USGA Women's State Team History
The USGA Women’s State Team Championship, in 1995, like the men’s version, grew out of the celebration of the Association’s Centennial and was fashioned after the biennial World Amateur Team Championship.
Each state was invited to send its three best players, and 43 states sent women’s teams to compete for the new title at the Lake Buena Vista (Fla.) Club. State associations were given the option to choose their teams by any method, with one restriction: current members of college teams were ineligible because of NCAA bylaws.
After a two-year review process with state and regional golf associations, it was announced in March 2017 that the USGA would retire its State Team championships at the end of the 2017 season.
Pennsylvania won the inaugural championship, but Georgia owns the most titles with four.
The Women's State Team consisted of three-player teams, with all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico eligible to field teams. The championship consisted of 54 holes of stroke play, 18 three consecutive days. The best two scores for the team count toward the team score, with the third score acting as a tiebreaker. The low individual after 54 holes received a gold medal.
USGA Women's State Team Championship Results (1995-Present)
1995: Pennsylvania (Liz Haines, Judy Oliver, Carol Semple Thompson), 442; Texas, 443; Lake Buena Vista (Fla.) Club; Teams: 43
1997: Alabama (Virginia Derby Grimes, Kathy Hartwiger, Beth Williams), 429; North Carolina, 437; Kierland Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Teams: 45
1999: Florida (Taffy Brower, Marla Jemsek-Weeks, Robin Weiss), 286; Tennessee, 287 (shortened to 36 holes due to weather); Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (Green Course), Williamsburg, Va.; Teams: 43
2001: Minnesota (Julie Kalina-Jensen, Leigh Klasse, Caludia Pilot), 449; Maryland, 458; Woodhill G.C., Wayzata, Minn.; Teams: 45
2003: Ohio (Emily Bastel, Lynn Thompson, Heather Zielinski), 447; North Carolina, 451; Wellesley G.C., Wellesley Hills, Mass.; Teams: 48
2005: Georgia (Kyu Ri Ban, Laura Coble, Jean Reynolds), 434; Alabama, 436; Berkeley Hall (North Course), Bluffton, S.C.; Teams: 50
2007: Arizona (Judy Miller, Kayla Mortellaro, Thuhashini Selvaratnam), 437; Tennessee, 445; The Club at Carlton Woods (Nicklaus Course), The Woodlands, Texas; Teams: 51
2009: Georgia (Dori Carter, Mariah Stackhouse, Laura Coble), 436; Alabama, 445; Sycamore Hills Country Club, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Teams: 49
2011: Georgia (Amira Alexander, Laura Coble, Rachel Dai), 448; Tennessee, Texas, 450; The Landings Club (Palmetto Course), Savannah, Ga.; Teams: 51
2013: New Jersey (Alice Chen, Tara Fleming, Cindy Ha), 446; Florida, 449; NCR Country Club (South Course), Kettering, Ohio; Teams: 52
2015: Georgia (Lauren Lightfritz, Emilie Meason, Margaret Shirley), 436; Florida 439; Dalhousie Golf Club, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Teams: 50
2017: Tennessee (Jayna Choi, Ashley Gilliam, Riley Rennell), 431; Delaware 432; The Club at Las Campanas (Sunrise Course), Santa Fe, N.M.; Teams: 48