# Victorian Women's Amateur Championship

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

| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue |
| 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 (2) | 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 | 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 | 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 |
| Year | Winner | Score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Venue |
| 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 MacLeod Violet 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 Bell Gladys Hay | Metropolitan |
| 1912 | Edith Raleigh (2) | 270 | 9 strokes | Beth Austin | Royal Melbourne |
| 1911 | Violet Binnie | 1 up | 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 |
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