Page 51 - Western Amateur 120th Championship Program 2022, Exmoor Country Club

Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA)

Seven Exmoor women have served as foundation, and grants are funded
president of the WWGA, more than largely by donations from an annual
any other club. Scholarship Day held at the WWGA’s
nearly 300 member clubs.
• Mrs. W.A. Alexander (1903–1904)
• Mrs. W.W. Haerther (1931–1932) Cynthia Willis became the first
• Mrs. Charles Willard (1940–1941) woman to serve as a director of the
• Mrs. Stanley Woleben (1959–1960) WGA (1991–2012), a personal honor,
• Mrs. Phillip Atwood (1961–1962) one which recognized her many
• Mrs. Ann Brown (1983–1984) accomplishments with the WWGA. It
• Mrs. Cynthia Willis (1987–1988) also brought recognition to Exmoor.
The idea to form a women’s golf
The WWGA first organized the Women’s “I owe a lot to Ann Brown who
association was proposed by Exmoor
Western Junior Championship in 1920, preceded me as president,” she
founder W.A. Alexander at a Western
30 years before the USGA started a recalled. “Ann and Brian Kenny served
Golf Association meeting on August 16,
similar event, and the Women’s Western as co-chairs of the 100th anniversary
1901. Comprised of member clubs in the
Senior was added in 1979. Exmoor celebration of the WWGA, held at
Midwest, the WWGA came into being
has hosted 10 WWGA tournaments Exmoor in 2001. We staged the Women’s
on July 9, 1903, when Alexander’s wife,
since 1903. Western Championship, with a large
Mrs. Maude Alexander, was elected tent and banquet. Ron Romack, our pro,
president for a two-year term. The The WWGA formed a foundation in coordinated the golf, and Steve Alley,
Chicago Tribune said, “There is every 1971 to award college scholarships to then club president, played a big role.”
indication the new association will worthy high school girls with high
be successful from the start. Mrs. academic skills and involvement in Cynthia continues to be honored as a
Alexander is one of the most popular golf. Exmoor member Cynthia Willis, Director Emeritus of the WGA.
players in the West.” WWGA president (1987–1988), ran the
scholarship program for 23 years and
W.A. Alexander and his wife donated
is still active in that program.
the sterling silver Alexander Cup,
awarded each year to the winner “In 1971, after several tournaments, we
ofthe Women’s Western Amateur realized we had surplus funds, and we
Championship. awarded one scholarship, then two and
three, then we got more donations, and
here we are after 50 years, still helping
these young women,” Cynthia recalled.
“The first grant was $500, and it grew to
where the typical scholarship today is
$2,500. Approximately 20 recipients are
on scholarship at one time — for four
years — and they can attend any
college they choose.”
The WWGA and the WGA have
enjoyed a cooperative relationship
over the years, and in 2019, the
organizations entered an agreement
whereby the WGA would manage
WWGA tournaments and coordinate
publicity. The scholarship program
remains under the direction of the
Mrs. Maude Alexander,
first president of the WWGA Cynthia Willis

2022 Western Amateur Championship Chick, the Caddies and the Scholars 49