Michigan Women’s Golf Association State Championship
By Tom Lang
It’s pretty rare to have a bonified state tournament that also features fun awards like closest to the pin and skins – especially in multiple competition flights. But that’s the unique combination of competitive fun that drives the Michigan Women’s Golf Association, a 501 C 3 charitable group since its inception in 1986.
The Medalist near Marshall hosted the 39th annual tournament in early July, won overall by Chelsea Collura, age 29, of Wyandotte. The former Madonna University player shot 2-over in 36 holes to best the 2021 Michigan Women's Amateur Kimberly Dinh of Midland. Terry Delcamp of Grand Blanc was third, ahead of Darci Stocker of Davison, Isabella Gimenez de Garcia of Portage and Michigan Golf Hall of Famer and 30-time USGA qualifier Joan Garety of Grand Rapids.
Yet, the overall tournament had 5 flights and woman as old as 76 playing and competing, which Collura praised.
“It’s one of the great things about golf, right? I think the MWGA is great, at any level, any age can play,” Collura said. “And that’s what I really enjoy about golf, you can play it your whole life. No matter what your handicap, you can get out there and compete.
“This is a good two-day stroke play event,” she added. “It wasn’t pretty (in the final round) but I got the job done. For a working person, weekend events are great. I knew there would be some good competition … so it was also a good chance to get some player of the year points through GAM.”
Lowell Weaver, managing partner of The Medalist, answered the call when approached by the MWGA to hold the event in southern mid-Michigan – even providing lunch for the players on both days.
“We feel we have a very nice tournament golf course here,” he said. “So, especially when statewide organizations have an interest in holding a state championship, we feel we have a facility that can handle it. They enjoy themselves and it’s a good test of golf, and hopefully the cream rises to the top.”
Collura added: “This is a good course; narrow off the tees and good, solid par threes.”
Delcamp was closest to the pin of all the various eligible holes over two days – at 3 feet, 6 inches.
“If you’re in an event you don’t think you’re going to win you’re not grinding over every shot, but in an event like this and you have closest to the pin and skins, it’s good to pay a little more attention,” said Delcamp, a 3-time GAM Women’s Senior champion as well.
“Generally speaking, this organization is about having fun in golf,” she said. “And I look forward to this tournament because, yes, it’s competitive… but I think the organization itself is more about having fun in golf. I think the USGA goes crazy overboard making everything so darn hard, that they take all the fun out of it. But this organization is more about women enjoying the game.”
Background:
The MWGA’s goal is to foster and support amateur golf by providing a forum to educate, mentor and develop amateur female golfers, including the children in its ‘Girls Golf Program,’ on the rules and values of the game. This is done by conducting and supporting competitions, educational clinics, fitness and nutrition seminars and other events that benefit members. The MWGA has partnered with women’s golf associations across the state, region and country, including the LPGA, USGA and GAM.
MWGA offers opportunities for different types of competitions, but also to introduce people to others who share their same love and respect for the game, like honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence and responsibility. Many senior members stay with MWGA after retirement, relocations, personal challenges and tragedies, due in part to the friendships and support they have found. MWGA is not just a golf organization, it’s a women’s organization.
