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                               THE WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION (WGA) AND THE WOMEN’S WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION (WWGA) proudly present your home’s for WWGA championships in 2021.

THE VIEW BY AIR of the Park Ridge Country Club home of the 2021 WWGA Amateur Championship. Photo courtesy of architect Greg Martin.

The Women’s Western Golf Association in conjunction with the Western Golf Association has announced it’s two clubs that will host it’s championships in 2021.

First on the tee hosting the 95th Women’s Western Junior Championship from June 21-25, will be the Aurora Country Club in Aurora Illinois.

The Park Ridge Country Club will then host the 2021 Women’s Western Golf Association’s National Amateur Championship, in Park Ridge Illinois from July 19-24.

Deep greenside bunkers help create the challenge of the Aurora Country Club. Home of the 95th Women’s Western Junior Golf Championship in 2021. Photo by Greg Martin.

2021 will be the first time Aurora Country Club will have hosted a WWGA Championship.

“Each year, the girls who compete in the Women’s Western Junior represent golf’s best and brightest rising talent,” said WWGA President Cece Durbin. “We’re grateful to Aurora Country Club for hosting this national event, and we are looking forward to a successful 2021 championship.”

The field is comprised of 78 amateurs up to 18 years of age, with a handicap index of 14.4 or lower. Practice rounds will begin on June 21st. The championship begins with 36 holes of stroke play, to determine the 16 players who advance to the match play part of the tournament. The match play will be contested on June 24-25.

“We’re pleased to have Aurora Country Club as the host of the 2021 Women’s Western Junior,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “We’re confident Aurora’s highly regarded course layout will prove to be a worthy challenge for the top-ranked junior golfers who will be competing.”

Aurora Country Club opened for play in 1914. The 6,800 yard golf course was designed by Thomas Bendelow and William Langford both who have created Top 100 golf courses across America.

“We’re excited to be hosting the Women’s Western Junior, a national event with nearly a century of history,” said John Bryan, of Aurora Country Club and WGA Director. “We’re planning for a great week of competition as we support the future stars of women’s golf.”

LPGA Stars Christie Kerr (1994, Grace Park (1993) and Nancy Lopez (1972-74) are past champions in this event.

THE PARK RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB will host the 121st Women’s Western Amateur Championship. This will be the third WWGA Championship that Park Ridge has hosted. Park Ridge previously hosted the Women’s Western Junior (1934), and the Women’s Western Open (1944) won by Babe Zaharias.

“The Women’s Western Golf Association has a long history dating back to the early beginnings of competitive golf for women, with a tradition that rivals any in golf. We look forward to bringing our 121st Women’s Western Amateur to Park Ridge Country Club,” said WWGA President Cece Durbin. “I believe our players will greatly enjoy Park Ridge’s golf course and the countless attractions that the Chicagoland area has to offer.”

“We’re excited to be joining with the WWGA to conduct this prestigious championship at Park Ridge’s stature,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “I’m sure the course will offer a fair and challenging test for the top amateur golfers who will be competing.”

In it’s historic past, Park Ridge Coutnry Club has hosted 10 national championships.

“Park Ridge is proud to host the 2021 Women’s Western Amateur. Our members and staff and the Board of Directors are excited for this opportunity to extend our golf course and facilities to this historic championship,” said Park Ridge C.C. President Steve Hands. “We look forward to watching the leading amateurs in women’s golf compete, and we’re honored to have an opportunity to play a role in their developing careers.”

Herbert Tweedie designed the first nine holes in 1906. In 1911 the club hired Tom Bendelow to create nine more holes and add 97 sand bunkers to the golf course. In 1915 the club purchased an adjoining 20 acres, and architect William Langford redesigned the course, with his design being the major influence on today’s current routing. Batavia based golf architect Greg Martin will be working on Park Ridge this summer, to have the golf course ready for 2021.

The field of 120 players, will hold a handicap index of 5.4 or less. The first two days are stroke play, and then the field is reduced to 32 players for match play. Past Champions include LPGA stars Ariya Jutanugarn (2012), Stacy Lewis (2006), Brittany Lang (2003), Christie Kerr (1995), and Nancy Lopez  (1976).

Park Ridge has previously hosted a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier in 1988, U.S. Women’s Amateur Sectional qualifier in 1978-1979. The Western Junior Championship in 2017, U.S. Men’s Senior Open Qualifiers in 1986 and 1983. A U.S. Junior Qualifier in 1972, and U.S. Open Qualifier in 1927.