The U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, was a women's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the USGA and first played in 1977. The USGA officially called the event the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, which it has registered as a service mark. The tournament was devised as a championship for female amateurs who play on public courses, as members of private clubs were barred from entry. In February 2013, the USGA announced that both this event and its men's counterpart, the U.S. Amateur Public Links, would be discontinued after their 2014 editions, and would be replaced by new amateur four-ball championships for both men and women.

While the U.S. Amateur Public Links was first held in 1922, the women's counterpart event was not held until 55 years later. Both the men's and women's Publinx had been created to provide outlets for national competition for public-course golfers, who before 1979 had been barred from entering either the U.S. Amateur or U.S. Women's Amateur because both events were restricted to members of clubs affiliated with the USGA or (presumably) other national governing bodies. When the USGA announced the demise of the men's and women's Publinx, it specifically stated that "the APL [Amateur Public Links] and WAPL [Women's Amateur Public Links] championships no longer serve their original mission because of the widespread accessibility public-course golfers today enjoy in USGA championships."

The main tournament opened with two rounds of stroke play. The leading 64 players then qualified to compete in a match play competition. The matches were played over 18 holes. Before 2002, the final was also played over 18 holes. From 2002 to 2014, the final was played over 36 holes.

Eligibility is similar to that for the U.S. Women's Amateur. Golfers must follow the USGA's guidelines for amateur status. The USGA defines an "amateur golfer" as anyone who plays golf purely for the qualities of the game itself, "not as a profession and not for financial gain". The Public Links, like the U.S. Women's Amateur, had no age restrictions. However, there were two key differences in the eligibility criteria for the Public Links: Entries were accepted from golfers with a USGA handicap index of 18.4 or lower, as opposed to 5.4 for the U.S. Women's Amateur. Entries were not accepted from players who had playing privileges at golf clubs not open to the general public, and such golfers were not allowed to compete if they received such privileges between their entry and the end of the main tournament. Exceptions to above: The USGA did consider some players with privileges at non-public facilities to be "bona fide public course players," specifically those whose privileges were solely due to any of the following: Their enrollment in a specific educational institution. Their status as active or retired members of the military. Their current or former employment by an entity other than a golf club.

Michelle Wie became the youngest champion in the history of USGA adult championships when she won the 2003 U.S. Women's Public Links championship at age 13, her final tournament victory as an amateur. Wie also holds the record as the youngest Publinx competitor; she played in 2000 as a 10-year-old.

Winners YearVenueWinnerScoreRunner-up2014 The Home Course Fumie "Alice" Jo 3 & 2 Seong Eun-jeong2013 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club Lauren Diaz-Yi 10 & 9 Doris Chen2012 Neshanic Valley Golf Course Kyung Kim 4 & 2 Ashlan Ramsey2011 Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Brianna DoBrianna Do wins Public Links 1 up Marissa Dodd2010 Notre Dame's Warren Golf Course Emily Tubert 3 & 2 Lisa McCloskey2009 Red Tail Golf Club Jennifer Song 7 & 6 Kimberly Kim2008 Erin Hills Tiffany Joh 2 & 1 Jennifer Song 2007 Kearney Hill Golf Links Mina Harigae 4 & 3 Stephany Fleet2006 Walking Stick G.C. Tiffany Joh 6 & 5 Kimberly Kim2005 Swope Memorial Golf Course Eunjung Yi 37 holes Tiffany Chudy2004 Golden Horseshoe G.C. (Green Course) Yani Tseng 1 up Michelle Wie2003 Ocean Hammock G.C. Michelle Wie 1 up Virada Nirapathpongporn2002 Sunriver Resort (Meadow Course) Annie Thurman 6 & 5 Hwanhee Lee2001 Kemper Lakes Golf Club Candie Kung 2 up Missy Farr-Kaye2000 Legacy Golf Links Catherine Cartwright 3 & 1 Russamee Gulyanamitta1999 Santa Ana Golf Club Jody Niemann 1 up Sue Billek Nyhus1998 Kapalua Resort (Bay Course) Amy Spooner 2 & 1 Natalie Wong1997 Center Square (Pa.) G.C. Jo Jo Robertson 3 & 2 Angie Yoon1996 Spencer T. Olin Community G.C. Heather Graff 5 & 4 Lauri Berles1995 Hominy Hill G.C. Jo Jo Robertson 3 & 1 Elizabeth Drambour1994 Tam O'Shanter G.C. Jill McGill 6 & 4 Heidi Voorhees1993 Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club Connie Masterson 1 up Holly Reynolds1992 Haggin Oaks G.C. Amy Fruhwirth 3 & 1 Sara Evens1991 Birdwood G.C. Tracy Hanson 1 up Carri Wood1990 Hyland Hills G.C. Cathy Mockett 5 & 4 Barbara Blanchar1989 Indian Canyon G.C. Pearl Sinn 2 & 1 Kelli Akers1988 Page Belcher G.C. Pearl Sinn 2 & 1 Tami Jo Hemingsen1987 Cog Hill Golf & Country Club (No. 4 Course) Tracy Kerdyk 4 & 3 Pearl Sinn1986 Sentry World G.C. Cindy Schreyer 3 & 2 Vicki Goetze1985 Flanders Valley G.C. (Red and Blue nines) Danielle Ammaccapane 6 & 5 Kristie Kolacny1984 Meadowbrook G.C. Heather Farr 3 & 2 Kristie Kolacny1983 Ala Wai G.C. Kelli Antolock 2 & 1 Nancy Taylor1982 Alvamar G.C. Nancy Taylor 2 & 1 Kerri Clark1981 Emerald Valley Golf Club Mary Enright 3 & 1 Lauri Merten1980 Center Square G.C. Lori Castillo 2 & 1 Pam Miller1979 Braemar Golf Course Lori Castillo 2 up Becky Pearson1978 Myrtlewood G.C. (Palmetto Course) Kelly Fuiks 5 & 4 Diana Schwab1977 Yahara Hills G.C. Kelly Fuiks 1 up Kathy Williams

Multiple winners 2 wins: Kelly Fuiks, Lori Castillo, Pearl Sinn, Jo Jo Robertson, Tiffany Joh

Four players have won both the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women's Amateur Championships: Pearl Sinn: Publinx – 1988, 1989; Amateur – 1988 Amy Fruhwirth: Publinx – 1992; Amateur – 1991 Jill McGill: Publinx – 1994; Amateur – 1993 Jennifer Song: Publinx – 2009; Amateur – 2009

References

External links Official site