UNITED STATES WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

golf tournament conducted annually in the United States for female golfers with handicaps of five or less. A field of 150 players, chosen by sectional qualifying tournaments, plays 36 holes of medal play (fewest strokes), and the 32 lowest scores compete in four rounds of match play (most holes won). The first championship in 1895 was at medal play but after that at match play in the final rounds. The tournament was conducted until 1926 by the United States Golf Association and thereafter by its Women's Committee.