Who IS WEGA?

Did you know that the Women’s Eastern Golf Association Amateur Championship is one of the oldest and most prestigious women’s amateur championships in the United States.

Many of the East’s most prestigious golf clubs have been host to the Championship. Some of the more notable clubs are Aronimink Golf Club, Brae Burn Country Club, Charles River Country Club and the Congressional Country Club.

The Women’s Eastern Golf Association formed a Senior Championship in 1993. The format is a 54-hole stroke-play event for those women fifty and over.

Winning the WEGA Championship has been an important accomplishment in the careers of many noteworthy amateurs. Several winners have gone on to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association.

The Women’s Eastern Golf Association (WEGA) Amateur Championship is one of the oldest and most prestigious women’s amateur championships in the United States.

In the early 1900s, three metropolitan golf associations (New York, Philadelphia, and Boston) would regularly play inter-city team matches. These matches – known as the Griscom Cup matches – started in 1902 and are still played today.

In 1906, six members of these three associations realized that the practice rounds for these matches had developed into a fun and enjoyable pre-tournament event and developed the idea for an individual stroke play tournament that would be independent from the inter-city matches.

These six members formed the Women’s Eastern Golf Association and created the multi-day stroke-play tournament that is our Championship today.

Moreover, it was at a WEGA meeting in 1927 that the idea for the Curtis Cup – the international competition between Great Britain and the United States – was born. The Curtis sisters were also active participants in WEGA activities.

As a top-level amateur event, the Women’s Eastern Amateur Championship has launched many golf careers.

Among the well-known amateurs who have won the WEGA Championship are Maureen Orcutt, Glenna Collet Vare, Mrs. R.H. Barlow, Delancy Smith, Nancy Roth Syms and Helen Sigel Wilson.

In addition, numerous WEGA players and Champions have competed on the LPGA and Symetra tours, and have played for the U.S. Solheim Cup team. Recent professionals who have competed in or won WEGA Championships include Marina Alex, Brittany Altomare, Jaye Marie Green, Megan Khang, and Lauren Stephenson.

The WEGA Championship field is eighty players and is open to women amateur golfers with a USGA Handicap Index of 11.5 or lower who are affiliated with a club, group, school, or university that pays WEGA dues.

The Women’s Eastern Golf Association formed a Senior Championship in 1993. The format is a 54-hole stroke play event for women fifty and older.

Players in the Amateur and Senior Amateur Championships earn WAGR points.