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Marissa Wenzler is back to defend her WWGA-Amateur title, this time with her brother Ryan on the bag to caddie.
THE 122nd Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) will play it’s amateur championship this week at the Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield.
Defending Champion Marissa Wenzler heads-up a powerful field, as she attempts to be the first player to go back-to-back since Meredith Duncan won in 2000 and 2001.
Wenzler won the 2021 title at Park Ridge Country Club in a playoff, over Maddison Hinson-Tolchard who returns in another attempt to win the championship.
Wenzler from Dayton Ohio, plays out of her home club NCR Country Club that will host the 2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Open next month. Wenzler is a member of the University of Kentucky women’s golf team. Hinson-Tolchard made Third-Team All-American honors from Golfweek Magazine after a solid sophomore season at Oklahoma State.
But the top level competition doesn’t end there. Kristen Rudgeley from Perth Australia is the #1 amateur in Australia, and finished 8th at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur earlier this year is expected to contend.
Marissa Wenzler driving the ball during her Monday practice round.
The 120 player field has representation from 28 states and 12 countries.
13 players are from Illinois, including Lauren Beaudreau of Lemont, Megan Furtney of St. Charles, Grace Curran of New Lenox and Caroline Smith from Inverness. Mara Janess of Barrington the winner of the 2021 WWGA-Junior championship, is looking to earn both WWGA titles with a win this week.
Tuesday and Wednesday the players will play 18-holes of stroke play. After which the low 32 players will move to match play.
The five rounds of match play begin on Thursday morning, with the 18-hole championship match being played on Saturday morning.
Sunset Ridge Country Club has a long history with the Women’s Western Golf Association. Previously playing host to five WWGA championships. First hosting the 1935 Women’s Western Open (won by Opal Hill). But then in 1942 Betty Jamison won the WWGA-Amateur. Anne Richardson and Ann Baker won the WWGA Junior Championships in 1953 and 1961.
The club’s history dates back to 1923, when architect Bill Diddel one of the founding members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) designed the golf course. Rick Jacobson did oversee a 2006 renovation project at the club.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW with defending champion Marissa Wenzler of Dayton Ohio.
Admission to the championship is free. But for more information on the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) please visit WWGA.org.