By Chris Lang
MIDLOTHIAN — The Virginia State Golf Association and Middle Atlantic PGA have announced the creation of the Women’s Open of Virginia, marking the first time that female amateurs and professionals will play together for a championship in the Commonwealth.
The three-day, 54-hole stroke-play championship is scheduled for June 19-21 at Midlothian’s Independence Golf Club. The minimum purse for the event will be $15,000. Amateurs will be eligible to receive World Amateur Golf Ranking points in the event.
“The VSGA is delighted to partner with the MAPGA to offer the Women’s Open of Virginia for the first time this year. It is exciting to be able to showcase the best women professional and amateur golfers from Virginia and this region at a course, Independence, that will challenge every aspect of their games,” said Anne Greever, the first female president in the history of the VSGA Board of Directors. “This new Women’s Open will be the jewel in the crown of VSGA’s golf events for women. The VSGA has focused in recent years on greatly enhancing its offerings for women, from the new women’s play days for recreational golfers to the new women’s mid-am, and now the Open for the most elite tier of golfers. I hope lots of golf fans will come out to cheer for these talented competitors.”
All female golfers are eligible to compete in the Women’s Open of Virginia, regardless of membership or residency status. Complete entry information will be available at vsga.org on Feb. 14.
“The MAPGA is proud to partner with the VSGA to create the Women’s Open of Virginia,” MAPGA Executive Director Jon Guhl said. “It is a priority for us to provide opportunity and help grow women's golf at both the beginner level and, in this instance, the highly competitive level.”
Independence will host three different Virginia State Opens in 2023. The club will host the State Open of Virginia July 21-23 and the Senior Open of Virginia Sept. 11-12.
Independence President Giff Breed said he is thrilled for the club to be involved in a historic women’s event.
“As a father of two daughters, an uncle to seven nieces, and a son of a mom who was the mayor of my hometown, I’ve seen how vital opportunities for young women to excel are,” Breed said. “So, having an opportunity to be a part of the first-ever Women’s Open of Virginia, where we marry opportunity with a game we love, is a dream come true. We are very excited to work with the VSGA, MAPGA and our sponsor companies, all of which focus on women’s issues, to create a world-class event.”
On the amateur side, the Women’s Open of Virginia replaces the VSGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship, which debuted in 1978 with Jane Mack winning the inaugural event and concluded in 2022 with Alexandra Austin securing her second title in the event. In between, Virginia Golf Hall of Famers Donna Andrews and Kandi Kessler, among others, won championships. Past USGA champion Lauren Greenlief won a record four Women’s Stroke Play titles.
The VSGA will continue to conduct its Women’s Amateur Championship, which features one round of stroke-play qualifying with the top 16 competitors advancing to the championship match-play flight. This year’s Women’s Amateur will be contested July 25-27 at Cedar Point Club in Suffolk.
In addition, the VSGA has created a Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be a two-day, 36-hole stroke-play championship held Oct. 17-18 at International Country Club in Fairfax. That event will be open to players ages 22 and older, as long as that player is not currently on a college golf roster. This championship will be held in conjunction with the VSGA Senior Women’s Stroke Play, Super Senior Women’s Stroke Play, and Net Women’s Stroke Play.
The Women’s Open of Virginia is seeking sponsors. If interested, please contact Josh Coates, VSGA Director of Championships and Golf Operations, at jcoates@vsga.org.