Daughan & Miller Defend Title
The Wanderers Club in Wellington was in pristine condition for the 70th Women’s International Four-Ball conducted February 14-15. This historic Championship has been hosted by The Wanderers Club, one of the finest clubs in Palm Beach County, for five consecutive years! The ladies faced perfect weather during round one on Tuesday, resulting in ten scores in the red.
In the Championship Division, the competitive duo of Charlotte Daughan and Katie Miller took the early lead looking to capture their second consecutive win! Miller, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, and Daughan, of Orlando, posted an impressive seven under-par for a three stroke lead over the team of Lin Culver and Gigi Higgins. Miller has proven to be an exceptional four-ball partner and recently qualified for the 2017 U.S. Women’s Four-Ball with Aurora Kan (read more about Miller here). A total of seven birdies were recorded between the duo with Daughan posting three birdies and Miller carding four for a 32-33—65 round one score.
The team of Culver and Higgins had a bogey free round to take second place heading into round two. The two close friends finished tied for fourth last year and came together on Tuesday for a true team effort. Higgins, 2016 Women’s Senior Player of the Year from Cape Coral, counted nine of her scores while Culver, of Palm Coast, counted nine of her scores for a round one 68 (-4). To round out the top three after the first round, Sherry Herman and Debbi Adams carded four birdies on holes one, four, 11, and 12 to finish solo in third place. Herman, of Middletown, NJ, and Adams, of Asheville, NC, was the only out of state team in the top three with a round one three under-par 69.
A birdie putt rolled in on the first hole to start Daughan and Miller’s final round on Wednesday. The defending Champions continued their strong start with birdies on holes five, eight, 11, 13, and 16 to go 35-33 for a final round 68 and second consecutive first place title! The duo had great vibes heading into the tournament as Miller stated it was “wonderful coming to Florida to play off of real grass” and “the course and staff are always really nice”. As explained by the Champions, “putts just seemed to go in” and a win was a great way to start 2017! Daughan and Miller worked off of each other both rounds of the tournament to finish with a 133 (-11) total and four stroke victory. The next event in line for both Champions is ironically a four-ball tournament. Miller will be playing in the U.S. Four-Ball for the third consecutive year and Daughan will be playing in the FSGA Four-Ball with Tara Joy-Connelly.
The team from Palm Beach, Tara Joy-Connelly and Susan Cohn, made a comeback in the second round to finish in second place. Tara, being a past Champion with former teammate Meghan Stasi, had six birdies with Susan to finish at 137 (70-67) seven under-par! Culver and Higgins started the final round in second place but fell to a fourth place finish after a final round 75 for a 143 (-1) total. The team of Herman and Adams achieved a top three finish with two rounds in the red (69-71) for a 140 (-4) total.
Round one in the Middle Division finished with a tight leaderboard. The team of Elizabeth Brumback and Lynn Fullmer sat in first place with a first round 73. Following one stroke behind were three teams tied for second at two over-par, including Kiely Allen/Pat Rogers, Sisi Hedges/Debbie MookSang, and Ginny Orthwein/Marlene Streit. Round two saw a change at the top after Kiely Allen, of Clearwater, and Pat Rogers, of Tampa, posted a 72 for a 146 total and two stroke win! Sisi Hedges and teammate Debbie MookSang finished tied for second for the second year in a row with two consistent 74’s (148 total). Ginny Orthwein and Marlene Streit tied for second with matching rounds of 74 as well!
In the Middle Division First Flight Diane Carter and Mary Bruno carded a first round 74 to lead by two strokes heading into Wednesday’s round. The teams
of Martha Greenhalgh/Carol Patmore and Jill Riehl/Amy Dalton would fight for first place in round two after a first round score of 76 (+4). Going wire-to-wire, Carter and Bruno carded a second round 76 to win by five strokes with a 150 total. Breaking the tie to seize second place alone was the team of Greenhalgh and Patmore who posted a second round 79, 155 total. Jill Riehl and Amy Dalton moved into third place with a 156 total.
The Middle Division and Middle Division First Flight received net awards as well. In the Middle Division, the team of Othwein/Streit and Allen/Rogers tied at the top with a 135 total. After a modified FSGA tie break method, Orthwein and Streit finished first net. The Middle Division First Flight awarded a net win to Mary Bruno and Diane Carter at a 130 total.
Forty-eight teams represented by 13 states and two countries made up the 2017 Women’s International Four-Ball field. This historic event, first conducted by the Jaycees of Hollywood, Florida, has comprised the names of golf’s finest—Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs, Peggy Kirk-Bell, Marlene Streit and others. The team of Charlotte Daughan and Katie Miller can be added to the list esteemed names for a second year in a row.
Please join us for the 70th Women's International Four-Ball to be conducted at The Wanderer's Club in Wellington, Florida. This historic championship is being held at one of the finest clubs in Palm Beach County and is the last stop on the Orange Blossom Tour. The Orange Blossom Tour consists of the Harder Hall, SALLY and Ione. Jones/Doherty. The Wanderer's Club is maintained in exceptional condition and is excited to host this championship for the next two years. For a look at the 2016 Championship Results click here.
Championship Format
- 36 holes of four-ball stroke play, (commonly known as a two-person, best-ball)
- Maximum of 48 total teams
- Two divisions - Championship and Middle Division
- Teams must select their division at the time of entry
- The overall Champion will be the team from the Championship Division with the lowest 36-hole total score
Eligibility
- Female amateur golfers
- Both entrants must be at least 18 years of age as of the first day of the Championship
- A valid USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 18.0 at time of entry
- Entrants are not required to be a member of the FSGA
- Championship Division - At time of entry, all teams in the Championship Division must have a combined team handicap index of 14.0 or less
- Middle Division - 95% of each player's handicap will be used. The course handicap differential between partners may be no more than eight (8) strokes. (If the differential is more than eight (8) strokes, the higher course handicap will be reduced to allow for the difference)
How Entries are Classified
- Championship Division Exempt
- Championship Division Non-Exempt
- Middle Division
Exemptions
Players in the following categories will be eligible for exemption provided they meet all entry and eligibility requirements:
Team Exemptions
(teams must remain intact)
- Top five teams and tied from last year's Women's International Four-Ball (Championship Division Only)
- Last five year's Women's International Four-Ball Champions (Championship Division Only)
- Any team playing in last year's U.S. Women's Four-Ball Championship
- Last year's TRANS Four-Ball Champions (Championship Division Only)
- Last year's Florida Women's Four-Ball Champions (Championship Division Only)
Team Exemption by Individual Accomplishment
(both players must meet one of the following criteria)
- Rank within the top 1,000 and tied of the Women's World Amateur Golf Rankings as of the entry open date
- Top 10 and tied from last year's Harder Hall Invitational
- Top 10 and tied from last year's South Atlantic Women's Amateur (SALLY)
- Last year's Ione D. Jones/Doherty Women's Amateur Semifinalists
How Entries are Processed
- Two thirds (32 teams) of the entire field will be held for the Championship Division
- One third (16 teams) of the entire field will be held for the Middle Division
- Middle Division teams will be processed on a first come first served basis upon entries opening
- After any Division reaches maximum capacity, entries will be placed on an alternates list for that Division on a first come first served basis
- Any withdrawals from either Division will be filled by an alternate from that Division's alternate list on a first come first served basis
- When a Division's alternate list is exhausted, an alternate from the other Division will be used to fill an open spot
- If a team changes Divisions after submitting an entry, and that Division is full, that team will be placed on the bottom of that Division's alternates list
- Through Wednesday, November 23rd (one week after entries open)
- Championship Division Exempt entries will be processed on a first come first served basis up until the Championship Division reaches capacity
- After Wednesday, November 23rd
- Championship Division Non-Exempt entries will be processed on a first come first served basis up until the Championship Division reaches capacity
- After Wednesday, November 30th (two weeks after entries open)
- Remaining spots from either the Championship or Middle Division will be released and any remaining alternates will fill the open spots on a first come first served basis until the field reaches its maximum capacity of 48 teams
Entry Fee
$500 (per team)
Entry fee includes all competitive rounds of golf, tee gift, Monday evening cocktail reception with heavy hor d'oeuvres (cash bar), breakfast before and lunch after both Tuesday and Wednesday's rounds, and gift certificate prizes. Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late entry fee should the team gain acceptance into the field.
Divisions and Approximate Yardages
- Championship Division - 6,000 yards (gross only)
- Middle Division - 5,300 yards (gross and net)
How to Enter
To enter, both you and your partner will need to have created a free, online account at this website. Once both of you have accounts, you will be able to select your partner and submit an entry. If you and your partner already have an account, you will not need to create another account.
Schedule of Events
Monday, February 13th
- 1:00 PM - Shotgun Practice Round
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM – Players’ Cocktail Reception - Included with entry fee (cash bar)
Tuesday, February 14th
- 6:30 AM - 9:00 AM – Breakfast at the club - included with entry fee (upstairs - Dukes Bar)
- 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM – Player Registration (upstairs - Dukes Bar)
- 8:00 AM - 9:50 AM – Round One tee times off of #1 and #10 tees
- 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (approx.) – First Round luncheon - included with entry fee (upstairs - Main Ballroom)
Wednesday, February 15th
- 6:30 AM - 9:00 AM – Breakfast at the club - included with entry fee (upstairs - Dukes Bar)
- 8:00 AM - 9:50 AM – Final Round tee times off of #1 and #10 tees
- 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (approx.) – Final Round luncheon and awards presentation - included with entry fee (upstairs - Main Ballroom)
Flighting
The Championship Division is gross only and will not be flighted.
The Middle Division will be pre-flighted based on combined team handicaps.
Generally, divisions of more than 12 teams will be pre-flighted. Flights will be based on the number of teams and the range of combined team handicaps.
Breaking Ties
Championship Division - The overall Champion will be the team with the lowest total score. In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff on a hole designated by the Committee to determine the Champion. All other tie breaks will be broken by a modified FSGA tie break method. The final day 18 hole respective score will be used to determine the first place team. (If there is still a tie, the final 9 holes of the last day (holes #10-18) will be used to determine the winner. If there is still a tie, the final 6 holes are used; then if needed the final 3 holes; then the final hole; then by coin flip).
Middle Division – Ties for first place gross and first place net in each flight of the Middle Division will be broken by a modified FSGA tie break method. The final day 18 hole respective score, whether gross or net, will be used to determine the first place gross or net team. (If there is still a tie, the final 9 holes of the last day (holes #10-18) will be used to determine the winner. If there is still a tie, the final 6 holes are used; then if needed the final 3 holes; then the final hole; then by coin flip).
Middle Division will pay gross first, then net.
Handicap Requirements
The valid USGA Handicap Indexes used will be from the February 1, 2017 revision. Each player must have a valid USGA Handicap Index no higher than 18.0 at time of entry. However, all teams must have a combined team handicap of 14.0 or less at time of entry in order to gain entrance into the field in the Championship Division. Teams must choose which division they wish to compete in upon entry; the Championship or Middle Division.
Practice Rounds
Practice rounds are available on the Monday prior to the Championship (1:00 PM shotgun). Additional practice rounds may be available during the week prior to the Championship on a case-by-case basis, but there is no guarantee. The price for a practice round is $35.00 + tax. Even though the practice round is a shotgun, all players must call (561) 795-3510 to register and reserve a spot. The proper place to practice your golf swing is on the driving range, hitting multiple shots on the course is unacceptable.
Defending Champions
The final round of the Championship Division boiled down to a head to head match-up between the teams of Tara Joy-Connelly/Meghan Stasi and Charlotte Daughan/Katie Miller who were tied for first after the final round with a five under-par 139. An exciting two hole playoff determined the Champions of the 2016 Women’s International Four-Ball, Daughan and Miller. This marks Daughan’s second consecutive Women’s International Four-Ball win and Miller’s first FSGA victory.
History
As the fourth championship in the Orange Blossom Tour that includes the Harder Hall Women's Invitational, the South Atlantic Amateur (SALLY), and the Ione D. Jones/Doherty Championship, the Women’s International Four-Ball carries a tremendous amount of history and prestige. First conducted in 1945 by the Jaycees of Hollywood, Florida, the early championships included the names of Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs, Peggy Kirk-Bell, and other notables.
The Wanderers Club
The Wanderers Club is a challenging and unique Jacobsen Hardy design that is located in Palm Beach, North America's premiere equestrian community. It's immaculate fairways and greens, spectacular practice facilities, and high-end club ambiance provide the avid golfer the atmosphere they desire. The club is just minutes from the gorgeous and flourishing city of West Palm Beach where fine dining, shopping, and entertainment can easily be found. Please click here to learn more about The Wanderers Club.
Other Policies
- Spectator and Spectator Cart Policy - Click here.
- Caddies - Caddies are allowed in all FSGA Championships except Junior events. However, a player must not use a parent, step-parent or guardian as a caddie. The caddie MUST walk and the player’s clubs must remain on the golf cart.
- Championship Pace of Play Policy - Click here.
- Local Rules and Conditions of Competition - Click here.
- Championship Policies - Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, and other policies.
- Procedures for Alternates - Click here for information on how alternates may gain entry into this Championship.
- Conditions/ Schedule - The FSGA Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions, provisions and/or schedules. The decision of the Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee in any matter will be final.
Host Hotel & Accommodations
Hampton Inn & Suites Wellington
2155 Wellington Green Drive
Wellington, FL 33411
(561) 472-9696
Click for Map
$199 +tax per night
Directions to The Wanderers Club
1900 Aero Club Drive
Wellington, FL 33414
(561) 795-3510
Click for Map
