Application Information
124th Women’s Western Amateur Championship
Onwentsia Club | Lake Forest, IL
July 15 – 20, 2024
Entries will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. CDT on June 17, 2024.
ELIGIBILITY — Entries are open to amateur girls and women who have an up to date 18-hole Handicap Index that does not to exceed 5.4. All applicants must conform to the USGA Rules of Amateur Status and meet the requirements of the USGA Gender Policy. Please review the Application Information form before submitting your application. All entries are subject to approval or rejection by the Women’s Western Golf Association Committee.
THE FIELD — The field is limited by the WWGA Committee to a maximum of 120 contestants. The WWGA Committee will automatically accept players who are exempt into the field in accordance with the exemption categories listed below, providing there are spaces available. Exempt players are expected to complete the application and pay the full entry fee by the posted deadline, June 17, 2024. Eligible players who are not automatically exempt should submit a completed application, including a cover letter, golf resume and entry fee by June 17, 2024.
Entry Procedure
- All applications must be submitted online. Incomplete or inaccurate application forms will not be accepted.
- Only one application may be filed per player.
- All applications must be accompanied by the full entry fee of $350, which includes a $30 non-refundable application fee. If you are not accepted into the final tournament field, you will receive a refund, minus the $30 application fee on or before July 22nd.
- By registering for the Women’s Western Amateur Championship, you agree to all the terms and conditions listed in this Application Information Document.
TOURNAMENT ACCEPTANCE — Eligible players qualifying for an exemption into the tournament in categories A, B, C, or D will be notified of their acceptance into the tournament after receipt of the online application and entry fee, provided there are spaces available. All players applying for a E-1 “Special Consideration Exemption” and players that do not meet the exemption criteria will be emailed notification of their status (acceptance or waitlist) by June 24, 2024.
WITHDRAWAL — If an entrant who has paid the entire entry fee withdraws on or before June 24, 2024, the entry fee will be refunded, less the $30 application fee. If an accepted player withdraws for any reason after June 24, 2024, no refunds will be given. If you cannot compete and do not officially withdraw prior to the tournament, you will be treated as a “no-show” and will be subject to exclusion from future WWGA Championships. To withdraw your application, contact Madison Banas at
FORMAT — Official practice rounds will be held on Monday, July 15, 2024. Players must register prior to playing their practice round. There will be 36 holes of stroke play qualifying to determine the low 32 players that will qualify for match play. In the event of a tie for the 32nd position, a sudden-elimination playoff shall be held to determine the qualifiers. The playoff will begin as soon as the last player has completed 36 holes of qualifying and all scores are posted. All players in the playoff are required to be at the teeing ground where the playoff is to commence.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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Sunday, July 14 |
Co-Am hosted by Onwentsia Club |
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Monday, July 15 |
Registration & Practice Rounds |
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Tuesday, July 16 |
First Round of Stroke Play |
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Wednesday, July 17 |
Second Round of Stroke Play |
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Thursday, July 18 |
Match Play |
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Friday, July 19 |
Match Play |
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Saturday, July 20 |
Match Play |
*All times are CDT and subject to change.
REGISTRATION — All players must register in-person during the posted times and prior to playing a practice round on Monday, July 15. If a player elects to not play a practice round, she must register during the registration times on Monday, July 15, or confirm arrival time in advance by phone contact Madison Banas at (224) 260 – 3781 and make arrangements to register. Registration will be located inside the clubhouse, and times will be communicated to all entrants by email. A player’s place in the tournament may be forfeited if she fails to register.
PRACTICE — Onwentsia Club practice facilities will be open to contestants on Sunday, July 14th, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM and each day of tournament week starting at 6:00 AM until 30 minutes after the last group finishes. Official practice rounds will be played on Monday, July 15th. All players will receive a Golf Genius link on or before July 1st to register for a practice round tee time online. Onwentsia Club’s golf course will be unavailable for practice rounds prior to Monday, July 15th unless players choose to compete in the Contestant-Amateur on Sunday, July 14th.
CONTESTANT-AMATEUR HOSTED BY ONWENTSIA CLUB — Onwentsia Club will be hosting a Contestant-Amateur “Co-Am” on Sunday, July 14th, providing players and members the opportunity to be paired and play the course prior to the beginning of the tournament. Play is optional for players and is complimentary. More information will be distributed to admitted players in their acceptance email.
STARTING TIMES — Pairings and starting times for the first two rounds of qualifying will be available on Sunday, July 14th. Pairings will be displayed online and in the Golf Genius event portal.
ACCOMMODATIONS & LOGISTICS — Upon notice of tournament acceptance, participants should book flight reservations into Chicago O’Hare International Airport (approximately 25 miles from Onwentsia Club). The host hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott Chicago in Highland Park/Northbrook and the special tournament rate, $149.00 for a standard king or double queen will be offered until June 13, 2024, or until the hotel is sold out. Contestants are expected to make their own hotel reservations. The unique booking link will be provided in the player acceptance email. Recreational vehicles, campers, motorhomes or the like are not permitted to park on the premises at Onwentsia Club.
PRIVATE HOUSING — If you are interested in staying with a host family, affiliated with the Host Club, please indicate it on your entry application. If you have any questions about private housing, please contact Madison Banas at
HEADQUARTERS — All inquiries should be directed to Madison Banas, Western Golf Association, at
CADDIE POLICY — Players shall walk at all times during a stipulated round in the Championship. A player may provide her own caddie, carry her bag or provide her own non-motorized push cart. A limited number of club caddies are available for the practice round and tournament rounds on a first-come, first-serve basis. A player is not required to employ a caddie for any stage of the Championship, although it is recommended. For an experienced caddie the rate is $100 inclusive of tip, per round. Additional details on how to request an Onwentsia Club caddie will be provided in the acceptance email.
CODE OF CONDUCT — In fairness to the field of competition: In both the stroke play and match play portion of the tournament, it is expected and is the responsibility of every player to continue play throughout the tournament until eliminated. The following actions by contestants or caddies will be considered violations of the Code of Conduct: any abusive language, club throwing, cheating, disrespect of volunteers, officials or host families, abuse of the course, leaving the course during your competitive round without permission from a WWGA official, any use of or association with drugs, any abuse of alcohol, not adhering to the dress code during any portion of the tournament, any vandalism at the host hotel, and/or any other conduct not becoming of a Women’s Western Amateur contestant. The penalties for Code of Conduct violations, based on the severity of misconduct, may be any or all of the following: a warning, 1 or 2 stroke penalty, disqualification of the player from the tournament, suspension of the player indefinitely from WWGA Championships.
DRESS CODE — Contestants and caddies are always expected to wear golf appropriate attire when using the practice facilities, golf course or when entering the clubhouse. No short shorts, short skorts or skirts, jeans, cut-offs, tank tops, halter tops, bathing suits or the like are permitted. No metal or ceramic spikes are permitted. Please note: Denim is strictly prohibited on Onwentsia Club property.
RULES OF GOLF — The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA and The R&A, as modified by the local rules established by the WWGA, will be used. The WWGA Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein. Changes in the tournament format caused by force majeure shall be within the sole discretion of the WWGA officials. The decisions of the WWGA Committee in any matter shall be final.
PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION; BROADCASTING — By submitting this application, I understand that the WWGA or its designees, may record, film, photograph, or otherwise capture my likeness, image, voice, biography, references to me, my quoted statements, and my play in the Championship (the foregoing, together with my name, my “Appearance”). In consideration of the opportunity to participate in the Championship, by submitting this Application, I grant (and/or have the authority to grant to the WWGA in the case of a parent/guardian of a minor or other authorized representative submitting the Application on my behalf) to the WWGA, and its licensees, successors and assigns, the perpetual, transferable, assignable, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable right to use my Appearance, in whole or in part, in all manner (including exhibition, distribution, reproduction, publication, display, broadcast, transmission or otherwise), and media now known or hereafter invented or discovered, and for any purpose whatsoever. The rights granted herein include, without limitation, the right to use the Appearance, or portions thereof, in promotion of the Championship and future championships through any of the foregoing means of distribution, as well as in the design, manufacture and distribution of merchandise related to the Championship or other championships, that include elements of my Appearance. The WWGA is not obligated to use my Appearance in any matter, and materials embodying any aspect of my Appearance do not need to be submitted to me for approval. I release and discharge the WWGA, its licensees, successors and assigns from any claims arising from use of my Appearance, including claims for misrepresentation of me, my character, or my person by any means. As between the WWGA and me, the WWGA shall own all right, title and interest, including the copyright(s), in and to any works created by the WWGA, its licensees, successors and assigns, that include all or a portion of my Appearance. This grant shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and the successors and assigns of the WWGA. I hereby waive all privacy, publicity, defamation, libel, and proprietary rights relating to the Appearance as used by the WWGA in conjunction with these terms. Players are required to cooperate with representatives of the media; however, no pre-Championship activities outside of those activities which are part of the Championship will be required. Authorized representatives of the media will not interfere with the player’s Championship play in an unreasonable manner.
Awards
- A. Alexander Cup – Match Play Champion. Champion’s name will be inscribed on the trophy.
- The Finalist Plate – Match Play Finalist. Awarded to the finalist, beginning in 2021. The Finalist’s name will be inscribed on the plate that will travel to all future Women’s Western Amateur Championships.
- Margaret Lenz Trophy – Medalist. Lowest gross score from the 36-holes of qualifying.
- Marion Miley Bracelet – Awarded to the junior player having the lowest combined gross score from the qualifying rounds of the 2024 Women’s Western Junior Championship and 2024 Women’s Western Amateur Championship.
CHAMPION EXEMPTIONS — The 2024 Women’s Western Amateur Champion will receive exemptions into the:
- Next ten (10) Women’s Western Amateur Championships
- 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur
The 2024 Women's Western Amateur Champion will also receive exemptions into partnering Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series (WEAGS) Events for the 2025 Season:
- Sea Island Women’s Amateur
- Southwestern Women’s Amateur
- North & South Women’s Amateur
- Ladies National Golf Association Amateur
2024 Exemption Categories
Exempt players who wish to participate in the Championship must complete an official entry by the posted deadline of June 17th, 2024. Players in one and/or both of the following categories may be eligible for exemption into the 124th Women’s Western Amateur Championship, providing: they meet the eligibility requirements under the ELIGIBILITY section of the entry form, and there are spaces available.
- Player qualifies under categories A, B, C, D or
- Player has received a formal invitation for a E-1 Special Consideration Exemption from the Women’s Western Amateur Championship Committee
Players who do not receive an invitation or do not qualify under categories A, B, C, or D, may apply for a “E-1 Special Consideration.” Players applying under this category must submit a tournament resume with their application.
A. Exemptions based on WWGA Championships
A-1 Previous Women's Western Amateur Champions (2014-2023)
A-2 Previous Women's Western Amateur Round of 32 match play qualifiers (2021-2023)
A-3 Previous Women's Western Junior Champions (2022-2024)
A-4 Previous Women's Western Junior Match Play Runners-Up (2023-2024)
B. Exemptions based on other Championships
B-1 Any player fully exempt for U.S. Women’s Open (2024)
B-2 U.S. Women’s Amateur, Round of 32 Match Play Qualifiers (2023)
B-3 Augusta Women’s Amateur Contestants (2024)
B-4 The Women’s Amateur, Match Play Qualifiers (2023)
B-5 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, top 10 and ties (2024)
B-6 Women’s Amateur Latin-America, top 10 and ties (2023)
B-7 Any Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series (WEAGS) Champion (2023):
Sea Island Women’s Amateur
Southwestern Women’s Amateur
North & South Women’s Amateur
Ladies National Golf Association Amateur
Exemptions based on Collegiate Events
C-1 NCAA DI Women’s Championship Individual Champion (2024)
C-2 NCAA DII Women’s Championship Individual Champion (2024)
C-3 NCAA DIII Women’s Championship Individual Champion (2024)
C-4 NAIA and NJCAA Women’s Championship Individual Champions (2024)
Exemptions based on Rankings
D-1 Top 300 World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) at any point between application launch date and entry deadline date
D-2 Top 30 Golfweek or GolfStat Women’s DI Collegiate Rankings as of date of entry
D-3 Member of the 2023 AJGA Rolex Junior All-American First Team.
Exemptions based on Special Considerations:
E-1 A limited number of exemptions, based on special considerations and/or written invitation, may be granted by the Committee. Requests for a special consideration exemption may be submitted to the Women’s Western Amateur Championship Committee by applying online and choosing the E-1 exemption option.