Page 19 - 2018 Western Amateur Commemerative Program—Skokie Ridge Country Club

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ABOUT THE WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION

AND EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION

CHAMPIONSHIPS SINCE 1899 Since its founding in 1899, the WGA THE WESTERN AMATEUR
SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE 1930 has conducted more than 330 The Western Amateur Championship
The Western Golf Association was championships for professional and showcases the rising stars of the game.
founded in 1899 by 11 Chicago-area amateur golfers from around the world. It consistently ranks among the world’s
golf clubs. Today, more than 400 WGA-sponsored tournaments have top amateur tournaments. The roster
member clubs in states throughout the featured the nation’s top professional, of past champions reads like a
nation support the WGA, which this amateur and junior golfers. “Who’s Who” of American golf,
year is conducting four prestigious including Jack Nicklaus, Curtis Strange,
THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP
national golf championships and Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson,
supports the Evans Scholars First held in 1899 as the Western Open, Tiger Woods and eight-time winner
the BMW Championship is the third of
Foundation. Chick Evans, founder of the Evans
four PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoff Scholars Foundation.
The WGA and the Evans Scholars events. The championship’s J.K.
Foundation are headquartered in Golf, Wadley Trophy has been engraved THE WESTERN JUNIOR
Illinois, which is also home to the with the names of nearly all of golf’s Established in 1914, the Western Junior
Glen View Club, host of the first greatest legends, including Ben Hogan, Championship continues to draw the
Western Open and Western Amateur Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and finest junior players from across the
championships in 1899. In 1914, the Tiger Woods. Since 2007, the BMW United States and the world. This is
Western Junior Championship, the Championship has raised $27 million the tournament that separates the men
firstsuch national competition in the for the Evans Scholars Foundation, from the boys — a testing ground for
history of American golf, was added the event’s sole beneficiary. the top players of the future. The
to the WGA tournament schedule. In
tournament, the oldest national junior
2018, the WGA also conducted the
championship, is an invitational
Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS
competition, with competitors ages
Championship.
15 to 19 and a handicap of three or
less eligible to apply.

Western Golf Association Headquarters

2018 WESTERN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP Introduction 17