Georgia Women’s Golf Association, Inc. © All Rights Reserved.
P.E.P.
Promote, Encourage, Provide
History of the GWGA
GEORGIA WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION, INC. (GWGA ) was founded in 1929 at Radium Country Club in Albany, the site of our first Championship in 1930. Today, GWGA continues to promote, maintain and protect the best interests of the game of golf among the amateur female golfers throughout the State of Georgia. Each year, the GWGA hosts two tournaments: the GWGA Four-Ball Tournament and the Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship.
Championship History 1971 - Present
From 1971 to the present, the GWGA has conducted the Georgia Women's Stroke Play Championship for the Eleanor M. Keeler Memorial Trophy. Prior to 1971, the GWGA conducted both a Medal Play and a Match Play Championship. In 1969, the association agreed to sponsor a single championship tournament, with the winner being recognized at the Georgia Women's Amateur Champion.
Since 1971, there have been 18 different champions, including six-time winner Janet Olp, four-time winners Ceil MacLaurin and Wendi Patterson, and four-time winner and current champion, Laura Coble. In addition to her four Stroke Play Championships, Ceil MacLaurin has won a total of eleven championships over a twenty year period between 1952 and 1975.
Since 1971, there have been 18 different champions, including six-time winner Janet Olp, four-time winners Ceil MacLaurin and Wendi Patterson, and four-time winner and current champion, Laura Coble. In addition to her four Stroke Play Championships, Ceil MacLaurin has won a total of eleven championships over a twenty year period between 1952 and 1975.
Medal Play Championship 1952 - 1970
From 1952 through 1970, the Championship was played as a Medal Play Tournament. The Champion was awarded the Eleanor Keeler Trophy. The first Georgia Medal Play Tournament for the Eleaner Keeler Trophy was played at Capital City Club in 1952. Although there were 30 entries, only 24 ladies competed. The format consisted of 36 holes of stroke play as a field, followed by a round of 18-holes flighted into groups of 8. The low 16 players from the qualifying rounds would constitute the championship flights, eligible for the Championship Trophy. Dorothy Kirby, the former national champion and six time winner of the Georgia State Championship, won in 1952, a full 19 years after her first win in 1933!
(Photo) Laura Coble has won the Championship Five times: 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
Match Play Championship 1930 - 1970
From 1952 through 1970, the Championship was played as a Medal Play Tournament. The Champion was awarded the Eleanor Keeler Trophy. The first Georgia Medal Play Tournament for the Eleaner Keeler Trophy was played at Capital City Club in 1952. Although there were 30 entries, only 24 ladies competed. The format consisted of 36 holes of stroke play as a field, followed by a round of 18-holes flighted into groups of 8. The low 16 players from the qualifying rounds would constitute the championship flights, eligible for the Championship Trophy. Dorothy Kirby, the former national champion and six time winner of the Georgia State Championship, won in 1952, a full 19 years after her first win in 1933!
Billie Wickliffe won the State Championship in all three formats: Match Play (1966 & 1967), Medal Play (1964 & 1970), and Stroke Play (1971).
