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1957

JoAnne Gunderson

Miss JoAnne Gunderson, 18, a graduate of Kirkland High School near Seattle, Wash., defeated Mrs. Ann Casey Johnstone, 34, of Mason City, Iowa, housewife and mother of a 4-year-old girl, 8 and 6, at the Del Paso Country Club, Sacramento, Calif., in August. Miss Gunderson, the 1956 Girls' Junior Champion, played 127 holes in eight over women's par.

Youth dominated throughout, and three of the four semi-finalists were 21 or younger. The defending Champion, Mrs. Marlene Stewart Streit, of Toronto, Canada, reached the quarter-finals, where Miss Carole Jo Kabler, Sutherlin, Ore., the 1955 USGA Girls' Junior Champion, eliminated her with a sub-par performance. There were 102 entries and 93 starters.

 
Championship Facts

U.S. Women's Amateur

HISTORY: The U.S. Women’s Amateur is one of the United States Golf Association’s original three championships. It was first conducted in 1895, shortly after the inaugural U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open. The Women’s Amateur has since been conducted every year except 1917-18, when it was temporarily suspended because of World War I, and 1942-45, when it was suspended because of World War II.

PAR & YARDAGE: Old Warson Country Club will play at 6,422/6,468 yards and par of 35-36—71.

ARCHITECT: Old Warson Country Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1954.

COURSE SET-UP –The USGA Course Rating® for the Women’s Amateur Championship at Old Warson Country Club is 78.1 and USGA Slope Rating® is 140.

Tees and fairways, height of grass – 7/16 inch

Collars, height of grass – 0.2 inch

Putting greens, speed – 11.5-12 feet on USGA Stimpmeter

Intermediate Rough – 1.25 inches (3 feet width)

Primary Rough – 3 inches

FORMAT: The U.S. Women’s Amateur is conducted with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying. The low 64 scorers then advance to match play, with the champion determined by a 36-hole match-play final.

WHO CAN PLAY: The U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship is open to female amateurs who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 5.4.

ENTRIES: A total of 955 contestants entered the 2009 championship. The record of 969 was set in 2006.

 

 
 
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