Virginia Golfer May / Jun 2019 | Page 9

Around The Commonwealth Princess Anne is hosting the VSGA Women's Amateur for the first time in 62 years. TRENDS AND STORYLINES: The stroke- play medalist has won the Amateur only once in the last 15 years (Joey Lane in 2016). Neither of the last two medalists (Mark Lawrence Jr., Michael Brennan) reached the quarterfinals. … Only one Amateur championship match has gone the full 36 holes since 2011, Jake Mon- dy’s 1-up victory over Jordan Utley at Spring Creek in 2014. … Ji Soo Park, who has since turned professional, leads all competitors with five quarterfinal appear- ances since 2011. Mark Lawrence Jr. and Scott Shingler have made four quarterfi- nal appearances in that span, with Keith Decker making three, including last year. … A potential player to watch is Evan Beck, the 2010 State Open of Virginia Champion who has regained his amateur status and is exempt from qualifying. … The Amateur will be held at River Bend Club in Great Falls in 2020. 94TH VSGA WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP SITE: Princess Anne Country Club, Virginia Beach DATES: Monday, July 15-Thursday, July 18 FORMAT: Two rounds of stroke-play quali- fying; top 16 advance to match play; Round of 16 and quarterfinals on Wednesday; Semifinals and 18-hole championship match on Thursday. DEFENDING CHAMPION: Lauren Greenlief (International Country Club) ABOUT PRINCESS ANNE: The Women’s Amateur Championship is returning to Princess Anne for the first time since 1957, when new Virginia Golf Hall of Fame member Mary Patton Janssen won the first of her six titles. The Tim Liddy design course features a mix of Bermuda tees and fairways and bentgrass greens and last year was the site of a 12-team women’s collegiate event hosted by Old Dominion University. vsga.org 1997-99, and before that, Virginia Golf TRENDS AND STORYLINES: There Hall of Famer Donna Andrews won five will be a new champion in 2019, as straight from 1985-89. … Amanda Hol- Greenlief has committed to play- landsworth has been a finalist in ing in the North and South Wom- this event three times, including en's Amateur in Pinehurst that last year when she lost 2 and 1 week. Greenlief was the fourth to Greenlief. … Mallory Hetzel, player in the last decade to the women’s golf coach at Old win consecutive Women's Dominion, knows the course Amateurs, joining Abby Por- well and could be a contend- tyrata, Lauren Coughlin and LAUREN GREENLIEF er should she enter. … A junior Amanda Steinhagen. A three- AND AMANDA HOLLANDSWORTH player has advanced to the semi- peat, though, is a little rarer. Lee finals in each of the last four years. Shirley won three in a row from More Green. Less Fee. A golfer’s dream. Unlimited play on our green and lush 6,400 yard Shenandoah Valley course nestled amid Virginia’s equally beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Package includes meals and lodging, greens fees and cart for 18 holes daily and extra round for cart fees only! For more details check out www.LurayCaverns.com or call (888) 443-6551. 3 Day / 2 Night Packages from $249 Per person, double occupancy, plus tax M AY / J U N E 2 0 19 | V I R G I N I A G O L F E R 7