Tour News
Debut of the Women’s Porter Cup
Does it surprise anyone that, in 2013, there is not an established if informal summer tour for the finest female, non-junior, amateur golfers in the U.S.?
It should and there isn’t.
Along with the USGA and a few scattered events, the members of the Niagara Falls Country Club (NY) will take a large step to establish such a circuit.
The Women’s Porter Cup debuts June 12 to the 14. It is most fitting that the host club for one of the oldest and most prestigious amateur events elects to inaugurate a women’s championship. For years, male and senior male amateurs have enjoyed an unofficial tour of amateur events, while the select female amateurs have depended on a brief, Florida-centered winter tour and a series of USGA events for competition.
The contestants of the first Women’s Porter Cup will follow 55 years of tradition on the men’s side and 24 senior amateur contests. Participants range in age from 15 to 35, with current members of university teams making up the majority of entrees. Chelsea Dantonio, the medalist at the recent Section VI Western New York State Public High School Qualifier, is the youngest entrant while Meghan Stasi, the defending and four-time USGA Mid-Amateur champion, anchors the veteran guard.
The men’s edition of the Porter Cup is viewed by many as the premier stroke-play amateur event in the country and is a step below only the U.S. and Western amateurs in prestige. The men’s senior edition, contested in September, has established itself as a fine event with a loyal following among the top older amateurs.
Now comes the women’s event, in an era that finds women’s sports reaching a greater following among participants and fans alike. How will this particular event succeed? Tournament director Brian Oakley, an NFCC member and director of Boeing programs for Magellan Aerospace, explains the charted course.
“Our men’s par is 70. We [anticipate that] the women’s event [will play to a] par of 72 by turning some of the longer par 4 holes into 5s. We expect to have the course play between 6200 and 6300 yards. We will feature a practice round for all competitors on June 11, followed by a three-day, no-cut event.”
The Porter Cup has long been known for its spirit of hospitality. Oakley confirmed that this same esprit will be a hallmark of the women’s event.
“On Wednesday evening after play we will take all the competitors for a tour of the Niagara River and Falls on the Maid of the Mist. Thursday evening features our player dinner on the patio at NFCC, overlooking the breathtaking Niagara River gorge. On Friday after play, we will award our inaugural crystal champion’s trophy to the first tournament champion.”
Like its older siblings, the Women’s Porter Cup will welcome a field of talented golfers. Headlining the field are Stasi and a number of top college golfers. Casie Cathrea (Oklahoma State), Zoe-Beth Brake (Ohio State), Jessica Hoang (Clemson) and Wanasa Zhou (Arkansas) will compete as university freshmen next fall. Emily Collins (Oklahoma) is a rising senior who competed in May at the NCAA championships for the ninth-place Sooners.
The most formidable collegiate entrant is Grace Na (Pepperdine), who averaged a shade over 72 strokes per round as a junior for the Wave, then earned First Team All America honors. Among the local favorites are Rene Sobolewski (Buffalo-Vanderbilt University), Catherine Peters (Clarence-University of Michigan) and Michelle Hanes (Elma-Jacksonville University.)
The Niagara Falls country club course provides a number of opportunities to go low at the beginning of each nine. The par five 4th and 11th holes yield a healthy number of birdies to regular and senior Porter Cup contestants, and the same should hold true at the Women’s event. The middle portion of each side represents the grind, where stringent holes present a manageable yet stern challenge to contestants. The final quadrilateral has offered its share of dramatic finishes throughout the 60 years of tournament competition.
The driveable par-four No. 15, the formidable par-three Nos. 16 and 18, and the long, uphill par-four No. 17 (which may convert to a par 5 for the Women’s edition) will certainly fix themselves in the players’ minds as the final leg of road well traveled. At twilight on June 14, a special contestant will raise the first of many crystal champions trophies to come at the Women’s Porter Cup.
Click here for more information on the Porter Cup events, which are still opened for entry.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Ronald Montesano
Jun 8, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Agreed…I suspect they’ll pull out all the stops to let the initial competitors know how important they are to the tournament.
Sean
Jun 7, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Nice to hear about this event. Hopefully more to come.