The Country Club of Birmingham West Course's 18th Hole

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HOOVER, AL – The Alabama Golf Association’s 86^th Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship will be held at The Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham from July 11-13. The par-71 West course welcomes 65 players from across the state on Wednesday.

The Country Club of Birmingham’s West course was originally designed by Donald Ross in 1925. However significant renovations were made in 1959-60 and the mid-1980’s by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and Pete Dye. The course has previously hosted many Alabama Golf Association Championships, Southern Amateur Championships and most recently two USGA national championships - 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 2016 Men’s State Team Championship.

The Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship is competed over one round of stroke play qualifying, followed by four rounds of match play after a cut. The top sixteen players following completion of the stroke play round advance to the championship match play bracket. Those that do not make the cut fall into consolation match play brackets. The event is open to spectators with tee times starting at 7:30am each day.

Last year’s event was successfully defended by Elaine Wood of Spanish Fort at Montgomery Country Club. Wood qualified for the match play rounds as the fourth seed with a score of 73 and defeated Ally Williams, Jordan Susce, and number one seed, Cammie Bentley on her way to the final match. In the final match, Wood went faced third seed Micheala Williams of Athens. In a very close match, Wood eventually defeated Williams 1 up. The victory made her a three-time champion (2014, 2016-17).

Championship History & Records

This year marks the 86th playing of the Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship and the ninth time that The Country Club of Birmingham has hosted the Women’s State Amateur Championship (1929, 1934, 1946, 1952, 1963, 1976, 1989, 2007). Elaine Wood of Spanish Fort won the title in 2017 at Montgomery Country Club in Montgomery, AL for her third title in four years. The Championship was first played in 1929 at Country Club of Birmingham, with Mrs. Henry S. Geismer of Birmingham, AL defeating Mrs. Carl Hess, 5 and 3, to win the inaugural event.

Most Titles: 10 – Kathy Hartwiger (1999, 2002-07, 2010-12)

Championship Schedule

Tuesday, July 10

Registration and Practice Rounds

Wednesday, July 11

7:30AM 1st Round

18-hole stroke play qualifier for all divisions to determine positions for match play.

Thursday, July 12

7:30AM Championship Division:

(AM) Round of 16.

(PM) Quarterfinals and Consolation Quarterfinals.

Tournament and Senior Divisions:

(AM) Semifinals.

Friday, July 13

7:30AM Championship Division:

(AM) Semifinals and Consolation Semifinals.

(PM) Final and Consolation

Tournament and Senior Divisions:

(AM) Finals and Consolation Finals.

Prizes

Stroke Play Qualifying Rounds: Lowest Scoring Player for 18 Holes in Championship Division: Silver medal; if a tie, duplicate medals will be awarded.

Match Play: Awards will be presented to the Champion, runner-up and semi-finalists in the Championship Flight.

All other flights will be awarded flight winner and consolation winner. All flights will be awarded a consolation winner.

The Country Club of Birmingham Information

PGA Director of Golf: Eric Eshleman

PGA Head Golf Professional: Jason Schuman

Director of Golf Course Maintenance: Lee McLemore

Physical Address: 3325 Country Club Road, Birmingham, AL 35213

Club Website: https://www.ccham.org

Golf Shop Phone: 205-803-4225

Championship Yardage: Championship: 6000 yards

                                       Tournament: 5400 yards

    Senior: 5000 yards, par 35-36--71

Course/Slope Rating: 75.7/137, 72.3/130, 71.0/126

West Course Architect(s): Donald Ross/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Pete Dye

Course Turfgrass: Tees/Fairways (Zeon Zoysia); Rough (419 Bermuda); Putting Greens (A1/A4 Bentgrass)

About the Alabama Golf Association (AGA) The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of over 130 member clubs represented by nearly 18,500 individuals. The activities and services of the Alabama Golf Association are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Alabama golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service. AGA is the USGA's liaison for golf in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the USGA Handicap system including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating and education. The AGA annually conducts 13 championships and team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. The AGA also conducts Alabama high school golf championships and assists with many collegiate events including the SEC Men's Golf Championship. In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA Women's Scholarship Fund that is dedicated to assisting young female golfers in higher education and supports the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. Since 1980, the AGA has managed the affairs of the Southern Golf Association which includes conducting the Southern Amateur Championship and Southern Junior Championship, in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the Southern Golf Association. For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org.