PRESTWICK COUNTRY CLUB in Frankfort Illinois home of this weeks 120th Women’s Western Amateur Championship. Next week it’s the men’s turn in Carmel Indiana at the Pete Dye designed Crooked Stick Golf Club. There is live scoring on both websites. ______________________________________________________________________
GOLFERS ON GOLF reporting from Frankfort IL. and the Prestwick Country Club. by Rory Spears, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or LinkedIn & Facebook/Instagram
Medalists Caroline Curtis- University of Alabama (L) and Blair Stockett Mississippi State University (R) are the medalists for the 2020 WWGA National Amateur Championship.
Tournament golf in the Chicago area make a triumphant return with the playing of the 120th Women’s Western Amateur at Prestwick Country Club.
In late June, the Women’s Western Junior Championship at the Grove Country Club in Long Grove Illinois was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Virus Pandemic.
This weeks field consisted of 120 players, and a full field turned out to be an outstanding accomplishment, after around 25 players had to withdraw from the championship, due to visa issues, travel issues, or exposure to people with Covid 19. There was no known cases of players who withdrew, actually testing positive for Covid-19.
By early Wednesday evening the match play field of 32 players was set, after the completion of a 5 players for 2 spots playoff, that went three holes before ending on the 18th green behind Prestwick’s clubhouse.
The WWGA National Amateur Trophy, with the 2 USGA Women’s Amateur flags that will be awarded to the two finalists on Saturday.
Micaela Farah of Lima Peru won the last spot into the field of 32 for the match play bracket.
Farah proved right out of the blocks that she belonged, when she defeated medalist and No.1 seed Caroline Curtis who plays on the University of Alabama golf team by a 3 & 1 score.
Co-medalist Blair Stockett a member of the Mississippi State golf team, had a touch opening match defeating the #31 seed Noor Ahmed 1 Up. Stockett was then defeated in 19 holes in the Round of 16 by Taylor Kehoe. Kehoe is one of three players remaining from Canada, joining both Mary Parsons and Brigitte Thibault in the Quarterfinals. The remaining other five players are from America, all from different states.
The final remaining local player from Illinois, was Lauren Beaudreau of Lemont who plays for Notre Dame University. Beaudreau lost her round of 16 match in 20 holes to Jackie Lucena from California.
Prestwick Country Club is hosting it’s second WWGA national event, having previously hosted the 1972 WWGA Junior Championship, won by Nancy Lopez.
Click here to hear interviews with Co-Medalist Caroline Curtis, and remaining high seed #4 Erica Shepherd of Greenwood Indiana, and member of the Duke University golf team.
Click here to hear interviews with Co-Medalist Blair Stockett and University of Illinois senior Tristyn Nowlin, 2018 WWGA Amateur runner up at Mistwood Golf Club. Nowlin advanced to match play as the 29th seed, and lost her first match to #4 Erica Shepherd.
Quarterfinal and semi-final play will take place on Friday, with the championship match teeing off at 7:30 Am on Saturday morning. If the match concludes early enough on Saturday morning, the champion will join Golfers on Golf radio live on the air. For more information on the Women’s Western Golf Association please visit wwga.org.