Golfers from Ohio Make a Point to Attend LNGA Amateur Championship
Mason, OH – The Ladies National Golf Association (LNGA) is set to host its 93rd Annual
Amateur Championship July 25 – 27 at The Grizzly Golf and Social Lodge in Mason, Ohio with
several notable Ohio golfers on the roster to play.
The field will have nearly 60 golfers at the start of the match on Tuesday. About six of those
players are from Ohio, including residents from the Mason and Cincinnati area. 54 holes will be
played to determine a champion at The Grizzly.
The Grizzly Golf and Social Lodge is run by Cate Becker, the President of Recreation
Management Services and General Manager. Becker has collaborated with LNGA board
members and the Grizzly staff to coordinate the planning, marketing, communications, and
operational support for the tournament.
According to Becker, The Grizzly’s goal was to provide the LNGA, the players, and spectators
with a great experience while golfing at The Grizzly.
“We have great support from local golfers from Mason and beyond,” Becker said. “Their
dedication and participation over the years is what has made The Grizzly successful and an
incredible place to play golf.”
Becker said The Grizzly welcomes players of all ages and abilities to play, and that she believes
that that is why The Grizzly has such passionate support from golfers and the community.
“They understand The Grizzly’s past and look forward to its bright and promising future,” Becker
said.
Local Ohio Players
Gina Bamberger, a 32-year-old golfer from Cincinnati, Ohio, played in the 2018 U.S. Women’s
Mid-Amateur. She’s the daughter of 1969 NCAA Individual Champion Bob Clark.
Faith Choi, a 20-year-old golfer originally from Maryland is representing The Ohio State
University. She was awarded the Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and WGCA All-American Scholar
awards.
Rachel DiDonato, a 20-year-old from Akron, Ohio, is representing Northern Kentucky
University in this tournament. DiDonato played golf at Green High School in Uniontown, Ohio,
where she and her team qualified for two State Tournament appearances, claiming a 4th place
finish for her team in 2020 as well as a 3rd place finish for herself at the Sectional Tournament
in 2020. Rachel placed second in the 2023 Women’s Stark County Amateur, posting a score of
156.
Jenna Harter, a 20-year-old representing the University of Dayton, is from Mason, Ohio. Harter
went to William Mason High School where she earned All-City Second Team honors in 2018
and 2020 and Third Team accolades in 2019. She was also named to the 2022-23 MAAC
All-Academic Team.
Eleanor Hudepohl, a 20-year-old golfer from Cincinnati, Ohio, is representing Creighton
University. Hudepohl was named BIG EAST Women’s Golfer of the Week for Creighton after
winning the Big O Classic in Oct. 2022. She also set a Creighton single-season record with a
75.17 scoring average in 30 rounds.
Sydney Leyerle, a 20-year-old from Helena, Ohio, is representing Indiana Wesleyan University.
This past week Leyerle competed in the 2023 Northern Ohio PGA Collegiate Series in
Youngstown and placed first out of female golfers aged 18-22.
Notable Past Champions: Kelly Xu, Rachel Keuhn, Paige Mackenzie, Brittany Lang,
Nancy Lopez, Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg
ABOUT THE LADIES NATIONAL GOLF ASSOCIATION (LNGA)
The LNGA is a national volunteer women’s amateur golf association founded in 1927 to promote
amateur golf and good sportsmanship. LNGA events are hosted at venues across the United
States and our past champions have gone on to be LPGA Hall of Fame Members, Major
Winners, and Solheim and Curtis Cup Team Players and Captains. The LNGA Amateur, the
Women’s Mid-Amateur, and the Senior Women’s Amateur qualify for World Amateur Golf
Ranking (WAGR) points. LNGA is proud to have the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (St.
Louis, Missouri) as its USGA Allied Golf Partner.
Media Contact:
Tobi Herron
LNGA Marketing Committee Chair
tobi@inspiremotives.com
https://ladiesnationalgolf.org