CHRIS LANG
2015 U. S. Women’ s Mid-Amateur and has reached the quarterfinals five times in seven appearances, including a semifinal run last year.
Several Women’ s Amateur winners have also found success at the professional level, including Donna Andrews, Kandi Kessler Comer, Lauren Coughlin and Lauren Doughtie.
Coughlin, a two-time champion( 2012- 13) and 2014 runner-up while playing for the University of Virginia, had a breakout season on the LPGA Tour last year. She won twice and posted a 3-0-1 record to help Team USA reclaim the Solheim Cup.
“ Winning the VSGA Women’ s Am was one of my biggest goals from the time I first played in it,” she said.“ I always loved competing, so winning my home state’ s amateur championship was always a dream of mine. The fact that I was able to win it not once but twice was a huge accomplishment for me and meant a lot.”
Coughlin now represents Keswick as its official touring professional.
Doughtie, a Suffolk native, hoisted the winner’ s trophy in the 2008 Women’ s
Amateur after finishing as runner-up in 2007. A standout at N. C. State, she later earned a victory on the Epson Tour and played on the LPGA Tour in 2013. Her amateur status was re-instated last year.
“ Winning the VSGA Women’ s Amateur was a defining moment in my amateur golf career,” Doughtie said.“ It validated the years of hard work and dedication I had put into the game and gave me a real sense of what it takes to compete at a high level. That experience solidified my commitment to pursuing a professional golf career, and confirmed I was on the right path.”
She added,“ My favorite memories from playing in the VSGA Women’ s Amateur revolve around the incredible people I met along the way. Some of those women have become lifelong friends and an amazing support system throughout my career. The competition was memorable, but the connections I made are what truly stand out.”
Happy 100th birthday to the VSGA Women’ s Amateur— a championship that continues to evolve, inspire and endure.
Fun Fact Makayla Grubb( Stafford) won the 2023 Women’ s Amateur. She had a tough stroke-play qualifying round in 2024 and wound up in the First Flight. Three match-play victories later, she was the flight champion.
By the Numbers
2 Players who won the Women’ s Amateur and Junior Girls in the same year. Kandi Comer( 1980); Amanda Steinhagen( 2010).
54 Tournament champions in the 99 years of competition.
30 Championships compiled by women inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame. Lily Harper Martin( 7), Robbye Unger( 6), Mary Patton Janssen( 6), Donna Andrews( 5), Jane Mack( 4) and Kandi Comer( 2).
21 Champions who won more than once.
27 Medalists who went on to win the championship.
17 Medalists who were tournament runner-up.
5 Three-time winners. Mrs. J. W. Reynolds( 1946-48), Sydney Elliott( 1949, 1952-53), Margaret Allen( 1954-56), Lee Shirley Playford( 1996-98), Lauren Greenlief( 2017-18, 2024).
22 Players who have won Women’ s Am and been named VSGA Women’ s Golfer of the Year.
7 Times Lauren Greenlief has been named Women’ s Golfer of the Year. vsga. org J ULY / A UGUST 2025 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 21