Forest Highlands Golf Club, in Flagstaff, Ariz., has been selected by the USGA as the host site of the 2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Scheduled for Sept. 14-19, the 33rd U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur will be the club’s fourth USGA championship and first since the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.
“The USGA looks forward to returning to Forest Highlands Golf Club and the Flagstaff community for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur,” said Stuart Francis, USGA Championship Committee chairman. “Having already proved itself as an outstanding championship host, we’re confident the club will once again provide a challenging test and wonderful experience for players and spectators alike.”
Forest Highlands features two championship courses – the Canyon Course, designed in 1986 by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, and the Meadow Course, designed in 1999 by Weiskopf. Both courses have been used in past USGA championships. The Canyon Course, known for its hilly natural terrain and pine-lined fairways, hosted the 2006 U.S. Mid-Amateur, won by Dave Womack, and the 1996 U.S. Junior Amateur, won by Shane McMenamy.
The more traditional and park-like Meadow Course, which encompasses lakes, wildflowers and scenic wetlands, hosted the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior, won by Princess Mary Superal. The Meadow Course was also used as the companion stroke-play course during the 2006 Mid-Amateur. The course for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur will be announced at a later date.
“Forest Highlands is pleased to have been selected by the USGA to host the 2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur,” said Robert Scott, club president. “We are proud of our two championship courses and honored to work with the USGA in crowning another national champion at Forest Highlands.”
The 2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur will be the 16th USGA championship and third Women’s Mid-Amateur contested in Arizona. The Grand Canyon State also hosted U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs in 1991 at Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale, and in 2007 at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree.
First played in 1987, the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur is open to female amateurs age 25 and older who own a Handicap Index® not exceeding 9.4. The championship field features 132 players who compete in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field is cut to the low 64 scorers for match play.
Upcoming U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs will be conducted Sept. 10-15, 2016 at The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pa., and Oct. 7-12, 2017 at Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla.
