The six players below have committed to playing 100 holes of competitive golf leading up to the first round of the 100th Iowa Women’s Amateur. Each participant must play in a sanctioned tournament, whether it be an IGA event, college event, club championship, or other state association event for their rounds to count towards their 100 holes. Donors can make a one-time contribution to a player’s fundraiser or they can pledge per hole, birdie, eagle, etc. Money raised will go towards the 100th Iowa Women’s Amateur and any net proceeds will be donated to the Iowa Golf Association Foundation to support women’s programming.

For 20 weeks leading up to the 100th Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship, we will celebrate the lives and accomplishments of 100 women who have made a lasting impact on the course and in their communities. From past champions to volunteer board members to teachers and coaches, we look forward to honoring the many faces of Iowa women’s golf. Check back each Wednesday for a new release starting on March 6th.

On August 11, 1922, women of the Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo decided to hold a state tournament, and sent out invitations across the state.

That got the ball rolling for the formation of a women’s branch of the Iowa Golf Association.

Representatives from seven cities came to Waterloo on August 29, 1922, to make history.

The Iowa Women’s Golf Association was formed with Mrs. L.W. Bryant elected president, Mrs. Don Donnan of Independence the vice president and Mrs. Walter Cherry of Cedar Rapids the treasurer.

Later that day, the first IWGA-conducted championship teed off. Margaret Addington of Waterloo was the low qualifier, shooting 96. She would go on to win the championship, beating Mrs. Frank C. Byers of Cedar Rapids, 4 and 3.

“Miss Addington apparently got the better of her opponent throughout, though the Cedar Rapids woman played a remarkable game,” read the newspaper dispatch.

Hyperion Field and Motor Club, outside Des Moines, hosted the second championship in August of 1923. Ruth Harwood of Des Moines won the title match, 6 and 5, over Mrs. Ward E. Baker of Cedar Rapids.

“Fully 500 eyes watched the pretty Country club girl ascend the championship throne on the thirteenth green when she dropped a neat putt into the cup, ending the title battle and defeating Mrs. Baker by a 6 and 5 score,” wrote Iowa Golf Hall of Famer Bert McGrane.

Both the 1922 and 1923 events were invitationals. The first true Women’s State Amateur championship took place in August of 1924 at the Cedar Rapids Country Club. The entry fee was 50 cents.  Mrs. C.D. Waterman of Davenport beat Byers in a dramatic 19-hole match.

On the decisive hole, a 485-yard par-5, Waterman followed a 200-yard drive with a 150-yard brassie. Her third shot stopped 2 feet from the hole, and she knocked it in for the championship.

The Women’s State Amateur has been contested every year since, with the exception of a three-year break (1943-1945) because of World War II.

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Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Members

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Lucille Robinson Mann, Des Moines
1929, ’31, ’32, ’33, ’34 Champion

Edith Estabrooks, Dubuque
1935, ’36, ’37, ‘and ’39 Champion. She is the youngest victor at age 14.

Phyllis Otto Germain, Atlantic
1940, ’42, and ’52 Champion

Ann Casey Johnstone, Mason City
1941, ’51, ’54, ’55, ’57, and ’59 Champion. Pictured at the 1957 U.S. Women’s Amateur where she finished runner-up.

Judy Kimball, Sioux City
1958 Champion. Pictured in 1969 after she had played professionally for several years.

Sharon Fladoos, Dubuque
1960, ’61, ’62 Champion. Pictured at age 17, the first of her three wins.

1965 IWGA Board
At Elmwood CC planning for the next year’s Women’s Amateur.

Jacque Fladoos, Dubuque
1966, ’67, ’69 Champion

Barb Thomas Whitehead, Sibley
1979, ’81, and ’82 Champion

Betty Thye, Burlington
23 years of service with the IWGA

Betsy Bro, Des Moines
1983, ’85, ’86, ’87, and ’92 Champion

Corkey Nydle, Cedar Rapids
Six Iowa Women’s Amateur titles, the first occurring at age 17 in 1953 and her last in 1972. Nydle also served on the IWGA board for over 30 years.

Jill Blackwood, Burlington
17 years of service with the IWGA

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2023    Kaitlyn Hanna, Iowa City – Finkbine GC
2022    Ruby Chou, Ames – Cedar Rapids CC
2021    Joy Chou, Ames – Dubuque Golf & CC
2020    Joy Chou, Ames – Elmwood CC
2019    Paige Hoffman, West Des Moines – Otter Creek GC
2018    Sierra Hargens, Cedar Rapids – Spirit Hollow GC
2017    Britta Snyder, Ames – Hyperion Field Club
2016    Jessie Sindlinger, Charles City – Finkbine GC
2015    Jenny Graeser, Cedar Falls – Coldwater Golf Links
2014    Megan Furnish, Cedar Rapids – Centennial Oaks GC
2013    Megan Furnish, Cedar Rapids – Mason City CC
2012    Kimmy Askelson, Norwalk – Des Moines Golf & CC
2011    Kristin Paulson, Ottumwa – Sunnyside CC
2010    Kristin Paulson, Ottumwa – Finkbine GC
2009    Jenny Graeser, Cedar Falls – Hyperion Field Club
2008    Pennapa Pulsawath, Ames – Bos Landen GC
2007    Kendra Hanson, Forest City – Spirit Hollow GC
2006    Jennie Arseneault, Grinnell – Des Moines Golf & CC
2005    Jennie Arseneault, Grinnell – The Harvester GC
2004    Jennie Arseneault, Grinnell – Elmwood CC
2003    Jenny Heinz, Waterloo – Dodge Riverside GC
2002    Sarah Gilbert, Ankeny – Fort Dodge CC
2001    Mary Locher, Mount Vernon – Finkbine GC
2000    Patricia Martinson, Marion – Glen Oaks CC
1999    M.C. Mullen, Peosta – Elmcrest CC
1998    Stacey Bergman, Fort Dodge – Ottumwa CC
1997    Chris Cervetti, Des Moines – Burlington GC
1996    Ann Slater, Cherokee – Charles City CC
1995    Beth Duenow, St. Ansgar – Sunnyside CC
1994    Paige Hoefle, Ames – Des Moines Golf & CC
1993    Becky Biehl, Keokuk – Oneota CC
1992    Betsy Bro, Des Moines – Pleasant Valley GC
1991     Lia Biehl, Keokuk – Beaver Hills CC
1990    Lia Biehl, Keokuk – Clinton CC
1989    Ann Vandermillen, Dubuque – Wakonda Club
1988    Ann Vandermillen, Dubuque – Spencer Golf & CC
1987    Betsy Bro, Des Moines – Mason City CC
1986    Betsy Bro, Des Moines – Davenport CC
1985    Betsy Bro, Des Moines – Green Valley GC
1984    Deb Lewis, Marshalltown – Des Moines Golf & CC
1983    Betsy Bro, Des Moines – Elmcrest CC
1982    Barb Thomas, Sibley – Sunnyside CC
1981    Barb Thomas, Sibley – Burlington GC
1980    Dorea Mitchell, Grinnell – Cedar Rapids CC
1979    Barb Thomas, Sibley – Ottumwa CC
1978    Dorea Mitchell, Grinnell – Lake Creek CC
1977    Linda Frisch, Fort Dodge – Beaver Hills CC
1976    Susan Shinn, Waterloo – Elmwood CC
1975    Anita Harsch, Burlington – Mason City CC
1974    Susan Shinn, Waterloo – Lakeshore Golf & CC
1973    Linda Frisch, Fort Dodge – Des Moines Golf & CC
1972    Corkey Nydle, Ottumwa – Crow Valley GC
1971    Melanie Schuller, Waterloo – Westwood Park GC
1970    Corkey Nydle, Ottumwa – Dubuque Golf & CC

1969    Jacqueline Fladoos, Dubuque – Sioux City Boat Club
1968    Corkey Nydle, Ottumwa – Spencer Golf & CC
1967    Jacqueline Fladoos, Dubuque – Cedar Rapids CC
1966    Jacqueline Fladoos, Dubuque – Elmwood CC
1965    Corkey Nydle, Ottumwa – Wakonda Club
1964    Royleen Tipton, Coralville – Ottumwa Muni GC
1963    Corkey Nydle, Ottumwa – Dodge Park GC
1962    Sharon Fladoos, Dubuque – Gates Park GC
1961    Sharon Fladoos, Dubuque – Ottumwa CC
1960    Sharon Fladoos, Dubuque – Hyperion FC
1959    Ann Casey Johnstone, Mason City – Mason City CC
1958    Judy Kimball, Sioux City – Cedar Rapids CC
1957    Ann Casey Johnstone, Mason City – Fort Dodge CC
1956    Andrea Cohn, Waterloo – Clinton CC
1955    Ann Casey Johnstone, Mason City – Davenport CC
1954    Ann Casey Johnstone, Mason City – Sunnyside CC
1953    Corkey Nydle, Ottumwa – Elmcrest CC
1952    Phyllis Otto Germain, Atlantic – Des Moines Golf & CC
1951    Ann Casey Johnstone, Mason City – Mason City CC
1950    Mary Louise Cordingly, Des Moines – Clinton CC
1949    Nell Staats, Davenport – Davenport CC
1948    Mary Louise Cordingly, Des Moines – Sunnyside CC
1947    Mary Louise Cordingly, Des Moines – Cedar Rapids CC
1946    Shirley Mueller, Dubuque – Hyperion Field Club
1943-5   No Championship – WWII
1942    Phyllis Otto, Atlantic – Des Moines Golf & CC
1941    Ann Casey, Mason City – Davenport CC
1940    Phyllis Otto, Atlantic – Wakonda Club
1939    Edith Estabrooks, Dubuque – Cedar Rapids CC
1938    Ruth Smith, Ottumwa – Mason City CC
1937    Edith Estabrooks, Dubuque – Sunnyside CC
1936    Edith Estabrooks, Dubuque – West Okoboji GC
1935    Edith Estabrooks, Dubuque – Davenport CC
1934    Lucile Robinson, Des Moines – Des Moines G&CC
1933    Lucile Robinson, Des Moines – Sunnyside CC
1932    Lucile Robinson, Des Moines – Mason City CC
1931    Lucile Robinson, Des Moines – Hyperion Field Club
1930    Dorothy Pardue, Sioux City – Cedar Rapids CC
1929    Lucile Robinson, Des Moines – Des Moines Golf & CC
1928    Francis Drake, Clear Lake – Sioux City CC
1927    Elizabeth Curtis, Clinton – Rock Island Arsenal GC
1926    Elizabeth Curtis, Clinton – Wakonda Club
1925    Elisabeth Waterman, Davenport – Sunnyside CC
1924    Elisabeth Waterman, Davenport – Cedar Rapids CC
1923    Ruth Harwood, Des Moines – Hyperion FC
1922    Margaret Addington, Waterloo – Sunnyside CC