River Forest Country Club prepares to host the Women’s Western Amateur golf tournament

By Valerie Hardy | Photos courtesy of the Women’s Golf Association

One of the world’s most prestigious amateur golf championships is coming to Elmhurst this summer. From July 6–11, River Forest Country Club will host the 126th Women’s Western Amateur, widely considered one of the top three events in women’s amateur golf.

Maelynn Kim swings her way to the championship title at the 2025 WWA.

While the WWA’s 125th anniversary was last year, its host site is hitting a major milestone of its own this year: a century of operation. RFCC “could not be more excited to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the club while hosting [the WWA],” said Cari Matykiewicz, the RFCC’s Communications Chair Lead.

In honor of both of these celebratory occasions, Hinsdale Magazine Group’s Valerie Hardy caught up with Matykiewicz.

Hinsdale Magazine Group: What is the history of the WWA, and how has it evolved over time?

Cari Matykiewicz: The Women’s Western Amateur is the oldest women’s amateur event in the country held without interruption. Over the years, we have attracted a stronger field with the level of championship experience we provide. Today, we are proud to be the third strongest women’s amateur event in the country, behind only the US Women’s Amateur and Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

HMG: What are the eligibility requirements for playing in the WWA?

Matykiewicz: A player needs to have amateur status and meet a 3.4 handicap or less.

HMG: Where are players in this year’s WWA from?

Matykiewicz: So far, the tournament application pool consists of 26 states and five foreign countries.

Maelynn Kim earns the 2025 WWA title with a 1-up victory over Elizabeth Rudisill.

HMG: Can you share a bit about the past WWA champions and what they earn for winning the WWA?

Matykiewicz: The WWA’s list of past champions spans more than a century, and the collective accomplishments include over 340 Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) victories, 135 major championship wins, and 60 appearances in the Solheim Cup. The most recent past champions are 2025: Maelynn Kim,
a junior at the University of Houston, #170 World Amateur Golf Ranked; 2024: Farah O’Keefe, a junior at the University of Texas, #4 World Amateur Golf Ranked; and 2023: Jasmine Yoo, a sophomore at the University of Southern California, #15 World Amateur Golf Ranked. This year’s WWA champion will earn exemption into the 2026 US Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course in Tennessee, into the next 10 Women’s Western Amateurs, and into the 2027 Elite Amateur Golf Series events.

HMG: What happens behind the scenes in preparation for the WWA?

Matykiewicz: For the Western Golf Association, tournament prep is year-round. From selecting and securing host sites, attending merchandise shows, collaborating with other women’s events, recruiting players to play in your event, and working with the host club, there is plenty to do!

HMG: How can the public join in the WWA fun?

Matykiewicz: The event is free and open to the public! Please visit womenswesternamateur.com as the summer approaches for more spectator information.

Members of the field walk the Red Run Golf Club course in Royal Oak, Michigan, the venue for the 125th WWA.

Women’s Western Amateur at a Glance

• 126 years running — Founded in 1901, the Women’s Western Amateur is the longest continuously held women’s amateur championship in the United States.
• Top 3 in the world — Widely regarded alongside the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur as one of the three premier events in women’s amateur golf.
• 120-player field — Elite amateurs from across the U.S. and internationally, typically representing multiple states and multiple countries.
• Cut to 32 — After stroke play, only the top 32 players advance to match play.
• 340+ LPGA WINS— Past competitors have gone on to achieve more than 340 victories on the LPGA Tour.
• 135 MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS — Alumni of the event have won 135 majors.
• 60 Solheim Cup appearances — A proven pipeline to the highest level of international competition. 
  
• Champion perks —The winner earns exemptions into future elite events, including the U.S. Women’s Amateur and other top amateur championships.
• 3.4 handicap (minimum)— While entry requires a 3.4 or better, the actual field is overwhelmingly made up of scratch (0.0) or plus-handicap players competing at the Division I and international level.