 9 holes to play and, although Wethered then won four holes in a row, Leitch won the match 4&3.[34]

When the pair met again in 1922 at Prince's, the morning round was close, with Wethered a hole ahead. However she dominated in the afternoon, eventually winning 9&7.[35] In 1923 Leitch was injured and Wethered was beaten in the semi-finals, leaving a final between Doris Chambers and Muriel Macbeth.[36][37] In the final, Macbeth was 3 up after the morning round but Chambers won the match at the 36th hole.[38]

In 1924, at Royal Portrush, Wethered and Leitch met in quarter-finals.[39] Wethered won 6&4 and went on to win her second title.[40] At Troon in 1925, Wethered and Leitch met in the final for the third time. The match was level after 18 holes and still level after 27. Wethered then took a two-hole lead before Leitch won the last holes to level the match. The match ended at the 37th hole with Wethered winning her third championship.[41]

The 1926 championship was due to be played in Harlech in May, but was postponed because of the general strike. The event was rearranged to June, although the Women's Home Internationals, which generally preceded the championship, were cancelled.[42] Joyce Wethered did not enter and Cecil Leitch won, the first woman to win the event four times.[43] A large number of the original entrants scratched, and the final was played a day earlier than usual, on a Thursday.[43]

Simone de la Chaume won the championship in 1927, the first French woman to do so. She had been a semi-finalist in 1926 and was also the first French winner of the Girls Amateur Championship, in 1924.[44] There was another French winner in 1928 when Manette le Blan won the title.[45]

The 1929 championship was played on the Old Course at St Andrews. Wethered came out of retirement to play and met the American, Glenna Collett, in the final. Collett had already won the U.S. Women's Amateur three times. The final created great public interest.[46] After 9 holes Collett led by 5 but her lead was reduced to 2 after the morning round. Wethered then won 7 of the first 9 holes in the afternoon to be 4 up and eventually won 3&1, her fourth win in the championship.[46]

Collett reached the final again at Formby in 1930 and met Diana Fishwick in the final. Fishwick was competing in the event for the first time, although she had won the Girls Amateur Championship in 1927 and 1928.[47] Fishwick led by 5 after the first round and eventually won 4&3.[47]

The format was changed at Portmarnock in 1931, with the introduction of stroke-play qualifying. Two rounds were played, on Saturday and Monday, with the leading 64 advancing to the match-play stage, which took place from Tuesday to Friday.[48] Enid Wilson led the qualifying by 8 strokes, after rounds of 75 and 83, with Wanda Morgan in second place.[49] The two met in the final with Wilson winning 7&6.[50] Wilson had been a semi-finalist three times previously and had won the English title in 1928 and 1930.

In 1932 at Saunton the qualifying days were changed to Friday and Saturday with the match-play played from Monday to Thursday. An American Maureen Orcutt led the qualifying with Wilson three strokes behind.[51] Orcutt was beaten in the first round: Wilson defeated another American Leona Cheney in the semi-finals[52][53] and retained the championship, winning by a score of 7&6.[54] In 1933 at Gleneagles, Wilson won the title for the third year in succession, having beaten Doris Park, in the semi-finals.[55][56][57]

The 1934 championship at Royal Porthcawl produced two new finalists with Helen Holm beating Pam Barton in the final.[58] Enid Wilson had been excluded from the event as she was deemed to have lost her amateur status.

In 1935, Pam Barton reached the final again, beating her sister Mervyn in the semi-finals, but lost, this time to Wanda Morgan.[59][60] In 1936 Bridget Newell led the qualifying and reached the final where she met Pam Barton.[61] Barton won the final 7&5 to win her first championship.[62] The 1937 championship was played at Turnberry. Bridget Newell had died just before the event, causing the Home Internationals to be cancelled. However, the championship continued as normal. There had been a reduction in the number of entries and qualifying was dropped, the event returning to the earlier Monday to Friday dates.[63] There was all-Scottish final, Jessie Anderson beating Doris Park 6&4.[64] Another Scot, Helen Holm, won for the second time in 1938.[65] Pam Barton won her second title in 1939 beating Jean Marks in the final at Royal Portrush.[66]

Post-World War II

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The championship resumed at Hunstanton in 1946 but was not played until late in the year, finishing in early October. It was won by Jean Hetherington who beat Philomena Garvey in a close final.[67] The 1947 event was held in June and was won by Babe Zaharias, the first American winner.[68] There was an all-American semi-final in 1948 with Louise Suggs beating Dorothy Kielty and winning the title the following day.[69]

Frances Stephens won in 1949, beating Garvey in the semi-finals and another Irish woman, Clarrie Reddan, in the final.[70] Stephens reached four finals in six years from 1949 to 1954, winning again in 1954 but losing in 1951 and 1952. The Vicomtesse de St Sauveur, Lally Segard, won in 1950 beating Jessie Valentine, the 1937 champion, in the final.[71] 1950 also saw the first Australian semi-finalist, Judith Percy.

The 1951 championship was won by Kitty MacCann, the first Irish winner since 1907, while Moira Paterson won in 1952.[72][73] Garvey reached the final again in 1953 but lost to the Canadian Marlene Stewart.[74] Stewart reached the semi-finals the following year, 1954, but lost to Stephens at the 22nd hole. Stephens went on to win the title.[75]

Jessie Valentine won for the second time in 1955, 18 years after her first success, beating Barbara Romack in the final.[76] There were three American semi-finalists in 1956, and all-American final, with Wiffi Smith beating Mary Patton Janssen.[77] Philomena Garvey beat Valentine in the 1957 final, having twice lost in the final previously.[78] Valentine reached the final again in 1958, her third appearance in four years, and won the title for the third time.[79] Elizabeth Price won in 1959, having previously lost two finals.[80]

As in 1956, there were three American semi-finalists in 1960. Barbara McIntire beat Garvey in the final.[81] Marley Spearman won in 1961 and repeated her success in 1962, becoming the first woman to successfully defend the title since Enid Wilson in 1933.[82][83] From 1962 to 1966 the championship was played in late September or early October, returning to June from 1967.

French women had considerable success in the 1960s. Brigitte Varangot won in 1963, 1965 and 1968 while Catherine Lacoste won in 1969. In addition Claudine Cros-Rubin reached the final in 1968 and was a losing semi-finalist three times, in 1961, 1963 and 1965. The American Carol Sorenson won in 1964, beating Bridget Jackson at the 37th hole.[84] Liz Chadwick won successive titles in 1966 and 1967, matching Marley Spearman's achievement in 1961 and 1962.[85][86] In 1965 the championship finished in early October. The final was reduced from 36 to 18 holes. It was the first 18-hole final since 1912.[87]

Qualifying was reintroduced in 1966, for the first time since the 1930s. 36 holes were played on the Tuesday and Wednesday with the match-play on Thursday to Saturday. Originally it was intended that 64 players would qualify, but with the prospect of early morning fog, this was reduced to 32. The match-play draw was seeded.[88]

There were also 32 qualifiers in 1967, the final remaining at 18 holes even though it was the only match on the final day.[89] In 1968, bad weather reduced the qualifying to one round and, as a result, the number of qualifiers was increased to 64.[90][91] Lacoste led the qualifying in three of the first four years, 1966, 1967 and 1969, and went on to win the championship in 1969.[92]

In 1970, Dinah Oxley repeated Catherine Lacoste's achievement in 1969, leading the qualifying and then winning the championship, beating Belle Robertson in the final, Robertson's third loss in a final.[93][94] Beverly Huke nearly repeated the feat in 1971 but lost in the final to Mickey Walker.[95] At Hunstanton in 1972 the number of qualifiers was increased to 64, with the semi-final and final played on the same day. Walker retained her title beating Claudine Cros-Rubin in the final.[96][97] The number of qualifiers returned to 32 in 1973.[98] Walker reached the final for the third successive year but lost to Ann Irvin.[99] The 1974 and 1975 championships were won by Americans, Carol Semple and Nancy Roth Syms.[100][101] There were 64 qualifiers in 1975 but the number again returned to 32, from 1976. In 1976, Alison Sheard was the first South African to reached the final, but she lost to Cathy Panton, the first Scottish winner for 18 years.[102] Angela Uzielli won in 1977 while Edwina Kennedy was the first Australian winner in 1978.[103][104] Kennedy led the qualifying in 1979 but lost to another Australian, Jane Lock in the semi-finals.[105] Lock was beaten by Maureen Madill in the final.[106]

Anne Quast Sander won in 1980 beating Liv Wollin in the final.[107] In 1981 Belle Robertson led the qualifying and went on to win the championship, beating another Scot, Wilma Aitken, in the final. Robertson, aged 45, became the oldest champion.[108][109] Kitrina Douglas won in 1982 and she was followed by Jill Thornhill in 1983.[110][111]

An American,Jody Rosenthal, won in 1984 despite having taken 90 in the first qualifying round and only just qualifying.[112][113] Lillian Behan, from Ireland, won in 1985 while 17-year-old New Zealander Marnie McGuire won in 1986. McGuire beat Australian Louise Briers in the final, and became the youngest winner since May Hezlet in 1899.[114][115] Linda Bayman led the qualifying and was top seed in 1987, 1988 and 1989, but failed to get past the second round.[116][117][118] Janet Collingham, Joanne Furby and Helen Dobson won in those three years.[119][120][121]

Julie Hall won the championship in 1990, while Valerie Michaud won in 1991, beating Wendy Doolan in the final.[122] Pernille Carlson Pedersen was the first Danish winner in 1992 while Catriona Lambert won in 1993.[123] Emma Duggleby won in 1994 beating Cécilia Mourgue d'Algue in the final, while Hall won for the second time in 1995, beating Kristel Mourgue d'Algue, Cécilia's daughter, in the final.[124][125]

An American, Kelli Kuehne won in 1996, while there was another Scottish winner, Alison Rose in 1997. Kim Rostron won in 1998, beating Gwladys Nocera in the final, the third losing finalist from France in five years.[126] However, Marine Monnet, from France, won in 1999 beating Rebecca Hudson in the final.[127]

In 2000, Rebecca Hudson led the qualifying, was top seed and won the championship, beating Emma Duggleby in the final.[128][129] She was top seed again in 2001 but lost in the second round.[130] She had her second win in 2002, her third final in four years.[131]

Continental European golfers dominated from 2001 to 2009. Five Spanish women won the championship in this period: Marta Prieto in 2001, Elisa Serramià in 2003, Belén Mozo in 2006, Carlota Ciganda in 2007 and Azahara Muñoz in 2009.[132][133][134][135][136] Ciganda led the qualifying in 2007, completing the double of being top seed and winning the event.[137] In 2009 Muñoz was joint leader in the qualifying but seeded second on countback.[138] Swedish women also had successes with Louise Stahle winning in 2004 and 2005, with Anna Nordqvist winning in 2008 after being runner-up in 2006 and 2007.[139][140][141] Stahle was the top seed when she won in 2005.[142]

British women won the championship from 2010 to 2013. Kelly Tidy won in 2010 while Lauren Taylor beat Tidy in the 2011 semi-finals and went on to win in the championship and, at 16, becoming the youngest winner of the event.[143][144] Stephanie Meadow won in 2012 while 17-year-old Georgia Hall won in 2013. Hall had been a semi-finalist in 2012.[145][146] Golfers from continental Europe won from 2014 to 2016. Emily Kristine Pedersen won in 2014 beating Leslie Cloots in the final, while Céline Boutier won in 2015 beating Linnea Ström.[147][148] 15-year-old Julia Engström won in 2016, replacing Taylor as the youngest winner of the event.[149]

At the start of 2017, the Ladies' Golf Union merged with The R&A, which took over the organisation of the championship. Leona Maguire won in 2017, beating Ainhoa Olarra in the final.[150] Leonie Harm beat Stephanie Lau in the 2018 final.[151] In 2019 the name of the event was changed from the "Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship" to "The Women's Amateur Championship". Emily Toy beat New Zealander Amelia Garvey in the final. The 2020 championship was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and was not played until late August. Qualifying was reduced to a single round. Aline Krauter beat Annabell Fuller in the final.[152] The format was revised in 2021 with the final extended from 18 to 36 holes. Louise Duncan beat Jóhanna Lea Lúðvíksdóttir 9&8 in the final, the first 36-hole final since 1964.[153]

Winners

[edit]
Year Winner Score Runner-up Semi-finalists Venue Ref.
2024 United States Melanie Green 2 up Scotland Lorna McClymont Denmark Marie Eline Madsen, Sweden Louise Rydqvist Portmarnock [154]
2023 Germany Chiara Horder 7 & 6 United States Annabelle Pancake Sweden Ingrid Lindblad, Sweden Elin Pudas Remler Prince's [155]
2022 England Jess Baker 4 & 3 Sweden Louise Rydqvist Spain Carla Bernat, Scotland Hannah Darling Hunstanton [156]
2021 Scotland Louise Duncan 9 & 8 Iceland Jóhanna Lea Lúðvíksdóttir Scotland Hannah Darling, Scotland Shannon McWilliam Kilmarnock (Barassie) [153]
2020 Germany Aline Krauter 1 up England Annabell Fuller Italy Emilie Alba Paltrinieri, England Emily Toy West Lancashire [152]
2019 England Emily Toy 1 up New Zealand Amelia Garvey Finland Daniella Barrett, Sweden Linn Grant Royal County Down [157]
2018 Germany Leonie Harm 3 & 2 United States Stephanie Lau Canada Jaclyn Lee, England Hollie Muse Hillside [151]
2017 Republic of Ireland Leona Maguire 3 & 2 Spain Ainhoa Olarra Finland Anna Backman, Norway Stina Resen Pyle and Kenfig [150]
2016 Sweden Julia Engström 19 holes Netherlands Dewi Weber Spain María Parra, United States Monica Vaughn Dundonald Links [149]
2015 France Céline Boutier 4 & 3 Sweden Linnea Ström Belgium Charlotte De Corte, Republic of Ireland Olivia Mehaffey Portstewart [148]
2014 Denmark Emily Kristine Pedersen 3 & 1 Belgium Leslie Cloots Sweden Jenny Haglund, France Marion Veysseyre Royal St George's [147]
2013 England Georgia Hall 1 up Spain Luna Sobrón Spain Noemí Jiménez, Germany Karolin Lampert Machynys Peninsula [158][146]
2012 Northern Ireland Stephanie Meadow 4 & 3 Spain Rocío Sánchez Lobato France Perrine Delacour, England Georgia Hall Carnoustie [145]
2011 England Lauren Taylor 6 & 5 France Alexandra Bonetti Wales Amy Boulden, England Kelly Tidy Royal Portrush [144]
2010 England Kelly Tidy 2 & 1 Scotland Kelsey MacDonald Canada Rebecca Lee-Bentham, United States Meghan Stasi Ganton [143]
2009 Spain Azahara Muñoz 2 & 1 Spain Carlota Ciganda England Laura Collin, Germany Caroline Masson Royal St David's [136]
2008 Sweden Anna Nordqvist 3 & 2 Sweden Caroline Hedwall Sweden Jacqueline Hedwall, Scotland Roseanne Niven North Berwick West Links [141]
2007 Spain Carlota Ciganda 4 & 3 Sweden Anna Nordqvist England Rachel Bell, Sweden Caroline Westrup Alwoodley [159][135]
2006 Spain Belén Mozo 3 & 1 Sweden Anna Nordqvist England Naomi Edwards, Spain María Hernández Royal County Down [134]
2005 Sweden Louise Stahle 3 & 2 Republic of Ireland Claire Coughlan Netherlands Christel Boeljon, Spain María Hernández Littlestone [140]
2004 Sweden Louise Stahle 4 & 2 Wales Anna Highgate Spain Elisa Serramià, England Sophie Walker Gullane [139]
2003 Spain Elisa Serramià 2 up Germany Pia Odefey Germany Anja Monke, France Fanny Schaeffer Lindrick [133]
2002 England Rebecca Hudson 5 & 4 Australia Lindsey Wright Northern Ireland Alison Coffey, Germany Denise Simon Ashburnham [131]
2001 Spain Marta Prieto 4 & 3 England Emma Duggleby Spain Carmen Alonso, Australia Nadina Taylor Ladybank [132]
2000 England Rebecca Hudson 5 & 4 England Emma Duggleby Sweden Maria Bodén, United States Angela Stanford Walton Heath [128]
1999 France Marine Monnet 1 up England Rebecca Hudson England Kim Andrew, England Fiona Brown Royal Birkdale [127]
1998 England Kim Rostron 3 & 2 France Gwladys Nocera England Fiona Brown, Scotland Hilary Monaghan Little Aston [126]
1997 Scotland Alison Rose 4 & 3 Scotland Mhairi McKay France Maïtena Alsuguren, Wales Becky Morgan Cruden Bay
1996 United States Kelli Kuehne 5 & 3 Wales Becky Morgan France Sonia Bauer, England Elaine Ratcliffe Royal Liverpool [160]
1995 England Julie Hall 3 & 2 France Kristel Mourgue d'Algue Republic of Ireland Hazel Kavanagh, Scotland Janice Moodie Royal Portrush [125]
1994 England Emma Duggleby 3 & 1 France Cécilia Mourgue d'Algue South Africa Mandy Adamson, Scotland Catriona Matthew Newport [124]
1993 Scotland Catriona Lambert 3 & 2 England Kirsty Speak England Julie Hall England Sandy Lambert Royal Lytham & St Annes [123]
1992 Denmark Pernille Carlson Pedersen 1 up England Joanne Morley Republic of Ireland Tracey Eakin, Scotland Catriona Lambert Saunton
1991 France Valerie Michaud 3 & 2 Australia Wendy Doolan England Caroline Hall, Republic of Ireland Mary McKenna Pannal
1990 England Julie Hall 3 & 2 Wales Helen Wadsworth Canada Terrill Samuel, Belgium Aline Van der Haegen Dunbar [122]
1989 England Helen Dobson 6 & 5 Scotland Elaine Farquharson England Lisa Hackney, Scotland Catriona Lambert Royal Liverpool [161][121]
1988 England Joanne Furby 4 & 3 England Julie Wade Republic of Ireland Claire Hourihane, Wales Helen Wadsworth Royal Cinque Ports [120]
1987 England Janet Collingham 19 holes England Susan Shapcott Wales Karen Davies, England Gillian Masters Royal St David's [162][119]
1986 New Zealand Marnie McGuire 2 & 1 Australia Louise Briers Switzerland Regine Lautens, England Caroline Pierce West Sussex [163][115]
1985 Republic of Ireland Lillian Behan 1 up England Claire Waite Wales Karen Davies, Wales Vicki Thomas Ganton [114]
1984 United States Jody Rosenthal 4 & 3 England Julie Brown Scotland Wilma Aitken, England Linda Bayman Royal Troon [164][113]
1983 England Jill Thornhill 4 & 2 Switzerland Regine Lautens France Marie-Laure de Taya, France Cécilia Mourgue d'Algue Silloth on Solway [165][111]
1982 England Kitrina Douglas 4 & 2 Scotland Gillian Stewart Sweden Viveka Hoff, Republic of Ireland Mary McKenna Walton Heath [166][110]
1981 Scotland Belle Robertson 20 holes Scotland Wilma Aitken Sweden Viveka Hoff, Republic of Ireland Claire Hourihane Conwy [109]
1980 United States Anne Quast Sander 3 & 1 Sweden Liv Wollin England Carole Caldwell, United States Carol Semple Woodhall Spa [107]
1979 Northern Ireland Maureen Madill 2 & 1 Australia Jane Lock Australia Edwina Kennedy, Republic of Ireland Mary McKenna Nairn [167][106]
1978 Australia Edwina Kennedy 1 up England Julia Greenhalgh United States Beth Daniel, France Cécilia Mourgue d'Algue Notts [168][104]
1977 England Angela Uzielli 6 & 5 England Vanessa Marvin Republic of Ireland Mary Gorry, England Jenny Lee-Smith Hillside [169][103]
1976 Scotland Cathy Panton 1 up South Africa Alison Sheard United States Debbie Massey, United States Nancy Roth Syms Silloth on Solway [170][102]
1975 United States Nancy Roth Syms 3 & 2 Scotland Suzanne Cadden Australia Sandra McCaw, Canada Dale Shaw St Andrews Links [101]
1974 United States Carol Semple 2 & 1 England Angela Bonallack England Ann Irvin, Scotland Maureen Walker Royal Porthcawl [171][100]
1973 England Ann Irvin 3 & 2 England Mickey Walker Scotland Belle Robertson, Scotland Ina Walker Carnoustie Golf Links [99]
1972 England Mickey Walker 2 up France Claudine Cros-Rubin United States Laura Baugh, England Carol Le Feuvre Hunstanton [97]
1971 England Mickey Walker 3 & 1 England Beverly Huke Scotland Belle Robertson, England Linda Denison-Pender Alwoodley [172]
1970 England Dinah Oxley 1 up Scotland Belle Robertson Republic of Ireland Mary McKenna, Scotland Janette Wright Gullane [173][94]
1969 France Catherine Lacoste 1 up England Ann Irvin England Dinah Oxley, Scotland Isobel Wylie Royal Portrush [174][92]
1968 France Brigitte Varangot 20 holes France Claudine Cros-Rubin Sweden Liv Forsell, Scotland Belle Robertson Walton Heath [91]
1967 England Liz Chadwick 1 up England Mary Everard England Sarah German, Scotland Margaret Myles Royal St David's [175][86]
1966 England Liz Chadwick 3 & 2 England Vivien Saunders Republic of Ireland Gwen Brandom, France Catherine Lacoste Ganton [85]
1965 France Brigitte Varangot 4 & 3 Scotland Belle Robertson France Claudine Cros, England Pam Tredinnick St Andrews Links [176][87]
1964 United States Carol Sorenson 37 holes England Bridget Jackson Canada Joanne Goulet, United States Phyllis Preuss Prince's [84]
1963 France Brigitte Varangot 3 & 1 Republic of Ireland Philomena Garvey France Claudine Cros, West Germany Monika Möller Royal County Down [177][178]
1962 England Marley Spearman 1 up England Angela Bonallack England Sue Ashworth, England Julia Greenhalgh Royal Birkdale [179][83]
1961 England Marley Spearman 7 & 6 England Diane Robb Republic of Ireland Dorothy Beck, France Claudine Cros Carnoustie Golf Links [180][82]
1960 United States Barbara McIntire 4 & 2 Republic of Ireland Philomena Garvey United States JoAnne Gunderson, United States Anne Quast Royal St David's [181][81]
1959 England Elizabeth Price 37 holes Scotland Belle McCorkindale Australia Joan Fletcher, Republic of Ireland Philomena Garvey The Berkshire [182][80]
1958 Scotland Jessie Valentine 1 up England Elizabeth Price England Angela Bonallack, England Jean Hetherington Hunstanton [183][79]
1957 Republic of Ireland Philomena Garvey 4 & 3 Scotland Jessie Valentine England Veronica Anstey, England Elizabeth Price Gleneagles [184][78]
1956 United States Wiffi Smith 8 & 7 United States Mary Patton Janssen United States Polly Riley, England Angela Ward Sunningdale [185][77]
1955 Scotland Jessie Valentine 7 & 6 United States Barbara Romack England Bridget Jackson, Scotland Janette Robertson Royal Portrush [186][76]
1954 England Frances Stephens 4 & 3 England Elizabeth Price Scotland Betty Singleton, Canada Marlene Stewart Ganton [187][75]
1953 Canada Marlene Stewart 7 & 6 Republic of Ireland Philomena Garvey Scotland Jean Donald, United States Mary Lena Faulk Royal Porthcawl [188][74]
1952 Scotland Moira Paterson 38 holes England Frances Stephens Scotland Helen Burton, United States Mae Murray Troon [189][73]
1951 Republic of Ireland Kitty MacCann 4 & 3 England Frances Stephens England Jeanne Bisgood, Scotland Jean Donald Broadstone [190][72]
1950 France Vicomtesse de St Sauveur 3 & 2 Scotland Jessie Valentine Australia Judith Percy, England Elizabeth Price Royal County Down [191][71]
1949 England Frances Stephens 5 & 4 Republic of Ireland Clarrie Reddan Scotland Vyvian Falconer, Republic of Ireland Philomena Garvey Royal St David's [192][70]
1948 United States Louise Suggs 1 up Scotland Jean Donald United States Dorothy Kielty, England Maureen Ruttle Royal Lytham & St Annes [193][69]
1947 United States Babe Zaharias 5 & 4 England Jacqueline Gordon Scotland Jean Donald, Scotland Jessie Valentine Gullane [194][68]
1946 England Jean Hetherington 1 up Republic of Ireland Philomena Garvey Scotland Jean Donald, England Maureen Ruttle Hunstanton [195][67]
1940–1945: Not played due to World War II
1939 England Pam Barton 2 & 1 Northern Ireland Jean Marks England Beryl Newton, Republic of Ireland Clarrie Tiernan Royal Portrush [196][66]
1938 Scotland Helen Holm 4 & 3 England Elsie Corlett England Mervyn Barton, Republic of Ireland Pat Fletcher Burnham & Berrow [197][65]
1937 Scotland Jessie Anderson 6 & 4 Scotland Doris Park England Elsie Corlett, England Evelyn McNair Turnberry [198][64]
1936 England Pam Barton 7 & 5 England Bridget Newell England Kathleen Garnham, England Molly Gourlay Southport and Ainsdale [62]
1935 England Wanda Morgan 3 & 2 England Pam Barton Scotland Jessie Anderson, England Mervyn Barton Royal County Down [59][60]
1934 Scotland Helen Holm 6 & 5 England Pam Barton England Elsie Corlett, Republic of Ireland Eithne Pentony Royal Porthcawl [199][58]
1933 England Enid Wilson 5 & 4 England Diana Plumpton England Diana Fishwick, Scotland Doris Park Gleneagles [56][57]
1932 England Enid Wilson 7 & 6 Scotland Clem Montgomery United States Leona Cheney England Ina Clarke Saunton [53][54]
1931 England Enid Wilson 7 & 6 England Wanda Morgan England Molly Gourlay, Scotland Ysobel Greenlees Portmarnock [200][50]
1930 England Diana Fishwick 4 & 3 United States Glenna Collett Scotland Kathleen Macdonald, England Enid Wilson Formby [201][47]
1929 England Joyce Wethered 3 & 1 United States Glenna Collett England Edith Guedalla, Scotland Doris Park St Andrews Links [202][46]
1928 France Manette le Blan 3 & 2 England Sylvia Marshall England Judith Fowler, England Enid Wilson Hunstanton [203][45]
1927 France Simone de la Chaume 5 & 4 England Dorothy Pearson France Manette le Blan, England Enid Wilson Royal County Down [204][44]
1926 England Cecil Leitch 8 & 7 England Marjorie Ross Garon France Simone de la Chaume, England Winifred McNair Royal St David's [205][43]
1925 England Joyce Wethered 37 holes England Cecil Leitch England Beryl Brown, England Gladys Dobell Troon [206][41]
1924 England Joyce Wethered 7 & 6 England Beryl Cautley England Molly Gourlay, England Eleanor Helme Royal Portrush [39][40]
1923 England Doris Chambers 1 up England Muriel Macbeth England Beryl Brown, England Joyce Wethered Burnham & Berrow [37][38]
1922 England Joyce Wethered 9 & 7 England Cecil Leitch England Gladys Bastin, England Joan Stocker Prince's [207][35]
1921 England Cecil Leitch 4 & 3 England Joyce Wethered Republic of Ireland Janet Jackson, Scotland Lena Scroggie Turnberry [208][34]
1920 England Cecil Leitch 7 & 6 England Molly Griffiths England Doris Fraser, Republic of Ireland Janet Jackson Royal County Down [209][33]
1919 Cancelled because of a railway strike Burnham & Berrow [32]
1915–1918: Not played due to World War I
1914 England Cecil Leitch 2 & 1 England Gladys Ravenscroft England Muriel Dodd, Scotland Elsie Grant Suttie Hunstanton [30][31]
1913 England Muriel Dodd 8 & 6 England Evelyn Chubb Ireland Janet Jackson, Canada Violet Pooley Lytham & St Annes [28][29]
1912 England Gladys Ravenscroft 3 & 2 England Stella Temple England Gladys Heming-Johnson, England Cecil Leitch Turnberry [27]
1911 Scotland Dorothy Campbell 3 & 2 Ireland Violet Hezlet Scotland Florence Bourn, England Hilda Mather Royal Portrush [26]
1910 Scotland Elsie Grant Suttie 6 & 4 England Lily Moore England Madge Neill-Fraser, England Gladys Tamworth Royal North Devon [25]
1909 Scotland Dorothy Campbell 4 & 3 Ireland Florence Hezlet England Doris Chambers, Scotland Katharine Stuart Birkdale [24]
1908 England Maud Titterton 19 holes Scotland Dorothy Campbell England Cecil Leitch, England Hilda Mather St Andrews Links [23]
1907 Ireland May Hezlet 2 & 1 Ireland Florence Hezlet Scotland Violet Henry-Anderson, Ireland Violet Tynte County Down [22]
1906 England Alice Kennion 4 & 3 England Bertha Thompson Scotland Dorothy Campbell, England Amy Sumpter Burnham & Berrow [21]
1905 England Bertha Thompson 3 & 2 Ireland Maud Stuart Scotland Winifred Brown, Scotland Dorothy Campbell Royal Cromer [20]
1904 England Lottie Dod 1 up Ireland May Hezlet Scotland Dorothy Campbell, Scotland Molly Graham Troon [19]
1903 Ireland Rhona Adair 4 & 3 Ireland Florence Walker-Leigh Scotland Flora Macbeth, Ireland Maud Stuart Royal Portrush [18]
1902 Ireland May Hezlet 20 holes England Elinor Nevile Scotland Grace Park, Scotland Sybil Whigham Royal Cinque Ports [17]
1901 Scotland Molly Graham 3 & 2 Ireland Rhona Adair England Elinor Nevile, England Sophie Stubbs Aberdovey [16]
1900 Ireland Rhona Adair 6 & 5 England Isabel Nevile England Alice Richardson, Scotland Molly Whigham Royal North Devon [15]
1899 Ireland May Hezlet 2 & 1 Ireland Jessie Magill England Winifred Bryan, England Lottie Dod County Down [12]
1898 Scotland Lena Thomson 6 & 5 England Elinor Nevile England Amy Barwell, England Lottie Dod Great Yarmouth & Caister [11]
1897 Scotland Edith Orr 4 & 3 Scotland Theodora Orr England Emma Kennedy, England Maud Titterton Gullane [10]
1896 England Amy Pascoe 3 & 2 Scotland Lena Thomson England Katherine Moeller, England Issette Pearson Royal Liverpool [9]
1895 England Lady Margaret Scott 5 & 4 England Emma Lythgoe England Alice Richardson, England Grace Willock Royal Portrush [8]
1894 England Lady Margaret Scott 3 & 2 England Issette Pearson England Maud Starkie Bence, England May Mugliston Littlestone [210][7]
1893 England Lady Margaret Scott 7 & 5 England Issette Pearson England Florence Carr, England Effie Terry Lytham & St Annes [211][6]

Source:[212][213][214]

Multiple winners

[edit]

Eighteen players have won more than one Women's Amateur Championship, through 2022:

Eleven players have won both the Women's Amateur and U.S. Women's Amateur Championships, through 2022:

^ Won both in same year.

Stroke-play qualifying

[edit]

Stroke-play qualifying was first used from 1931 to 1936.[48][63] 36 holes were played with the leading 64 advancing to the match-play stage. There was no seeding. In 1931 qualifying was on Saturday and Monday but was then moved to Friday and Saturday. The leading qualifiers in this period were:

Qualifying was reintroduced in 1966. Originally it was intended that 64 players would qualify but because of weather conditions, this was reduced to 32. The match-play draw was seeded.[88] The number of qualifiers remained at 32 in 1967.[89] In 1968, bad weather reduced the qualifying to one round and, as a result, the number of qualifiers was increased to 64, returning to 32 in 1969.[90][217] The number of qualifiers was generally 32, although in 1972, 1975, 1982 and 1988 it was increased to 64.[218] In 1990 the number of qualifiers was increased to 64 where it has remained.

+ Number one seed. If two or more players are tied, the seeding is decided on countback, the player with the lowest second round score being seeded higher. If players are still tied, the last 9 holes of the second round are used.

Host courses

[edit]

The Women's Amateur Championship has been played at the following courses, listed in order of number of tournaments hosted (as of 2024):

Future sites

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The ladies' golf championship". Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. 8 July 1893. p. 675. Retrieved 8 October 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "Ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 15 June 1893. p. 11.
  3. ^ "The ladies' championship". The Guardian. 14 June 1893. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Mayfield Road Course. (1886 - 1896)". Golf's Missing Links.
  5. ^ "Ladies' championship of the United Kingdom". The Guardian. 15 June 1893. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "The ladies' championship". The Guardian. 16 June 1893. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "The ladies' championship - Final tie". The Glasgow Herald. 2 June 1894. p. 11.
  8. ^ a b "The ladies' amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 25 May 1895. p. 11.
  9. ^ a b "Result of ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 16 May 1896. p. 11.
  10. ^ a b "Close of ladies' championship at Gullane". The Glasgow Herald. 29 May 1897. p. 11.
  11. ^ a b "The ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 21 May 1898. p. 11.
  12. ^ a b c "The ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 13 May 1899. p. 11.
  13. ^ "Irish ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 25 April 1898. p. 11.
  14. ^ "Irish ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 8 May 1899. p. 10.
  15. ^ a b "The lady champion". The Glasgow Herald. 19 May 1900. p. 11.
  16. ^ a b "The lady champion". The Glasgow Herald. 18 May 1901. p. 11.
  17. ^ a b "The ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 31 May 1902. p. 8.
  18. ^ a b "The ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 9 May 1903. p. 8.
  19. ^ a b "Ladies' open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 13 May 1904. p. 10.
  20. ^ a b "Ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 3 June 1905. p. 12.
  21. ^ a b "Ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 19 May 1906. p. 11.
  22. ^ a b "Ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 11 May 1907. p. 14.
  23. ^ a b "Ladies' open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 23 May 1908. p. 15.
  24. ^ a b "The ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 22 May 1909. p. 14.
  25. ^ a b "The ladies' golf championship". The Glasgow Herald. 7 May 1910. p. 13.
  26. ^ a b "Open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 20 May 1911. p. 9.
  27. ^ a b "The champion lady golfer". The Glasgow Herald. 18 May 1912. p. 9.
  28. ^ a b "Ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 6 June 1913. p. 14.
  29. ^ a b "The new champion". The Glasgow Herald. 7 June 1913. p. 9.
  30. ^ a b "The ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 15 May 1914. p. 16.
  31. ^ a b "Miss Cecil Leitch ladies' champion". The Glasgow Herald. 16 May 1914. p. 14.
  32. ^ a b "Ladies' championship abandoned". The Glasgow Herald. 2 October 1919. p. 3.
  33. ^ a b "Ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 14 May 1920. p. 11.
  34. ^ a b "Lady golf champion". The Glasgow Herald. 4 June 1921. p. 11.
  35. ^ a b "Ladies' open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 20 May 1922. p. 5.
  36. ^ "The ladies' championship". The Glasgow Herald. 24 April 1923. p. 15.
  37. ^ a b "Miss Wethered defeated". The Glasgow Herald. 11 May 1923. p. 15.
  38. ^ a b "Miss Chambers wins". The Glasgow Herald. 12 May 1923. p. 11.
  39. ^ a b "Miss Leitch beaten". The Glasgow Herald. 22 May 1924. p. 13.
  40. ^ a b "Miss Wethered wins". The Glasgow Herald. 23 May 1924. p. 17.
  41. ^ a b "Miss Wethered again". The Glasgow Herald. 23 May 1925. p. 9.
  42. ^ "Lady golfers of Harlech". The Glasgow Herald. 22 June 1926. p. 3.
  43. ^ a b c "Miss Leitch wins". The Glasgow Herald. 25 June 1926. p. 15.
  44. ^ a b "Championship for France". The Glasgow Herald. 20 May 1927. p. 13.
  45. ^ a b "The ladies' golf championship". The Glasgow Herald. 19 May 1928. p. 6.
  46. ^ a b c "Miss Wethered champion". The Glasgow Herald. 18 May 1929. p. 10.
  47. ^ a b c "Miss Collett beaten". The Glasgow Herald. 17 May 1930. p. 3.
  48. ^ a b "Thunderstorm at Portmarnock". The Glasgow Herald. 8 June 1931. p. 17.
  49. ^ a b "Ladies' golf title". The Glasgow Herald. 9 June 1931. p. 3.
  50. ^ a b "Ladies' golf title". The Glasgow Herald. 13 June 1931. p. 2.
  51. ^ a b "Play in women's championship". The Glasgow Herald. 30 May 1932. p. 17.
  52. ^ "American crash at Saunton". The Glasgow Herald. 31 May 1932. p. 17.