INDIANAPOLIS – Meridian Hills Country Club will welcome some of the top juniors in women’s golf when the 99th Women’s Western Junior comes to Indianapolis in 2026.
Scheduled for June 8-12, 2026, the Women’s Western Junior will be Meridian Hills’ first Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) event. An international field of 78 players will compete for the historic Icely Trophy and exemptions into other elite events.
The championship begins with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying, after which the field is cut to the low 16 players for match play. The champion will earn an exemption into the 2026 Women’s Western Amateur and 2027 Dye Junior Invitational.
“We’re excited to bring the Women’s Western Junior to Meridian Hills Country Club,” said Susan Buchanan, president of the Women’s Western Golf Association. “The golf course will be ready to challenge these talented junior players, and we are committed to delivering another memorable and rewarding experience for everyone involved.”
Located in the heart of Indianapolis, Meridian Hills’ picturesque 18-hole layout was originally designed by renowned architect Bill Diddel. Over the 100-year history of the club several legendary course designers put their stamp on Meridian Hills, including George and Tom Fazio, Pete and Alice Dye and Jim Nagle. The well-manicured greens work in concert with the subtle contour of the natural terrain to create some of the most challenging and beautiful putting surfaces in the Midwest.
“Our members and team are ready to host this great event for the ladies and the WWGA,” said Chad Schultenover, CCM, CCE, GM and COO of Meridian Hills Country Club. “We want them to walk away feeling great about their experience at Meridian Hills Country Club and enjoy their time in Indianapolis. The women playing in this event are among the most talented amateurs in the country and we all want to see them compete. We can’t wait for June to get here.”
Since its opening in 1923, Meridian Hills has hosted the 1956 USGA Women’s Amateur Championship and 1992 USGA Girls Junior Championship.
Meridian Hills previously hosted the 2013 Western Junior, won by PGA TOUR star Collin Morikawa, and the 1956 U.S. Women’s Amateur, captured by Marlene Stewart.
First played in 1920, the Women’s Western Junior is one of the oldest and most prestigious junior golf championships in the United States. Long regarded as a proving ground for future stars, the event boasts an impressive list of past champions, including Candie Kung (1998), Cristie Kerr (1994), Grace Park (1993) and Nancy Lopez (1972, 1973, 1974).
Alumni of the championship have combined for 218 LPGA Tour wins, 10 Solheim Cup appearances and six major championships.
In 2027, the Women’s Western Junior will be contested at Park Ridge Country Club in Park Ridge, Illinois. The championship is currently exploring potential host sites for 2028, 2029 and 2030.