The Victorian Women's Amateur Championship is the state amateur golf championship of Victoria, Australia. It has been played annually since 1900, except for the war years.

Format The event is a match play tournament. In 2021 and 2022 there were 16 qualifiers, the championship being played over two days with all matches over 18 holes. In 2020 the number of qualifiers was reduced to 8. Before 2020 there were 16 qualifiers with the event being played over three days with a 36-hole final.

Players qualify through the Port Phillip Open Amateur, which is played immediately before the championship. The Port Phillip Open Amateur is a 72-hole stroke-play tournament played at Commonwealth and Kingston Heath golf clubs.

History In 1894 the ladies of the Geelong and Melbourne clubs started an annual "Ladies Championship", to be played alternately on the two courses, the first event to be held at Geelong. The precise status of the event is unclear with some reports calling it the "Ladies' Championship of Victoria" and others the "Ladies' Championship of Australia". These early championships are generally treated as editions of the Australian Women's Amateur. The Australian Golf Union was formed in 1898 and organised their first championship meeting at Royal Sydney in 1899, the main event being the Australian Amateur. The 1899 championship meeting did not include a ladies event but in 1900, when it was held at Adelaide Golf Club, a ladies championship was arranged before the men's event. Evelyn Calder won and some sources referred to her as "the first lady champion of Australia".

The Geelong/Royal Melbourne championship continued to be played and became clearly established as the "Ladies' Championship of Victoria". It was still played alternately on the two courses but became a stroke-play event, over 54 holes. Nellie De Little won the championship in 1902, 1903 and 1906 with Clare Murphy also a repeat winner, in 1904 and 1905.

The Victorian Ladies' Golf Union was founded in 1906 and took over the event in 1907. It remained a 54-hole stroke play event until 1928 when it switched to match play. The only exception was in 1911 when a 36-hole qualifying stage was used, with the leading eight then playing match play. Nellie Gatehouse won the first VLGU championship in 1907 and also won in 1909, 1910, 1923 and 1927. Gladys Hay won three times, in 1914, 1920 and 1921. Other repeat winners were Edith Raleigh, who won in 1901 and 1912, and Violet Binnie who won in 1911 and 1913. There was only one playoff, in 1914, when Gladys Hay and Eileen Rutledge tied. Hay won an 18-hole playoff the following day.

From 1928 the championship became a match play event, the Australian Women's Amateur also changing the same year. It was initially match play only but 36-hole qualifying was introduced in 1931 with the leading eight advancing to the match play stage. Mona MacLeod won in 1928, the third of her five victories. She also won in 1925, 1926, 1932 and 1933. Susie Tolhurst won in 1929, 1930 and 1931 and, as Mrs Morpeth she won in 1935 and 1936, to match MacLeod's five wins in the championship. Her sister Shirley Tolhurst won in 1934, beating Susie in the final.

Winners YearWinnerScoreRunner-upVenueRef. 2022 Jeneath Wong 5 & 4 Abbie Teasdale Royal Melbourne 2021 Kelsey Bennett 3 & 2 Jeneath Wong Peninsula Kingswood 2020 Kirsten Rudgeley 3 & 2 Jeneath Wong Metropolitan 2019 Grace Kim 7 & 6 June Song Kingston Heath 2018 Maddison Hinson-Tolcha 5 & 4 Kirsten Rudgeley Huntingdale 2017 Stephanie Bunque 5 & 4 Grace Kim Commonwealth 2016 Alizza Hetherington 37 holes Rebecca Kay Woodlands 2015 Hannah Green 3 & 2 Stephanie Bunque Kingston Heath & Commonwealth 2014 Shelly Shin 9 & 8 Koh Sock Hwee Victoria 2013 Su-Hyun Oh (2) 5 & 3 Minjee Lee Kingston Heath & Commonwealth 2012 Su-Hyun Oh 5 & 3 Minjee Lee Yarra Yarra 2011 Charlotte Thomas 4 & 3 Whitney Hillier Kingston Heath & Commonwealth 2010 Stacey Keating (2) 4 & 3 Joanna Charlton Royal Melbourne 2009 Alison Whittaker 1 up Tilly Poulson Moonah Links 2008 Rebecca Flood 1 up Grace Lennon Peninsula (South) 2007 Jessica Parker 2 & 1 Grace Lennon Victoria 2006 Stacey Keating 6 & 4 Bree Turnbull Huntingdale 2005 Emma Bennett 10 & 9 Rochelle Miles Woodlands 2004 Lisa Jean 4 & 3 Belinda Kerr Commonwealth 2003 Misun Cho 8 & 7 Wendy Berger Yarra Yarra 2002 Melanie Holmes-Smith 5 & 4 Sarah Kemp Cranbourne 2001 Vicky Uwland 8 & 7 Rebecca Fry Woodlands 2000 Nadina Taylor 2 & 1 Helen Gubbels Peninsula (South) 1999 Cherie Brynes 1 up Lyndsay Wright Royal Melbourne 1998 Natalie Parkinson (2) 4 & 3 Nadina Taylor Kingston Heath 1997 Natalie Parkinson 3 & 2 Deborah Rix Victoria 1996 Torie O'Connor 5 & 4 Allison Wheelhouse Huntingdale 1995 Stacey Doggett 7 & 6 Torie O'Connor Commonwealth 1994 Debbie Sharp (2) 3 & 1 Vicky Uwland Yarra Yarra 1993 Ann Johnston 3 & 2 Kate MacIntosh Metropolitan 1992 Allison Wheelhouse 37 holes Terri McKinnon Kingston Heath 1991 Helen Kight 4 & 3 Karen MacDonald Royal Melbourne 1990 Siohban Muldowney 8 & 7 Terri McKinnon Woodlands 1989 Wendy Doolan 5 & 4 Joanne Mills Peninsula (South) 1988 Debbie Sharp 10 & 8 Louise Briers Royal Melbourne (West) 1987 Diane Pavich 7 & 5 Donna Faneco Victoria 1986 Lindy Goggin (4) 37 holes Donna Faneco Commonwealth 1985 Louise Briers 1 up Sandra McCaw Huntingdale 1984 Jan Dale 8 & 7 Lauren Rees Yarra Yarra 1983 Sue Tonkin 6 & 4 Ann Howe Kingston Heath 1982 Sandra McCaw (3) 9 & 8 Jane Mennie Metropolitan 1981 Louise Briers 4 & 3 Maisie Mooney Royal Melbourne (West) 1980 Lindy Goggin (3) 4 & 3 Jane Lock Woodlands 1979 Jane Crafter 2 & 1 Louise Briers Commonwealth 1978 Jane Lock 2 & 1 Edwina Kennedy Victoria 1977 Louise Hawking 37 holes Lindy Goggin Huntingdale 1976 Lindy Goggin (2) 3 & 2 Sandra McCaw Metropolitan 1975 Barbara Dillon 5 & 3 Marjorie Bennett Yarra Yarra 1974 Jane Lock 11 & 10 Sandra McCaw Royal Melbourne (West) 1973 Lindy Goggin 1 up Dawn Macdonald Kingston Heath 1972 Sandra McCaw (2) 2 up Bettine Burgess Woodlands 1971 Sandra Williams 8 & 6 Penny Pulz Commonwealth 1970 Robyn Dummett (2) 2 & 1 Lindy Jennings Kingswood 1969 Robyn Dummett 2 up Heather Booth Royal Melbourne (East) 1968 Barbara Coulson 1 up Nancye Bolton Keysborough 1967 Joan Fisher (8) 7 & 6 Mary Ensor Southern 1966 Bettine Burgess 5 & 4 Jan Law Huntingdale 1965 Joan Fisher (7) 4 & 3 Dawn Dehnert Yarra Yarra 1964 Joan Fisher (6) 8 & 7 June Gashler Metropolitan 1963 Margaret Masters (5) 8 & 6 Dawn Dehnert Commonwealth 1962 Margaret Masters (4) 7 & 5 Burtta Cheney Woodlands 1961 Margaret Masters (3) 5 & 4 Burtta Cheney Royal Melbourne (East) 1960 Joan Fisher (5) 9 & 7 Nancye Bolton Kingston Heath 1959 Margaret Masters (2) 10 & 9 Joan Fisher Kingswood 1958 Burtta Cheney (3) 6 & 5 Marion Dwyer Huntingdale 1957 Margaret Masters 1 up Joan Fisher Woodlands 1956 Burtta Cheney (2) 1 up Bettine Burgess Victoria 1955 Veronica Anstey 6 & 5 Janette Robertson Metropolitan 1954 Maxine Bishop (3) 9 & 8 Margaret Masters Kingston Heath 1953 Esther Gaillie 7 & 6 Joan Fletcher Commonwealth 1952 Maxine Bishop (2) 6 & 5 Judith Percy Royal Melbourne 1951 Maxine Bishop 10 & 8 June Anstee Victoria 1950 Meg Evans (2) 3 & 2 Marion Dwyer Woodlands 1949 Burtta Cheney 10 & 8 Nell Jamison Huntingdale 1948 Joan Fisher (4) 37 holes Nell Smithett Yarra Yarra 1947 Joan Fisher (3) 4 & 2 Sheila Bowditch Metropolitan 1946 Joan Fisher (2) 3 & 2 Burtta Cheney Kingston Heath 1940–1945 No tournament due to World War II 1939 Joan Lewis 7 & 5 Burtta Cheney Royal Melbourne (East) 1938 Meg Evans 7 & 6 Marion Dwyer Riversdale 1937 Nell Hutton 1 up Meg Evans Kingston Heath 1936 Susie Morpeth (5) w/o Mona MacLeod Commonwealth 1935 Susie Morpeth (4) 10 & 9 Marjorie Shaw Victoria 1934 Shirley Tolhurst 9 & 8 Susie Morpeth Royal Melbourne (East) 1933 Mona MacLeod (5) 9 & 8 Susie Tolhurst Yarra Yarra 1932 Mona MacLeod (4) 6 & 5 Nell Marrie Royal Melbourne (West) 1931 Susie Tolhurst (3) 3 & 1 Mona MacLeod Metropolitan 1930 Susie Tolhurst (2) 2 & 1 Cecily Lascelles Kingston Heath 1929 Susie Tolhurst 8 & 7 Mrs Wood Victoria 1928 Mona MacLeod (3) 3 & 2 Susie Tolhurst Commonwealth YearWinnerScoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upVenueRef. 1927 Nellie Gatehouse (5) 258 4 strokes Cecily Lascelles Metropolitan 1926 Mona MacLeod (2) 250 2 strokes Nellie Gatehouse Royal Melbourne 1925 Mona MacLeod 253 3 strokes Gladys Hay Victoria 1924 Alice McKay 254 6 strokes Nellie Gatehouse Metropolitan 1923 Nellie Gatehouse (4) 261 3 strokes Gladys Hay Royal Melbourne 1922 Cecily Lascelles 265 2 strokes Mona MacLeod Victoria 1921 Gladys Hay (3) 260 2 strokes Mona MacLeod Metropolitan 1920 Gladys Hay (2) 265 8 strokes Nellie Gatehouse Royal Melbourne 1919 Caroline Austin 265 4 strokes Mona MacLeodViolet Yuille Metropolitan 1915–1918 No tournament due to World War I 1914 Gladys Hay 270 Playoff Eileen Rutledge Royal Melbourne 1913 Violet Binnie (2) 282 2 strokes Euphie BellGladys Hay Metropolitan 1912 Edith Raleigh (2) 270 9 strokes Beth Austin Royal Melbourne 1911 Violet Binnie 1 up Gladys Hay Metropolitan 1910 Nellie Gatehouse (3) 253 25 strokes Edith Raleigh Royal Melbourne 1909 Nellie Gatehouse (2) 262 3 strokes Nancy Parbury Victoria 1908 Euphie Bell 268 2 strokes Nellie Gatehouse Royal Melbourne 1907 Nellie Gatehouse 256 9 strokes Edith Raleigh Victoria Ladies' Championship of Victoria 1906 Nellie De Little (3) 283 7 strokes Mrs Kennedy Geelong 1905 Clare Murphy (2) 292 31 strokes Euphie Bell Royal Melbourne 1904 Clare Murphy 307 11 strokes K Hope Geelong 1903 Nellie De Little (2) 276 5 strokes Euphie Bell Royal Melbourne 1902 Nellie De Little 309 6 strokes Edith Raleigh Geelong 1901 Edith Raleigh 327 17 strokes Louise Shaw Royal Melbourne 1900 Julia Anderson 329 2 strokes Euphie Bell Geelong

Source:

See also Victorian Amateur Championship Australian Women's Interstate Teams Matches

References

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