Women's International Four-Ball

Daughan & Miller Beat Tornadoes and Playoff

The Wanderer’s Club in Wellington was in pristine condition for the 69th Women’s International Four-Ball conducted February 16-17. This historic Championship has been hosted by The Wanderers Club, one of the finest clubs in Palm Beach County, for four consecutive years! Round one on Tuesday had a delayed shotgun start due to heavy rain and wind accompanied by a tornado watch. After the weather cleared, the ladies faced a beautiful day for golf, resulting in nine scores in the red.

In the Championship Division, the famous duo of Tara Joy-Connelly and Meghan Stasi took the early lead looking to capture their third win. Joy-Connelly, of Palm Beach, and Stasi, of Oakland Park, posted an impressive five under-par for a two stroke lead over the team of Charlotte Daughan and Katie Miller. Daughan, who teamed up with Sarah Matin to win the Championship last year, matched up with Miller from Jeannette, Pennsylvania to shoot a three under-par 69 in the first round. Two teams tied for third place with a two under-par 70 including: Therese Quinn/Diane Lang and Marie Arnoux/Alexandra Frazier.

The final round of the Championship Division boiled down to a head to head match-up between the teams of Joy-Connelly/Stasi and Daughan/Miller. Both teams contained a wealth of talent with Joy-Connelly being named Women’s Player of the Year in 2015 and Stasi earning the same title five years in a row. Daughan was crowned Champion of the International Four-Ball last year but changed partners because Sarah Matin is expecting her first child! Katie Miller was a smart choice as a former college golfer for the University of North Carolina who made it to the final eight in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.  Miller stated that in the final match her team recorded “All pars until we finally had a birdie on hole 12.” Stasi and Joy-Connelly fought hard and the match went back and forth for the last six holes. With a two under-par 70 posted by Daughan and Miller, the duo moved into a tie for first place with the round one leaders. Joy-Connelly and Stasi carded a steady final round of even par 72 to tie for first place with a tournament total 139.

An exciting two hole playoff determined the Champions of the 2016 Women’s International Four-Ball. The teams of Joy-Connelly/Stasi and Daughan/Miller teed up on number 18 for the first playoff hole. With two pars, the ladies continued on to the first hole, second playoff hole, where the Champions were crowned. Daughan and Miller both hit their second shots on the green putting pressure on Stasi to stick her second shot close for a chance at birdie. Stasi missed the green leaving only the team of Daughan and Miller on the green with two looks at birdie. Meghan just missed her chip shot for birdie and knocked in a par (4) for her team. Katie then dunked her birdie putt to win the Championship. This marks Daughan’s second consecutive Women’s International Four-Ball win and Miller’s first FSGA victory. The team of Therese Quinn and Diane Lang had a great tournament posting a second round 72 for a two under-par 142 total and third place finish.

Round one in the Middle Division was led by the team of Christine Martin, from Palm Harbor, and Patrisa Handley, of Sarasota, after they posted the only under-par round of their division. The two scored a three under-par 69 to lead by three strokes over teammates Terri Wirth and Meredith Wolf. Hobe Sound resident, Wirth, and Wolf, of Wellington, carded a round one even par 72. Martin and Handley held on to first place with a round two score of 77, tournament total 146, and a two stroke victory. Two teams tied for second with a tournament total of 148 including: Sisi Hedges/Debbie MookSang and Karen Hale/Ann Fulginiti.

In the Middle Division First Flight, there was a tie for first at the top of the leader board after Tuesday’s round. Wellington residents, Debbie O’Brien and Hanneke Vandenboomen, teamed up to shoot 76 and tie with the team of Wendy Bingham, of Palm Beach, and Tinker Sanger, of North Palm Beach, also posting a 76. Bingham and Sanger prevailed by a slim one stroke to seize first place with a 154 tournament total. O’Brien and Vandenboomen carded a final round 79 to finish in second place.

Forty-eight teams represented by 15 states and two countries made up the 2016 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. Now the team of Charlotte Daughan and Katie Miller can be added to the list esteemed names.

Full Results | Pictures

$500 per team

Membership is NOT required

Please join us for the 69th 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 on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16th-17th 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 three years.   For a look at the 2015 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 amateurs with a valid USGA Handicap Index of 18.0 or less at time of entry
• Minimum age of 18 as of the first day of the Championship
• 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 25th (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 25th
  
  • Championship Division Non-Exempt entries will be processed on a first come first served basis up until the Championship Division reaches capacity

• After Wednesday, December 2nd (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, Monday evening cocktail reception with heavy hor d'oeuvres (cash bar), breakfast before and lunch after both Tuesday and Wednesday's rounds, and gift certificates. 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 15th

• 1:00 PM - Shotgun Practice Round
• 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM – Players’ Cocktail Reception - Included with entry fee (cash bar)

Tuesday, February 16th

• 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 - located upstairs (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, located in upstairs ballroom- Included with entry fee

Wednesday, February 17th

• 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, located in upstairs ballroom - Included with entry fee

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 from the Championship Division with the lowest 36-hole total score.  In the event of a tie for first place in the Championship Division there will be a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff on a hole designated by the Committee to determine the championship team. 

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).

Handicap Requirements

The valid USGA Handicap Indexes used will be from the February 1, 2016 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.

Supporting Sponsor

Imperial Headwear is the official hat sponsor of the Women's International Four-Ball Championship.

Defending Champions

With 48 of the top teams from around the world, Charlotte Daughan and Sarah Matin dethroned back-to-back-to-back Champions Meghan Stasi and Tara Connelly by shooting an impressive 69-72-141. The event was held  at The Wanderer’s Club in Wellington, on February 16-17.

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 - If a player employs a caddie, the caddie MUST walk and 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 West Palm Beach FL Turnpike
2025 Vista Parkway
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 682-9990
Click for Map

$189 per room, per night, plus tax. Call or click here to book online.

Directions to The Wanderers Club

1900 Aero Club Drive
Wellington, FL 33414
(561) 795-3510
Click for Map