U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship® History
The USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship was inaugurated in 1962 for women golfers age 50 and older.
By the late 1950s, a number of senior women’s golf organizations had been formed, principally to conduct tournaments, but there was no existing tournament to determine the national champion. The USGA was requested to step in, and in January 1962, the Executive Committee approved such a competition.
From 1962-1996, the Senior Women's Amateur was a 54-hole, stroke-play competition. Since 1997, the championship has mirrored all of the other USGA amateur competitions, with 36 holes of on-site qualifying to determine the final 64 players for match play.
Carolyn Cudone claimed five consecutive titles from 1968-72, and Carol Semple Thompson won four straight from 1999-2002. Dorothy Porter and Anne Sander have also each won four championships, with Marlene Streit, Diane Lang, Ellen Port and Lara Tennant each capturing three titles.
U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Champions (1962-Present)
Stroke Play (1962–1996)
1962: Maureen Orcutt, 240; Glenna Collett Vare, 247; Manufacturers’ G. & C.C., Oreland, Pa.; Entries: 96
1963: Marion Choate, 239-81-5-5-5-2; Maureen Orcutt, 239-81-5-5-5-4; Country Club of Florida, Delray Beach, Fla.; Entries: 91
1964: Loma Smith, 247; Mrs. William Kirkland, 248; Del Paso C.C., Sacramento, Calif.; Entries: 53
1965: Loma Smith, 242; Charlotte Haskell, 245; Exmoor C.C., Highland Park, Ill.; Entries: 70
1966: Maureen Orcutt, 242; Aneila Goldthwaite, 248; Lakewood C.C., New Orleans, La.; Entries: 68
1967: Marge Mason, 236; Loma Smith, 240; Atlantic City C.C., Northfield, N.J.; Entries: 80
1968: Carolyn Cudone, 236; Loma Smith, 246; Monterey Peninsula C.C. (Dunes Course), Pebble Beach, Calif.; Entries: 120
1969: Carolyn Cudone, 236-76; Mrs. Lowell D. Brown, 236-84; Ridglea C.C., Fort Worth, Texas; Entries: 79
1970: Carolyn Cudone, 231; Paulette Lee, 239; Coral Ridge C.C., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Entries: 68
1971: Carolyn Cudone, 236; Ann Gregory, 237; Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.; Entries: 103
1972: Carolyn Cudone, 231; Nancy Rutter, 237; Manufacturers’ G. & C.C., Oreland, Pa.; Entries: 94
1973: Gwen Hibbs, 229; Nancy Rutter, 235; San Marcos C.C., Chandler, Ariz.; Entries: 98
1974: Justine B. Cushing, 231; Carolyn Cudone, 233; Lakewood G.C. (Dogwood Course), Point Clear, Ala.; Entries: 122
1975: Alberta Bower, 234; Carolyn Cudone, 240; Rhode Island C.C., West Barrington, R.I. Entries: 109
1976: Cecile Maclaurin, 230; Carol Bowman, 237; Monterey Peninsula C.C. (Dunes Course), Pebble Beach, Calif.; Entries: 161
1977: Dorothy Porter, 230; Alice Dye, 231; Dunes G. & B.C., Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Entries: 120
1978: Alice Dye, 232-76; Cecile Maclaurin, 232-79; Rancho Bernardo G.C., San Diego, Calif.; Entries: 143
1979: Alice Dye, 223; Cecile Maclaurin, 230; Hardscrabble C.C., Fort Smith, Ark.; Entries: 123
1980: Dorothy Porter, 236; Cecile Maclaurin, 237; Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.; Entries: 186
1981: Dorothy Porter, 238; Alice Dye, 242; Spring Lake (N.J.) G.C.; Entries: 113
1982: Edean Ihlanfeldt, 232; Mary Ann Morrison, 236; Kissing Camels G.C., Colorado Springs, Colo.; Entries: 154
1983: Dorothy Porter, 234; Lois Hodge, 242; Gulph Mills G.C., King of Prussia, Pa.; Entries: 143
1984: Constance Guthrie, 227; Janice Calin, 229; Tacoma (Wash.) C. & G.C.; Entries: 131
1985: Marlene Streit, 224; Louise Wilson, 227; Sheraton Savannah R. & C.C., Savannah, Ga.; Entries: 184
1986: Constance Guthrie, 225; Marlene Streit, Barbara Young, Cecile Maclaurin, 231; Lakewood G.C. (Dogwood Course), Point Clear, Ala.; Entries: 137
1987: Anne Sander, 228; Harriet Hart, 231; Manufacturers’ G. & C.C., Oreland, Pa.; Entries: 136
1988: Lois Hodge, 228; Marlene Streit, 229; Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.; Entries: 182
1989: Anne Sander, 224; Alice Dye, 233; Tournament Players Course, The Woodlands, Texas; Entries: 119
1990: Anne Sander, 225-72; Marlene Streit, 225-78; Del Rio G. & C.C., Modesto, Calif.; Entries: 133
1991: Phyllis Preuss, 221; Belle Robertson, Anne Sander, 222; Pine Needles L. & G.C., Southern Pines, N.C.; Entries: 257
1992: Rosemary Thompson, •220; Anne Sander, 223; Tucson (Ariz.) C.C.; Entries: 192
1993: Anne Sander, 230; Mary Ann Morrison, 234; Preakness Hills C.C., Wayne, N.J.; Entries: 129
1994: Marlene Streit, 222-75; Nancy Fitzgerald, 222-77; Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.; Entries: 211
1995: Jean Smith, 228; Marlene Streit, 229; Somerset C.C., Mendota Heights, Minn.; Entries: 151
1996: Gayle Borthwick, 226; Marlene Streit, Karen Oldham, 227; Broadmoor
G.C., Seattle, Wash.; Entries: 191
Match Play (1997–Present)
1997: (Oct. 20-25) Nancy Fitzgerald d. Toni Wiesner, 1 up; Yeamans Hall Club, Charleston, S.C.; Medalist — 149, Diana Schwab; Entries: 233
1998: Gayle Borthwick d. Valerie Hassett, 4 and 3; Golden Horseshoe G.C. (Green Course), Williamsburg, Va.; Medalist — *135, Toni Wiesner; Entries: 114
1999: Carol Semple Thompson d. Cecilia Mourgue-D’Algue, 19 holes; Desert Mountain Club (Cochise Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.; Medalist — 148, Gayle Borthwick; Entries: 225
2000: Carol Semple Thompson d. Toni Wiesner, 5 and 4; Sea Island G.C. (Seaside Course), St. Simons Island, Ga.; Medalist — 151, Karen Mabli; Entries: 391
2001: Carol Semple Thompson d. Anne Carr, 1 up; Allegheny C.C., Sewickley, Pa.; Medalist — 144, Marianne Towersey; Entries: 335
2002: Carol Semple Thompson d. Barbara Berkmeyer, 3 and 1; Mid Pines Inn and G.C., Southern Pines, N.C.; Medalist — 150, Carol Semple Thompson; Entries: 418
2003: Marlene Streit d. Nancy Fitzgerald, 23 holes; Barton Creek R. & C. (Foothills Course), Austin, Texas; Medalist — 145, Sherry Bowman; Entries: 343
2004: Carolyn Creekmore d. Liz Haines, 1 up; Pasatiempo G.C., Santa Cruz, Calif.; Medalist — 150, Robin Weiss Donnelley; Entries: 394
2005: Diane Lang d. Carol Semple Thompson, 1 up; The Apawamis Club, Rye, N.Y.; Medalist — 151, Carol Semple Thompson; Entries: 457
2006: Diane Lang d. Anna Schultz, 1 up; Sea Island G.C. (Seaside Course), St. Simons Island, Ga.; Medalist — 145, Cecilia Mourgue D’Algue; Entries: 543
2007: Anna Schultz d. Robyn Puckett, 20 holes, Sunriver (Ore.) Resort (Meadows Course); Medalist — 145, Patty Moore; Entries: 497
2008: Diane Lang d. Toni Wiesner, 6 and 5; Tulsa (Okla.) C.C.; Medalist — 142, Carolyn Creekmore; Entries: 478
2009: Sherry G. Herman d. Carolyn Creekmore, 4 and 3; The Homestead (Cascades Course), Hot Springs, Va.; Medalist — 142, Joan Higgins; Entries: 502
2010: Mina Hardin d. Alexandria Frazier, 2 and 1; Fiddlesticks C.C., Fort Myers, Fla.; Medalist – 144, Leigh Klasse; Entries: 543
2011: Terri Frohnmayer d. Mina Hardin, 2 and 1; The Honors Course, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Medalist -- 139, Lisa Schlesinger; Entries: 507
2012: Ellen Port d. Jane Fitzgerald, 4 and 3; Hershey Country Club (West Course), Hershey, Pa.; Medalist – 149, Lisa Schlesinger; Entries: 532
2013: Ellen Port d. Susan Cohn, 3 and 2; CordeValle, San Martin, Calif.; Medalist – 147, Akemi Nakata Khaiat; Entries: 538
2014: Joan Higgins d. Judith Kyrinis, 1 up; Hollywood Golf Club, Deal, N.J.; Medalist – 144, Ellen Port; Entries: §554
2015: Karen Garcia d. Pamela Kuong, 1 up; Hillwood Country Club, Nashville, Tenn.; Medalist – 145, Mary Ann Hayward; Entries: 544
2016: Ellen Port d. Andrea Kraus, 3 and 2; Wellesley (Mass.) Country Club; Medalist – 148, Judith Kyrinis; Entries: 502
2017: Judith Kyrinis d. Terrill Samuel, 4 and 3; Waverley Country Club, Portland, Ore.; Medalists – 146, Lara Tennant, Helene Chartrand; Entries: 481
2018: Lara Tennant d. Sue Wooster, 3 and 2; Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, Vero Beach, Fla.; Medalist – 143, Pamela Kuong; Entries: 526
2019: Lara Tennant d. Sue Wooster, 3 and 2; Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Country Club; Medalist – 143, Martha Leach; Entries: 434
2020: Championship canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021: Lara Tennant d. Ellen Port, 2 and 1; The Lakewood Club (Dogwood Course), Point Clear, Ala.; Medalists – 143, Lara Tennant, Gigi Higgins; Entries: 439
2022: Shelly Stouffer d. Sue Wooster, 4 and 3; Anchorage (Alaska) Golf Course; Medalist – 147, Lynne Cowan; Entries: 415
• Record score (stroke-play format) (1992)
* Record score (match-play format) (1998)
§ Record entry (2014)