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Marissa Wenzler of Dayton Ohio, returns to defend her title. Wenzler won at the Park Ridge Country Club in 2021.
SUNSET RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB in Northfield Illinois, will host the 122nd Women’s Western Golf Association amateur championship July 18-23.
This is the fifth time the club has hosted a WWGA Championship.
Previously the club hosted the 1935 Women’s Western Open. The 1942 Women’s Western Amateur, and the 1953 & 1961 Women’s Western Juniors.
The championship has been held every year without interruption, since it inaugural year of 1901.
The Women’s Western Golf Association returns to Sunset Ridge this July 18-23.
“Sunset Ridge is honored to have been selected to host the 2022 Women’s Western Amateur. Our membership is excited for the opportunity to extend our golf course and facilities to this iconic championship,” Sunset Ridge Tournament Chair Christa Bolt said. “We’re looking forward to watching some of the best young women in the world, compete on our home turf.”
Sunset Ridge was founded in 1923, and the golf course was designed by Bill Diddel. Diddel was one of the founding members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA). Diddel learned the trade working for the famed Donald Ross. But later went on to mentor to another Hall of Fame architect, Pete Dye. Diddel’s design of Sunset Ridge included subtle contours with fast greens that created challenging putting surfaces.
Welcome to Sunset Ridge Country Club.
SUNSET RIDGE has hosted three WGA men’s championships. The 1936 Western Junior, the 1972 Western Open. But more recently the 2018 Western Amateur won by Cole Hammer.
“We’re excited to bring another elite championship to Sunset Ridge,” said Vince Pelligrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments. “Our successful Western Amateur in 2018 showed that this exacting venue, will present a challenging-but fair-test to every competitor.”
So the field for this years championship will be 120 amateurs, with a handicap of 5.4 or less. The first and second days of the championship, consist of 18 holes of stroke play. But then the format switches to match play. For the top 32 players advancing from stroke play.
Wenzler hitting a drive in the championship match.
MARISSA WENZLER from Dayton Ohio, will defend her title. Wenzler won in a two-hole playoff at Park Ridge Country Club.
Wenzler is a junior at the University of Kentucky. She advanced to the Round of 32 at the 2021 USGA Women’s Amateur.
But first, Wenzler survived a 11 for 2 playoff to advance to the match play. But then she defeated the medalist in the first round of 64 players.
Notable past WWGA champions include Ariya Jutanugarn (2012), Brittany Lang (2003), Grace Park (1998), Christie Kerr (1995), and Nancy Lopez (1976).
“So much work goes into planning a championship like this. But since day one, Sunset Ridge has done a fantastic job,” said Jackie Wacker, WWGA Tournament Chair. “Because with a field of the world’s best female amateurs. So this will be an event no one will want to miss.”
BUT FOR MORE DETAILS visit www.womenswesternamateur.com.