Womens Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania

The inaugural USGA women's Amateur Four-Ball was contested on the par-72 Pacific Dunes course at Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon.  The challenging 6,003 yard (76.1/146) layout was a stern test of golf for the field of 64 sides (128 golfers).

The tournament is the fourth largest USGA Women's championship behind the U.S. Open, the Women's Amateur and the Girls' Juniors.  Competitors with a handicap index of 14.4 or less advanced from 28 qualifying sites around the country and played from August 15, 2014 through March 30, 2015.  Following 36 holes of a stroke play, the field was cut to 32 sides for the remaining five rounds of match play.  

Ligonier's Katie Miller, who had her amateur status reinstated in 2013, originally planned to play with former University of North Carolina teammate Sydney Crane.  When professional obligations prevented Crane from playing, Miller tabbed Crane's aunt Amber Marsh Elliott (2003 Carolinas Player of the Year, 2003 Mid-Amateur Champion and former assistant women's golf coach at UNC who recruited Katie to play!)  Miller and Marsh Elliott won a Section Qualifier at Bent Creek Country Club in Lititz PA with a 6-under score of 66.

Miller/Marsh Elliott (#10 seed), downed  Caryn Wilson and Mina Hardin (#23) by the score of 3-and-2 in the opening round of match play.  A win over round of 16 opponents Megan Carter and Lauren Lightfritz featured a rare rules violation when Marsh Elliott's caddy mistakenly placed Miller's wedge into the wrong golf bag. The team dropped from 1-up to 1-down but rallied to win the match by a score of 2-and-1.  

Miller/Marsh Elliott's run at the 2015 Four Ball came to end in the quarterfinals with a 4-and-3 loss to the second-seeded team of Hannah O'Sullivan and Robyn Ree  (who marched through their previous matches 10-and-8 and 7-and-5)  O'Sullivan and Ree eventually lost in the finals but move on to their college careers at the University of Southern California next year.

The 2016 USGA Women's Amateur Four Ball will be conducted at Streamsong Resort in Streamsong Florida May 21 through May 25.  Information for next year's event can be found at USGA.org.

Congratulations Katie and Amber on a great tournament!