U.S. Girls’ Junior
The U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship was established by the USGA in 1949, one year after the equivalent U.S. Junior Amateur for young men. It’s a competition that comprises two days of 18-hole stroke play, with the leading 64 competitors then involved in match play ties to determine the winner. A medal is awarded to the golfer with the best stroke play aggregate for the 36 holes played by all competitors. Final matches have been decided over 36 holes since 2006.
With more than 1,500 golfers now applying for entry, pre-qualifying at approximately forty venues around the country takes place in advance of the actual event. It’s a far cry from the inaugural contest on the Bala course at Philadelphia Country Club, when only 33 girls from 17 states took part.
Marlene Bauer, who became a founder member of the LPGA (and later married her sister’s former husband, the architect Robert von Hagge) was the first person to claim the twin-handled sterling silver trophy donated by Glenna Collett Vare, the six-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion between 1922 and 1935.
Since 2017, competitors under the age of nineteen are eligible to participate in the competition, which is an increase of one year on the previous limit. The champion also receives an exemption into the following year's U.S. Women's Open Championship.
Hollis Stacy won the competition a record three consecutive times, from 1969 to 1971, and she would go on in her professional career to capture four major championships during an illustrious career on the LPGA Tour.
Three girls have also triumphed in the final twice: Judy Eller (1957, 1958); Nancy Lopez (1972, 1974); and Seong Eun-jeong (2016, 2017). Inbee Park reached three finals (2002, 2003, 2005) but won only the first one.
Kay Cornelius won the 1981 edition of the tournament and joined her mother, Kathy, the 1956 U.S. Women's Open champion, as the only mother-daughter combination to win a USGA championship.
Only two clubs have hosted the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship on more than one occasion: Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kansas (1980, 1991) and Somerset Hills in Bernardsville, New Jersey (1973, 1983).
The following venues where the championship has been held are not ranked in our Best in State listings so you will not find them listed below:
Banbury (2005), Brookhaven (1969), Carmel (2006), Crestview (1980, 1991), Del Rio (1976), Echo Lake (2002), Greeley (1982), Green Spring Valley Hunt Club (1999), Guyan (1977), Heather Downs (1956), Illahe Hills (1981), Indian Hills (2001), Jefferson City (1972), Lakewood (1957), Leavanworth (1964), Legends of Tennessee (1997), Manasquan River (1990), Manor CC (1959), Meadow Lark (1994), Meridian Hills (1992), Mesa Verde (1993), Mill Creek (1984), Peach tree (1986), Philadelphia Country Club Bala course (1949) now known as Bala Golf Club, St Clair (1985), Wanakah (1950), Westward Ho (1996) and Woolfer’s Roost (1963). Also Air Force Academy Eisenhower Golf Club (Blue) in Colorado Springs (2023).
Courses
Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood)
North Carolina, United States
