U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a women's amateur
golf
tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the USGA
and first played in 1977. The USGA officially calls the event the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, which it has registered as a service mark
. The tournament was devised as, and remains, a championship for female amateurs who play on public courses, as members of private clubs are barred from entry.
While the U.S. Amateur Public Links
was first held in 1922,
the women's counterpart event was not held until 55 years later.
The main tournament opens with two rounds of stroke play
. The leading 64 players then qualify to compete in a match play
competition. The matches are played over 18 holes. Before 2002, the final was also played over 18 holes. Starting in 2002, the final has been played over 36 holes.
Eligibility is similar to that for the U.S. Women's Amateur
. Golfers must follow the USGA's guidelines for amateur status, which basically consider anyone who has ever played or taught golf for money to be a professional. The Public Links, like the U.S. Women's Amateur, has no age restrictions. However, there are two key differences in the eligibility criteria for the Public Links:
Michelle Wie
became the youngest champion in the history of USGA adult championships when she won the 2003 U.S. Women’s Public Links championship at age 13, her final tournament victory as an amateur. Wie also holds the record as the youngest Publinx competitor; she played in 2000 as a 10 year-old.
Three players have won both the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women's Amateur
Championships:
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the USGA
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
and first played in 1977. The USGA officially calls the event the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, which it has registered as a service mark
Service mark
A service mark or servicemark is a trademark used in some countries, notably the United States, to identify a service rather than a product. When a service mark is federally registered, the standard registration symbol ® or "Reg U.S. Pat & TM Off" may be used...
. The tournament was devised as, and remains, a championship for female amateurs who play on public courses, as members of private clubs are barred from entry.
While the U.S. Amateur Public Links
U.S. Amateur Public Links
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
was first held in 1922,
the women's counterpart event was not held until 55 years later.
The main tournament opens with two rounds of stroke play
Stroke play
Stroke play, also known as medal play, is a scoring system in the sport of golf. It involves counting the total number of strokes taken on each hole during a given round, or series of rounds...
. The leading 64 players then qualify to compete in a match play
Match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; this is as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes...
competition. The matches are played over 18 holes. Before 2002, the final was also played over 18 holes. Starting in 2002, the final has been played over 36 holes.
Eligibility is similar to that for the U.S. Women's Amateur
United States Women's Amateur Golf Championship
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the leading golf tournament in the United States for female amateur golfers. It is played annually and is one of the 13 United States national golf championships organized by the United States Golf Association . Female amateurs from all nations are eligible to compete...
. Golfers must follow the USGA's guidelines for amateur status, which basically consider anyone who has ever played or taught golf for money to be a professional. The Public Links, like the U.S. Women's Amateur, has no age restrictions. However, there are two key differences in the eligibility criteria for the Public Links:
- Entries are accepted from golfers with a USGA handicap index of 18.4 or lower, as opposed to 5.4 for the U.S. Women's Amateur.
- Entries are not accepted from players who have playing privileges at golf clubs not open to the general public, and such golfers are not allowed to compete if they receive such privileges between their entry and the end of the main tournament.
- Exceptions to above: The USGA does consider some players with privileges at non-public facilities to be "bona fide public course players," specifically those whose privileges are solely due to any of the following:
- Their enrollment in a specific educational institution.
- Their status as active or retired members of the military.
- Their current or former employment by an entity other than a golf club.
- Exceptions to above: The USGA does consider some players with privileges at non-public facilities to be "bona fide public course players," specifically those whose privileges are solely due to any of the following:
Michelle Wie
Michelle Wie
Michelle Sung Wie is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. At age 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. Wie would also become the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for a LPGA Tour event...
became the youngest champion in the history of USGA adult championships when she won the 2003 U.S. Women’s Public Links championship at age 13, her final tournament victory as an amateur. Wie also holds the record as the youngest Publinx competitor; she played in 2000 as a 10 year-old.
Winners
| Year | Venue | Winner | Country | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is a complex of four golf courses located just north of the city of Bandon, Oregon, United States.-Courses:The first course at the resort, Bandon Dunes, opened on May 19, 1999. Bandon Dunes was designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd, and it instantly garnered high praise. ... |
Brianna Do | 1 up |  Marissa Dodd |
|
| 2010 | Notre Dame's Warren Golf Course | Emily Tubert | 3 & 2 | Lisa McCloskey |
|
| 2009 | Red Tail Golf Club | Jennifer Song Jennifer Song Jennifer Song is a professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour. In 2009 she won both the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the U.S. Women's Amateur... |
7 & 6 | Kimberly Kim Kimberly Kim Kimberly Kim is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:Kim was born in Hilo, Hawaii. She attended the University of Denver in 2009-10, leading the team with a 73.67 scoring average and winning the 2009-10 SBC Golf Tournament.At age 14, she became the youngest... |
|
| 2008 | Erin Hills Erin Hills Erin Hills is a golf course located in Erin, Wisconsin. Construction began in 2004 and the course officially opened in 2006. It has been selected for the 2017 U.S. Open, which was announced on June 10, 2010. It also makes it the first PGA Tour event ever awarded to a course owned by one person.The... |
Tiffany Joh Tiffany Joh Tiffany Joh is an American professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour and on the Futures Tour.-Childhood:... |
2 & 1 |  Jennifer SongJennifer Song Jennifer Song is a professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour. In 2009 she won both the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the U.S. Women's Amateur... |
|
| 2007 | Kearney Hill Golf Links | Mina Harigae Mina Harigae Mina Harigae is an American professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour.As an amateur golfer, she won the 2007 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links.... |
4 & 3 | Stephany Fleet |
|
| 2006 | Walking Stick G.C. | Tiffany Joh Tiffany Joh Tiffany Joh is an American professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour and on the Futures Tour.-Childhood:... |
6 & 5 | Kimberly Kim Kimberly Kim Kimberly Kim is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:Kim was born in Hilo, Hawaii. She attended the University of Denver in 2009-10, leading the team with a 73.67 scoring average and winning the 2009-10 SBC Golf Tournament.At age 14, she became the youngest... |
|
| 2005 | Swope Memorial G.C. | Eunjung Yi | 37 holes | Tiffany Chudy |
|
| 2004 | Golden Horseshoe G.C. (Green Course) | Yani Tseng Yani Tseng Yani Tseng is a Taiwanese professional golfer currently playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She is the youngest player ever, male or female, to win five major championships and is currently ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings.... |
1 up | Michelle Wie Michelle Wie Michelle Sung Wie is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. At age 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. Wie would also become the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for a LPGA Tour event... |
|
| 2003 | Ocean Hammock G.C. | Michelle Wie Michelle Wie Michelle Sung Wie is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. At age 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. Wie would also become the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for a LPGA Tour event... |
1 up |  Virada NirapathpongpornVirada Nirapathpongporn Virada Nirapathpongporn is a Thai former professional golfer who won the 2003 U.S. Women's Amateur.Nirapathpongporn was born in Bangkok, Thailand. She attended Duke University where she won the 2002 NCAA Division I Championship. She graduated in 2004 with a degree in psychology. She was voted the... |
|
| 2002 | Sunriver Resort (Meadow Course) | Annie Thurman | 6 & 5 | Hwanhee Lee |
|
| 2001 | Kemper Lakes G.C. | Candie Kung Candie Kung Candie Kung is an American professional golfer of Taiwanese descent who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:... |
2 up | Missy Farr-Kaye |
|
| 2000 | Legacy Golf Links | Catherine Cartwright | 3 & 1 | Russamee Gulyanamitta |
|
| 1999 | Santa Ana Golf Club | Jody Niemann | 1 up | Sue Billek Nyhus |
|
| 1998 | Kapalua (Hawaii) Golf Club (Bay Course) | Amy Spooner | 2 & 1 | Natalie Wong |
|
| 1997 | Center Square (Pa.) G.C. | Jo Jo Robertson | 3 & 2 | Angie Yoon |
|
| 1996 | Spencer T. Olin Community G.C. | Heather Graff | 5 & 4; | Lauri Berles |
|
| 1995 | Hominy Hill G.C. | Jo Jo Robertson | 3 & 1 | Elizabeth Drambour |
|
| 1994 | Tam O'Shanter G.C. | Jill McGill Jill McGill Jill McGill is an American professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.McGill was born in Denver, Colorado. She played college golf at the University of Southern California and won the U.S. Women's Amateur title in 1993 and the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links in 1994. She played on the 1994 Curtis Cup... |
6 & 4 | Heidi Voorhees |
|
| 1993 | Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis | Connie Masterson | 1 up | Holly Reynolds |
|
| 1992 | Haggin Oaks G.C. | Amy Fruhwirth Amy Fruhwirth Amy Fruhwirth is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Fruhwirth was born in Cypress, California. She played college golf at Arizona State University where she was a three-time All-American. In her amateur career, she won the 1991 California Women's Amateur and U.S. Women's... |
3 & 1 | Sara Evens |
|
| 1991 | Birdwood G.C. | Tracy Hanson | 1 up | Carri Wood |
|
| 1990 | Hyland Hills G.C. | Cathy Mockett | 5 & 4 | Barbara Blanchar |
|
| 1989 | Indian Canyon G.C. | Pearl Sinn Pearl Sinn Ji Young "Pearl" Sinn-Bonanni is a Korean-American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She played under he maiden name, Pearl Sinn until her marriage in 2002.... |
2 & 1 | Kelli Akers |
|
| 1988 | Page Belcher G.C. | Pearl Sinn Pearl Sinn Ji Young "Pearl" Sinn-Bonanni is a Korean-American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She played under he maiden name, Pearl Sinn until her marriage in 2002.... |
2 & 1 | Tami Jo Hemingsen |
|
| 1987 | Cog Hill G. & C.C. (No. 4 Course) | Tracy Kerdyk Tracy Kerdyk Tracy L. Kerdyk is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Kerdyk was born in Coral Gables, Florida. She had an impressive amateur career. In 1987, she won the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and was runner-up in the U.S. Women's Amateur. She played college golf at the... |
4 & 3 | Pearl Sinn Pearl Sinn Ji Young "Pearl" Sinn-Bonanni is a Korean-American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She played under he maiden name, Pearl Sinn until her marriage in 2002.... |
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| 1986 | Sentry World G.C. | Cindy Schreyer Cindy Schreyer Cynthia "Cindy" Schreyer is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She also competed as Cindy McCurdy from 1998 to 2000.... |
3 & 2 | Vicki Goetze Vicki Goetze Vicki Goetze-Ackerman is an American golfer.Goetze was born in Mishicot, Wisconsin. Living in Hull, Georgia, she was voted "Player of the Year" from 1988 to 1990 by the American Junior Golf Association. In 1989 she was still only 16 years old when she defeated Brandie Burton to become the third... |
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| 1985 | Flanders Valley G.C., (Red and Blue nines) | Danielle Ammaccapane Danielle Ammaccapane Danielle Ammaccapane is an American professional golfer playing on the LPGA Tour. Her daughter, with husband Rod Kesling, is child actor Laura Ann Kesling.-Amateur career:... |
6 & 5 | Kristie Kolacny |
|
| 1984 | Meadowbrook G.C. | Heather Farr Heather Farr Heather Farr was an American professional golfer.Farr won three state championships at Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona... |
3 & 2 | Kristie Kolacny |
|
| 1983 | Ala Wai G.C. | Kelli Antolock | 2 & 1 | Nancy Taylor |
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| 1982 | Alvamar G.C. | Nancy Taylor | 2 & 1 | Kerri Clark |
|
| 1981 | Emerald Valley G.C. | Mary Enright | 3 & 1 | Lauri Merten Lauri Merten Lauri Merten is an American golfer. She also competed under the names Lauri Peterson Lauri Merten (born July 6, 1960) is an American golfer. She also competed under the names Lauri Peterson Lauri Merten (born July 6, 1960) is an American golfer. She also competed under the names Lauri Peterson... |
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| 1980 | Center Square G.C. | Lori Castillo | 2 & 1 | Pam Miller |
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| 1979 | Braemar G.C. | Lori Castillo | 2 up | Becky Pearson Becky Pearson Becky Pearson is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Before turning professional, Pearson was a two-time winner of the Minnesota Junior Girls State Championship.Pearson won once on the LPGA Tour in 1986.... |
|
| 1978 | Myrtlewood G.C. (Palmetto Course) | Kelly Fuiks | 5 & 4 | Diana Schwab |
|
| 1977 | Yahara Hills G.C. | Kelly Fuiks | 1 up | Kathy Williams |
Multiple winners
- 2 wins: Kelly Fuiks, Lori Castillo, Pearl SinnPearl SinnJi Young "Pearl" Sinn-Bonanni is a Korean-American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She played under he maiden name, Pearl Sinn until her marriage in 2002....
, Jo Jo Robertson
Three players have won both the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women's Amateur
United States Women's Amateur Golf Championship
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the leading golf tournament in the United States for female amateur golfers. It is played annually and is one of the 13 United States national golf championships organized by the United States Golf Association . Female amateurs from all nations are eligible to compete...
Championships:
- Pearl SinnPearl SinnJi Young "Pearl" Sinn-Bonanni is a Korean-American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She played under he maiden name, Pearl Sinn until her marriage in 2002....
: Publinx - 1988, 1989; Amateur - 1988 - Amy FruhwirthAmy FruhwirthAmy Fruhwirth is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Fruhwirth was born in Cypress, California. She played college golf at Arizona State University where she was a three-time All-American. In her amateur career, she won the 1991 California Women's Amateur and U.S. Women's...
: Publinx - 1992; Amateur - 1991 - Jill McGillJill McGillJill McGill is an American professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.McGill was born in Denver, Colorado. She played college golf at the University of Southern California and won the U.S. Women's Amateur title in 1993 and the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links in 1994. She played on the 1994 Curtis Cup...
: Publinx - 1994; Amateur - 1993