by Arthur Utley
the VSGA Women’ s Amateur at Keswick Club in July
GREEN GOLF AND TURF to Celebrate
by Arthur Utley
Mrs. J. W. Zimmerman of Lexington defeated Mrs. Jean S. Jones of Richmond 3 and 2 at The Homestead’ s Cascades Course in Hot Springs in the inaugural playing of the Virginia State Golf Association’ s Women’ s Amateur Championship. The year was 1922.
Zimmerman was runner-up to Margaret Lucado of Lynchburg in 1923. Lucado then made history by becoming the first player to win multiple titles, capturing the crown again in 1924. Both of those tournaments were also held at The Homestead.
Since that time, the Women’ s Amateur has been contested 96 more times at The Homestead and other premier golf courses throughout Virginia.
This July, the VSGA will celebrate the 100th playing of the Women’ s Amateur, with Keswick Club serving as host. A reception on the Sunday before the tournament will bring together the 2025 contestants, past champions both young and seasoned, former and current VSGA Women’ s Division board members and supporters of golf in Virginia.
Rob McNamara, Keswick’ s General Manager and Director of Golf, reflected on the milestone:“ The fact that it’ s the 100th time they have had that tournament— you wonder how many states have played 100 women’ s state amateurs?”
According to a search of state golf associations on the Allied Associations’ website, the VSGA is the fourth to reach this milestone. Texas and Maryland will hold their 104th Women’ s Amateurs this summer, West Virginia celebrated its 100th in 2023 and the Carolinas Golf Association will mark 100 in 2026.
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