2014 VSGA WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP FACT SHEET
at Hidden Valley Country Club, Salem, Va.
Tuesday-Friday, June 8-11, 2014
VENUE: Hidden Valley Country Club is a premier private country club nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the heart of the Roanoke Valley, with a beautiful championship golf course as its centerpiece.
In 1948, 26 gentlemen came together and started Hidden Valley Country Club. The group hired Dick Wilson to design the course. Mr. Wilson is famous for designing Doral and Pine Tree among many other great courses. In 1951, nine holes were open for play and a year later a full 18 holes opened. The story goes, Mr. Wilson had a hard time finding the land that he had been hired to turn into a golf course, and thus, “Hidden Valley” became the name of the club.
The club will be hosting the VSGA Women’s Amateur for the first time.
VSGA WOMEN’S AMATEUR HISTORY: First played in 1922, this is the 89th VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship. The event is the oldest VSGA women’s championship.
GROUPINGS AND STARTING TIMES: Groupings and starting times for the first day of stroke play qualifying on Tuesday, July 8 are listed below.
WWW.VSGA.ORG: Log on to the VSGA Internet site (www.vsga.org) for the latest results and daily recaps from the 2014 VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship.
FORMAT / SCHEDULE: The 89th VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship consists of match play following 36 holes of on-site qualifying (18 holes per day on Tuesday-Wednesday, July 8-9).
The low 16 qualifiers will advance to match play (single-elimination format). The first and quarterfinal rounds of match play are set for Thursday, July 10, followed by the semifinals and scheduled 18-hole final on Friday, July 11.
Tuesday, July 8 – First round of stroke-play qualifying (8 a.m. off hole No. 1)
Wednesday, July 9 – Second round of stroke-play qualifying (8 a.m. off hole No. 1)
Thursday, July 10 – First and quarterfinal rounds of match play (8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. off hole No. 1)
Friday, July 11 – Semifinal and final round of match play (8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. off hole No. 1)
CAN I PLAY?: The VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship is open to women golfers of all ages. The event is open to female golfers who have an active Handicap Index of 40.0 or less established at a VSGA member club. Entrants must also meet the USGA Rules of Amateur Status.
STARTING FIELD: The field consists of 29 competitors, including two-time defending champion Lauren Coughlin of Charlottesville, a rising junior at the University of Virginia.
THE WINNER RECEIVES: The 2014 VSGA Women Amateur champion’s name will be engraved on the Kohler Trophy and the medalist’s name on the Ann Pollard Trophy. The champion, runner-up and semifinalists will receive gift certificates and trophies.
2013 RECAP: Lauren Coughlin scored a 3-and-2 victory over Amanda Hollandsworth of Floyd to win last year’s scheduled 36-hole final at the VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship at The Country Club of Virginia’s Tuckahoe Creek Course in Richmond.
Coughlin, a rising sophomore at the University of Virginia at the time, owned as much as a seven holes up lead in the afternoon session before outlasting Hollandsworth, a rising senior at Floyd County High School when she participated in the 2013 Women’s Amateur.
Coughlin became the third player in just less than 15 years to win back-to-back titles in the event. Northern Virginian Amanda Steinhagen (Oak Hill) notched consecutive victories in the championship in 2010-11, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since Burkeville’s Mandy Beamer repeated in 2001-02.
Incredibly, in her combined 10 match-play victories that she’s collected in capturing two straight triumphs at the event, Coughlin registered nine wire-to-wire wins. She trailed briefly—three holes to be exact—to start her semifinal round match at last year’s event.
Both Coughlin and Hollandsworth are in this year’s field.
LAST TIME OUT: COUGHLIN WINS VSGA VIRGINIAS WOMEN’S STROKE PLAY: Fueled by a late birdie, Charlottesville’s Lauren Coughlin shot a final round 1-over-par 74 and posted a one-stroke victory at this spring’s Virginias Women’s Stroke Play Championship at Chantilly National Golf and Country Club in Centreville.
Coughlin finished with a 1-under 218 (70-74-74) aggregate and was the only competitor to conclude the championship in red numbers. Northern Virginian Casey Kennedy, 22, of Bristow also closed with 74 and finished a shot back (even-par 219). Herndon’s Shabril Brewer, 21, returned a final round even-par 73 and finished two strokes off the pace (1-over 220).
With the victory, Coughlin, the two-time reigning VSGA Women’s Amateur champion, became the third player since 1991 to own the Women’s Amateur and Women’s Stroke Play titles in the same rotation. The others are Amanda Steinhagen of Oak Hill (won the 2011 Women’s Amateur and 2012 Women’s Stroke Play) and Vikki Valentine, who accomplished the feat in 1991.
RARE COMPANY: With her victory at the VSGA Women’s Amateur last summer, Coughlin became the third player in just less than 15 years to win back-to-back titles in the event. Northern Virginian Amanda Steinhagen (Oak Hill) notched consecutive victories in the championship in 2010-11, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since Burkeville’s Mandy Beamer repeated in 2001-02.
As a junior at U.Va. in 2013-14, she led the team in stroke average (74.61) and finished a team-best 15th in the NCAA East Regional at SouthWood (Fla.) Golf Course to help the Cavaliers reach the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship. There, Coughlin made her first appearance in the event.
COUGHLIN EYES THREE-PEAT: With a third title, Coughlin would become the first player to claim three consecutive VSGA Women’s Amateur titles since Lee Shirley accomplished the feat from 1996-98.
CHAMPIONS IN THE FIELD: Altogether, the following past VSGA event winners are scheduled to compete:
Lyberty Anderson (Chesterfield) – 2013 VSGA Virginias Women’s Stroke Play champion
Lauren Coughlin (Charlottesville) –2014 VSGA Virginias Women’s Stroke Play champion;2012 and 2013 VSGA Women’s Amateur champion
Mimi Hoffman (Springfield) –2014 VSGA Senior Women’s Stroke Play champion;2006 and 2011 VSGA Senior Women’s Amateur champion;1999 VSGA Women’s Amateur champion
Amanda Hollandsworth – 2012 VSGA Junior Girls’ champion
YOUTH MOVEMENT: Altogether, 27 of the 29 competitors in the field are age 23 or under.
In addition to Coughlin, Floyd’s Amanda Hollandsworth (pictured left), 18, who graduated from Floyd County High School this spring, won the Virginia High School League Group 2A golf championship in October. She finished second in the 2A West region after sharing medalist honors and placed second in Conference 38 tournament. For her efforts, Hollandsworth was named Timesland golfer of the year by The Roanoke Times. She is bound for Virginia Tech on a golf scholarship in the fall.
Other young players to watch include, among others: Lyberty Anderson, 18, of Chesterfield, last year’s VSGA Virginias Women’s Stroke Play champion and both the co-medalist and a quarterfinalist at the 2013 VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship (Anderson is also a four-time Richmond Women’s Golf Association Amateur champion); Kayleigh Reed, 20, of Virginia Beach, a quarterfinalist at the 2013 VSGA Women’s Amateur; Lauren Eklund, 19, of Charlottesville (rising junior at Old Dominion University), the third low qualifier for match play at last year’s event and 12-year-old Caroline Curtis (Glen Allen), the runner-up at last summer’s Richmond Women’s Golf Association Women’s Amateur Championship.
Also in the field are Bridgewater College teammates and fellow 19-year-old rising juniors Marin Warring (Williamsburg) and Andrea Walker (Harrisonburg), who were ranked 1-2 among the team’s stroke average leaders during the 2013-14 campaign, as well as Elizabeth Cheng, 21, of Virginia Beach. Cheng, a spring graduate of Hollins University, competed in the 2013 NCAA Division III Golf Championships.
MOST WINS: Former Portsmouth native Lily Harper claimed the title a record seven times from 1934-37 and 1939-41, accomplishing the feat over the final three years as Lily Harper Martin. Charlottesville’s Mary Patton Janssenwas a six-time champion (1957-62) along with Robby King Youel(1963 and 1966, 1969-72).
Jane Mackof Richmondwon four times (1977-78, 1982 and 1992).In addition, former Lynchburg native and LPGA Tour player Donna Andrewsclaimed the title on five occasions (1985-89). Three-time champions include Mrs. A.H. (Margaret) Allen (1954-56), Sydney Elliott (1949, 1952 and 1953), Mrs. J.W. Reynolds(1946-48) and Lee Shirley(1996-98).
HISTORY LESSON: Champions dating back to 1990 include the following players:
1990 – Donna Martz (Broadway) def. Mrs. Brad (Kay) Schiefelbein (Alexandria), 3 and 2 at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1991 – Vikki Valentine (Virginia Beach) def. Sherry Bowman (Manassas), 3 and 2 at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1992 – Jane Mack (Richmond) def. Sara Cole (Roanoke), 2 and 1 at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1993 – Anne Patrick (Richmond) def. Dot Bolling (Salem), 1 up at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1994 – Amy Ellertson (Richmond) def. Natalie Easterly (Richmond), 7 and 6 at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1995 – Amy Ellertson (Richmond) def. Fran Hensley (Martinsville), 7 and 5 at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1996 – Lee Shirley (Salem) def. Maggie Balch (Richmond), 4 and 3 at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1997 – Lee Shirley (Salem) def. Amy Ellertson (Richmond), 2 up at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1998 – Lee Shirley (Salem) def. Catalina Durall (Glen Allen), 1 up at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
1999 – Mimi Hoffman (Alexandria) def. Chris Epperly (Newport News), 2 and 1 at Glenrochie Country Club, Abingdon
2000 – Dot Bolling (Salem) def. Cindy Morris (Portsmouth), 2 and 1 at The Homestead’s Cascades Course, Hot Springs
2001 – Mandy Beamer (Burkeville) def. Sherry Bowman (Manassas), 2 and 1 at Boonsboro Country Club, Lynchburg
2002 – Mandy Beamer (Burkeville) def. Becky Poindexter (Martinsville), 7 and 6 at Glenrochie Country Club, Lynchburg
2003 – Boodie McGurn (Richmond) def. Stephanie Hicks (Bumpass), 1 up at The Country Club of Virginia’s Tuckahoe Creek Course, Richmond
2004 – Jameshia Levister (Fredericksburg) def. Natalie Easterly (Richmond), 1 up at Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club, Portsmouth
2005 – Cindy Morris (Portsmouth) def. Donna Abernathy (Broadway), 20 holes at Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville
2006 – Carol Green (Tazewell) def. Kristen Simpson (Norfolk), 3 and 1 at Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville
2007 – Sarah Harvey (Forest) def. Lauren Doughtie (Suffolk), 3 and 2 at The Country Club of Virginia’s River Course, Richmond
2008 – Lauren Doughtie (Suffolk) def. Kristen Simpson (Norfolk), 5 and 3 at Bayville Golf Club, Virginia Beach
2009 – Whitney Neuhauser (Barboursville) def. Lauren Greenlief (Oakton), 20 holes at Danville Golf Club, Danville
2010 – Amanda Steinhagen (Oak Hill) def. Lauren Greenlief (Oakton), 2 and 1 at Glenmore Country Club, Keswick
2011 – Amanda Steinhagen (Oak Hill) def. Ju Hee Bae (Chantilly), 5 and 4 at Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria
2012 – Lauren Coughlin (Charlottesville) def. Elizabeth Brightwell (Nellysford), 3 and 2 at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (Gold Course), Williamsburg
2013 – Lauren Coughlin (Charlottesville) def. Amanda Hollandsworth (Floyd), 3 and 2 at The Country Club of Virginia’s Tuckahoe Creek Course, Richmond
GENERAL MANAGER AT HIDDEN VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB: Robert Babyok
HEAD PGA PROFESSIONAL AT HIDDEN VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB: Michael Abraham, PGA
GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT HIDDEN VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB: Sean Baskette
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For additional information, please contact VSGA director of communications Andrew Blair. Messages can be left at (804) 378-2300, ext. 12.
SALEM –– Groupings and starting times for the first round of stroke play qualifying at the 89th VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship at Hidden Valley Country Club on Tuesday, July 8.
Tuesday (July 8), Hole No. 1
8 a.m. – Gabriella Rivera (Ruther Glen); Isabel Hansen (Oakton)
8:09 a.m. – Jessica Hart (Roanoke); Morgan Cox (Floyd); Sara Cole (Salem)
8:18 a.m. – Lauren Hall (Newport News); Yancey Harrison (Ruckersville); Andrea Walker (Warsaw)
8:27 a.m. – Elizabeth Cheng (Virginia Beach); Sara Moir (Roanoke); Marin Warring (Williamsburg)
8:36 a.m. – Sophia Montenegro (Oakton); Peyton Durham (Dinwiddie); Michaela Conway (Chester)
8:45 a.m. – Katie Turk (Blacksburg); Megan Martin (Chesapeake); Meagan Board (Roanoke)
8:54 a.m. – Coty Hudson (Lynchburg); Mimi Hoffman (Springfield); Jessica Merrill (Reston)
9:03 a.m. – Rachel Walker (Harrisonburg); Kristin Hearp (Salem); Kayleigh Reed (Virginia Beach)
9:12 a.m. – Caroline Curtis (Glen Allen); Kelsey Solan (Lumberton); Lauren Eklund (Charlottesville)
9:21 a.m. – Lauren Coughlin (Charlottesville); Amanda Hollandsworth (Floyd); Lyberty Anderson (Chesterfield)