The Women's Amateur Championship
Until the dawn of the professional era in 1976, it was the most important golf tournament for women in Great Britain, and attracted players from continental Europe, North America, and the rest of the world.The first tournament was played at the Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire, England and was won by Lady Margaret Scott, who also won the following two years; her feat of three straight titles remains the record, matched by Cecil Leitch and Enid Wilson.The leading 64 competitors progress to the knock-out match play competition, ties for 64th place being decided by countback.Independently the Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, who had not been sent the circular, also decided to organise a ladies' championship.[12] Rhona Adair won the following year at Westward Ho!, beating Isabel Nevile 6&5 in the final.[15] The 1901 championship was held in Aberdovey in Wales, and was won by Molly Graham who beat Adair in the final.[19] In 1905, at Royal Cromer, another Irish golfer, Maud Stuart, reached the final but lost 3&2 to Bertha Thompson.Thompson reached the final again but lost 4&3 to Alice Kennion, the first married woman to win the championship.[35] In 1923 Leitch was injured and Wethered was beaten in the semi-finals, leaving a final between Doris Chambers and Muriel Macbeth.The event was rearranged to June, although the Women's Home Internationals, which generally preceded the championship, were cancelled.[42] Joyce Wethered did not enter and Cecil Leitch won, the first woman to win the event four times.[43] A large number of the original entrants scratched, and the final was played a day earlier than usual, on a Thursday.Two rounds were played, on Saturday and Monday, with the leading 64 advancing to the match-play stage, which took place from Tuesday to Friday.In 1932 at Saunton the qualifying days were changed to Friday and Saturday with the match-play played from Monday to Thursday.[51] Orcutt was beaten in the first round: Wilson defeated another American Leona Cheney in the semi-finals[52][53] and retained the championship, winning by a score of 7&6.[54] In 1933 at Gleneagles, Wilson won the title for the third year in succession, having beaten Doris Park, in the semi-finals.[55][56][57] The 1934 championship at Royal Porthcawl produced two new finalists with Helen Holm beating Pam Barton in the final.In 1935, Pam Barton reached the final again, beating her sister Mervyn in the semi-finals, but lost, this time to Wanda Morgan.There had been a reduction in the number of entries and qualifying was dropped, the event returning to the earlier Monday to Friday dates.[65] Pam Barton won her second title in 1939 beating Jean Marks in the final at Royal Portrush.[68] There was an all-American semi-final in 1948 with Louise Suggs beating Dorothy Kielty and winning the title the following day.[69] Frances Stephens won in 1949, beating Garvey in the semi-finals and another Irish woman, Clarrie Reddan, in the final.The Vicomtesse de St Sauveur, Lally Segard, won in 1950 beating Jessie Valentine, the 1937 champion, in the final.[76] There were three American semi-finalists in 1956, and all-American final, with Wiffi Smith beating Mary Patton Janssen.In 1976, Alison Sheard was the first South African to reached the final, but she lost to Cathy Panton, the first Scottish winner for 18 years.[107] In 1981 Belle Robertson led the qualifying and went on to win the championship, beating another Scot, Wilma Aitken, in the final.Kim Rostron won in 1998, beating Gwladys Nocera in the final, the third losing finalist from France in five years.[127] In 2000, Rebecca Hudson led the qualifying, was top seed and won the championship, beating Emma Duggleby in the final.Five Spanish women won the championship in this period: Marta Prieto in 2001, Elisa Serramià in 2003, Belén Mozo in 2006, Carlota Ciganda in 2007 and Azahara Muñoz in 2009.The Women's Amateur Championship has been played at the following courses, listed in order of number of tournaments hosted (as of 2024):