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In the summer of 1910 Mrs. George Harrington of Eastlake
Country Club in Atlanta and Mrs. Willard Parker Sullivan of Richmond, Virginia, (later of
Birmingham) concerned over the lack of a championship golf tournament for women
of the South were determined to hold a tournament at Eastlake that Fall at which
time a permanent organization would be formed. A full tournament schedule caused
the date to be moved to May 15, 1911, and there the Women's Southern Golf Association was born.
The WSGA Amateur Championship has since been
an annual event except for the war years 1918 and 1942-45.
The area of
membership as voted in 1928 still comprises the 15 Southern States: Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North
Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
and the District of Columbia.
Mrs. Roger Smith
of Nashville, the first Champion, had qualified with a 102. The first medalist
was Alexa Stirling, who at age 13 carded a 95. The lowest medalist honor
belonged to
Mrs. Gordon Street, Jr., of Chattanooga with a sterling 66 in 1965. That
record was tied by Miss Stacy Lewis of Woodlands, TX in 2006. Since
1935, when Katherine Hemphill of Columbia, S.C., fired a 79 at Louisville,
Kentucky, no medalist has been out of the 70’s. Through the years, the WSGA has
had many Curtis Cup team members and captains. Numerous players have also moved
on to the pro ranks.
Entry fees have
escalated from the original $3.00. Entries have been as few as 18 to as many as
160 with a long waiting list. Since 1973, the field has been limited to 144 with
much of the field handicapped from 0-5. Qualifying scores in 1911 were 95-177
with the top score in the championship a 116.
1913 Mrs. David Gaut from Memphis
first played in the championship. She qualified with 132 and went on to be
consolation winner of the second flight. She served as President from 1931 to
1939 after winning the championship in 1923. She was very instrumental in
structuring the WSGA as it stands today. In 1931, she asked for a Board of
Directors to help with the affairs of running the championship.
In 1954, District
Representatives were appointed, each one serving several States until in 1958
it was voted to have a Representative from each State.
TROPHIES
The Championship Trophy -
was initiated in 1925.
Team Trophy - a
perpetual trophy awarded to the two qualifies from the same Metropolitan are
whose combined gross qualifying scores are lowest. First awarded in 1926.
Marguerie Gaut Trophy
- Awarded to the Senior Medalist (50 or over, lowest qualifying score), begun in
1948 as a senior prize, became in 1953 a perpetual trophy in the custody of the
last winner until the next WSGA Championship.
Riley Eaken Memorial Trophy
- Awarded to the low net qualifier and was first awarded in 1967.
Marty Webb Junior Medalist Trophy
- Started in 1978 as a perpetual trophy awarded to a contestant who has not
reached her 18th birthday before the end of the championship.
Evelyn Monsted Trophy
- a perpetual trophy awarded to the
contestant having the lowest qualifying score. It was first awarded in
2007.
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