2024 Application Information
97th Women's Western Junior Championship
Hinsdale Golf Club, Clarendon Hills, IL
Entries will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. CDT on May 13, 2024.
ELIGIBILITY – Entries are open to female amateur golfers who are at least 12 years old and will not reach their 19th birthday by June 14th, 2024. Entrants cannot be a college or university student, a member of a college golf team or have participated in any supervised collegiate team activities. All applicants must conform to the USGA Rules of Amateur Status and meet the requirements of the USGA Gender Policy. Entrants must have an up-to-date 18-hole Word Handicap System Index not to exceed 9.4 or state or international equivalent handicap system.
Please review the Application Information form before submitting your application. All entries are subject to approval or rejection by the Women’s Western Golf Association Committee (hereinafter referred to as “WWGA Committee”) at any time before or after the start of play.
THE FIELD – The field is limited by the WWGA Committee to a maximum of 78 contestants. The WWGA Committee will automatically accept players who are exempt into the field in accordance with the exemption categories, providing there are spaces available. Exempt players are expected to complete the application and pay the full entry fee by the posted deadline. Eligible players who are not automatically exempt should submit a completed application accompanied by a golf resume and entry fee by the posted deadline.
Entry Procedure
- All applications must be submitted online. Incomplete or inaccurate application forms will not be accepted.
- Only one application may be filed per player.
- All applications must be accompanied by the full entry fee of $325, which includes a $30 non-refundable application fee. If you are not accepted into the final tournament field, you will receive a refund, less the $30 application fee on or before June 17th.
- By registering for the Women’s Western Junior Championship, you agree to all the terms and conditions listed in this Application Information Document.
TOURNAMENT ACCEPTANCE – Eligible players qualifying for an exemption into the tournament in categories A, B and C will be notified of their acceptance into the tournament after receipt of the online application and entry fee, provided there are spaces available. All players applying for a D-1 “Special Consideration Exemption” and players that do not meet the exemption criteria will be emailed notification of their status (acceptance or waitlist) on or before May 17, 2024.
WITHDRAWAL – If an entrant who has paid the entire entry fee withdraws on or before May 20, 2024, the entry fee will be refunded, less the $30 application fee. If an entrant withdraws for any reason after May 20, 2024, no refunds will be given. If you cannot compete and do not officially withdraw prior to the tournament, you will be treated as a “no-show” and will be subject to exclusion from future WWGA Championships. Please contact Madison Banas, at
FORMAT – Official practice rounds will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024. Players must register with the WWGA prior to playing their practice round. There will be 36 holes of stroke play qualifying to determine the low 16 players that will qualify for match play. In the event of a tie for the 16th position, a sudden-elimination playoff shall be held to determine the qualifiers. The playoff will begin as soon as the last player has completed 36 holes of qualifying and all scores are posted. All players in the playoff are required to be at the teeing ground where the playoff is to commence.
| Sunday, June 9 1:30 p.m. |
Co-Am Hosted by Hinsdale Golf Club Outing Begins |
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| Monday, June 10 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
Registration & Practice Rounds Player registration Practice round tee times |
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| Tuesday, June 11 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. |
First Round of Stroke Play Tee times off No. 1 and No. 10 tees Player Dinner & College Golf Program |
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| Wednesday, June 12 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. |
Second Round of Stroke Play |
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| Thursday, June 13 7:30 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. 12:30 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. |
Match Play Round of 16 tee times off No. 1 Quarterfinal tee times off No. 1 |
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| Friday, June 14 7:30 a.m. - 7:40 a.m. 12:30 p.m. |
Match Play Semifinal tee times off No. 1 Final match off No. 1 |
*All times are CDT and subject to change.
REGISTRATION – All players must register in-person during the posted times and prior to playing a practice round on Monday, June 10. If a player elects to not play a practice round, she must register during the registration times on Monday, June 10, or confirm arrival time in advance by phone (contact Madison Banas at (224-260-3781) to register. Registration will be inside the Hinsdale Golf Club clubhouse and times will be confirmed in pre-tournament email communication. A player’s place in the tournament may be forfeited if she fails to register.
PRACTICE – The Hinsdale Golf Club practice facilities will be open to contestants on Sunday, June 9th, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM and each day of tournament week starting at 6:00 AM until 30 minutes after the last group finishes. Practice rounds will take place on Monday, June 10th. Practice round tee times will be booked electronically via Golf Genius. All players will receive a link to register for a practice round tee time in pre-tournament email communications. Should players desire an additional practice round, players are encouraged to play in the Contestant-Amateur, “Co-Am,” on Sunday, June 9th. Players are not permitted to schedule additional practice rounds prior to their official practice round time on June 10th, or the Contestant-Amateur on June 9th.
CONTESTANT-AMATEUR “CO-AM” HOSTED BY HINSDALE GOLF CLUB – The Contestant-Amateur is a kick-off event hosted by Hinsdale Golf Club, allowing players the opportunity to be paired with a member to play the course in advance of the tournament. This will take place in the afternoon on Sunday, June 9th, followed by a reception. Positions are first-come-first serve, and are asked to sign up via email once a player receives their acceptance email. If necessary, a waitlist will be kept.
STARTING TIMES – Pairings and starting times for the first round of stroke-play qualifying will be distributed on Sunday, June 9th, via email and will be posted online.
LOGISTICS & ACCOMMODATIONS – Upon notice of tournament acceptance, if needed, participants should book flight reservations into Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The Marriott Burr Ridge has partnered with the tournament to offer a discounted group rate of $162.00 until May 20, 2024, or until the hotel is sold out. A unique booking link will be included in the acceptance email, for players to make their reservations. Contestants are expected to make their own hotel arrangements. Recreational vehicles, campers, motorhomes or the like are not permitted to park on the premises at Hinsdale Golf Club.
HEADQUARTERS – All inquiries should be directed to Madison Banas, Western Golf Association,
CADDIE POLICY – Players shall walk at all times during a stipulated round in the Championship. A player may provide her own caddie, carry her bag or provide her own non-motorized pushcart. A player may not use a parent, stepparent or guardian as a caddie during stroke play or match play rounds. Hinsdale Golf Club caddies are available for the practice round and tournament rounds on a first-come, first-serve basis. A player is not required to employ a caddie for any stage of the Championship, although it is recommended. The caddie rate is $100 inclusive of tip. There will be additional details on how to request a caddie in the player acceptance email.
CODE OF CONDUCT – In fairness to the field of competition: In both the stroke play and match play portion of the tournament, it is expected and is the responsibility of every player to continue play throughout the tournament until eliminated. The following actions by contestants or caddies will be considered violations of the Conduct Code: any abusive language, club throwing, cheating, disrespect of volunteers, officials or host families, abuse of the course, leaving the course during your competitive round without permission from a WWGA official, any use of or association with drugs or alcohol, not adhering to the dress code during any portion of the tournament, any vandalism at the host hotel, and/or any other conduct not becoming of a Women’s Western Junior contestant. The penalties for Conduct Code violations, based on the severity of misconduct, may be any or all of the following: a warning, 1 or 2 stroke penalty, disqualification of the player from the tournament, suspension of the player indefinitely from WWGA Championships.
DRESS CODE – Contestants and caddies are expected to wear golf appropriate attire at all times when using the practice facilities, golf course or while visiting the clubhouse. No short shorts, short skorts/skirts, jeans, cut-offs, tank tops, halter tops, bathing suits or the like are permitted. Sleeveless shirts must have a collar, and collarless shirts must have sleeves. No metal or ceramic spikes are permitted.
RULES OF GOLF – The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA and The R&A, as modified by the local rules established by the WWGA, will be used. The WWGA Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein. Changes in the tournament format caused by force majeure shall be within the sole discretion of the WWGA officials. The decisions of the WWGA Committee in any matter shall be final.
PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION; BROADCASTING – By submitting this application, I understand that the WWGA or its designees, may record, film, photograph, or otherwise capture my likeness, image, voice, biography, references to me, my quoted statements, and my play in the Championship (the foregoing, together with my name, my “Appearance”). In consideration of the opportunity to participate in the Championship, by submitting this Application, I grant (and/or have the authority to grant to the WWGA in the case of a parent/guardian of a minor or other authorized representative submitting the Application on my behalf) to the WWGA, and its licensees, successors and assigns, the perpetual, transferable, assignable, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable right to use my Appearance, in whole or in part, in all manner (including exhibition, distribution, reproduction, publication, display, broadcast, transmission or otherwise), and media now known or hereafter invented or discovered, and for any purpose whatsoever. The rights granted herein include, without limitation, the right to use the Appearance, or portions thereof, in promotion of the Championship and future championships through any of the foregoing means of distribution, as well as in the design, manufacture and distribution of merchandise related to the Championship or other championships, that include elements of my Appearance. The WWGA is not obligated to use my Appearance in any matter, and materials embodying any aspect of my Appearance do not need to be submitted to me for approval. I release and discharge the WWGA, its licensees, successors and assigns from any claims arising from use of my Appearance, including claims for misrepresentation of me, my character, or my person by any means. As between the WWGA and me, the WWGA shall own all right, title and interest, including the copyright(s), in and to any works created by the WWGA, its licensees, successors and assigns, that include all or a portion of my Appearance. This grant shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and the successors and assigns of the WWGA. I hereby waive all privacy, publicity, defamation, libel, and proprietary rights relating to the Appearance as used by the WWGA in conjunction with these terms. Players are required to cooperate with representatives of the media; however, no pre-Championship activities outside of those activities which are part of the Championship will be required. Authorized representatives of the media will not interfere with the player’s Championship play in an unreasonable manner.
Awards, Exemptions & AJGA PBE Stars
Women’s Western Golf Association Awards:
Icely Cup – The Icely Cup is awarded to the match play champion.
Ann S. Upchurch Trophy – The Ann S. Upchurch Trophy is awarded to the match play finalist (runner-up).
Margaret Jones Medalist Trophy & Low Gross Medal – The Margaret Jones Medalist Award will be awarded to the player with the lowest gross score from the 36-holes of stroke-play qualifying.
Sweet 16 Medallion – Each match play qualifier will be awarded a commemorative medallion at the Sweet 16 Celebration.
The following tournaments have partnered with the Women’s Western Golf Association to provide exemptions:
The Dye Junior: 2024 WWGA JR Champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 Dye Junior
The North & South Girls Junior: The 2024 WWGA JR Champion & Runner Up will receive exemptions into the 2025 North & South Girls Junior
The Women’s Western Amateur: The 2024 WWGA JR Champion & Runner Up will receive exemptions into the 2024 Women’s Western Amateur.
Top finishers will receive the following number AJGA Performance Based Entry Stars:
Champion: 12 Performance Stars
Runner up, Semi & Quarterfinalists: 8 Performance Stars
Sweet 16 Qualifiers: 4 Performance Stars