In its 35 years of existence, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf has transformed millions of lives and prepared generations of girls to excel on and off the course.
Behind 650 chapters across the United States and around the world, the program has offered girls of all backgrounds the opportunity to learn the game in a fun and safe environment. In addition to local chapter activities, Girls Golf has provided girls with behind-the-scenes experiences at LPGA tournaments and skill-building workshops via its LPGA Leadership Academies held each summer.
Despite all these opportunities, there was still something missing. Girls Golf was lacking a national tournament where top players in the program could showcase their skills and competitive drive. That changed in June of 2024 with the inaugural LPGA*USGA Girls Golf National Championship presented by the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour.
To date, this is the crowning achievement of the One Million MORE Girls campaign, which was launched by the LPGA Foundation in 2023 after surpassing one million members in program history. This campaign seeks to reach the next million girls by 2030 and to continue to transform their lives by providing more leadership opportunities and tournament exposure.
“As we strive to get more girls playing this incredible game, it was important for us to provide the opportunity for these extremely talented young women to have more competitive playing experiences as well,” said Nancy Henderson, LPGA Foundation President. “The LPGA*USGA Girls Golf National Championship embodies the belief that every girl, regardless of background, should have the opportunity to showcase her talent on the grandest stage.”
This championship certainly met the grandest stage criteria, as 144 players descended upon historic Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club from June 24-27. A four-time U.S. Women’s Open host, it was only fitting for a place rooted in women’s golf excellence to serve as the inaugural Girls Golf National Championship site.
“Our slogan is ‘Little Girls, BIG Dreams’ and that could not be more fitting here at Pine Needles,” explained Stephanie Peareth, Director of Operations for the LPGA Foundation. “These girls are literally walking where the pros have walked, which is really special as they set out to create their own lasting memories in the game.”
Providing opportunities such as these is something the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour (PKBGT) has been doing since 2007. Founded as an offshoot of a Girls Golf site and a way to provide more competitive opportunities for girls in the Carolinas, the PKBGT has since grown into a national tour with thousands of participants competing across three divisions in dozens of tournaments each year. As the competitive arm of Girls Golf, the PKBGT provides all of its players with membership to the program.
Even with such a robust tournament schedule, the team behind the Peggy Kirk Bell Tour recognized the importance of supporting this championship and the impact it can have moving forward on the junior golf landscape.
“This signature event for girls really illustrates the growth of their game and presents such a great opportunity moving forward to bring players from across the country and around the world to this elite event that we’re putting together here,” said Mike Parker, Executive Director of the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour. “I know that Peggy Kirk Bell would be proud of what we’ve created and the work we’re going to continue putting in to bring more girls into the game.”
This excitement was only heightened once the players and their families arrived on-site. Many of these players are accustomed to playing in junior tournaments at the local and regional level, but this was a step above. Upon arriving on-site, players were quick to notice the LPGA Tour-quality signage placed around the clubhouse and throughout the grounds. Even the parents were in awe of the spectacle of it all.
“This tournament felt on par with, if not better than, any championship events we’ve participated in before,” said Kevin Cox, father of Discovery Division participant Kay. “For an 8-year-old to have the chance to play on a course like Pine Needles was truly exceptional, and to have it feel like a tour event made it even better. As a parent, I really appreciated how easy and enjoyable the team made it for us on-site too.”
This elevated tournament experience was only possible given the support of partners like presenting sponsor Marie Birdie. Investment in youth athletics, especially for girls, is becoming increasingly important, and that was not lost on partners of the tournament.
“As a brand, our goals are to create a space where girls feel comfortable, to provide them with opportunities like this, and to make fashion and style that is just for them,” explained Marie Birdie owner Rebekah Alfond. “Just like with women’s golf, we’re in a growth phase as well, so it was really important for us to support this championship and to be here on-site where we can talk to the girls and hear their feedback on everything.”
Marie Birdie certainly led by example, providing each tournament participant with gifts including a pullover, knitted headcover, and tote bag. Other partners followed suit, offering gifts and product samples to players at registration and the daily partner activation zone located in the Bell Pavilion outside of the clubhouse.
To ensure that all girls had the chance to see their dreams come true, the LPGA Foundation offered scholarships to 31 participants who otherwise would not have had the means to cover tournament expenses. Of these girls, three were from international sites. Financial standing aside, these girls were nominated by their site directors based on their skill level and consistent participation in the site.
This type of support is crucial to growing the game, which is why PKBGT alumna Emilia Migliaccio became a Board Member of Girls Golf America. As someone who has competed at the highest levels of the game, from the Augusta National Women’s Amateur to winning the 2023 NCAA Team Championship with Wake Forest, Migliaccio has an appreciation for all the amazing opportunities the game can provide.
“Looking back at my junior days, if I was playing in a tournament associated with the LPGA, that’s as exciting as it gets for a young girl,” she explained. “Most girl golfers dream of playing on tour, so to get the chance to be affiliated and play in a tournament with the LPGA name on it, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Migliaccio’s commitment to supporting these girls goes much further than the board room, as she made a point to come on-site as part of a pre-tournament round table alongside former LPGA Tour player and 2014 AIG Women’s Open champion Mo Martin. Afterwards, both Martin and Migliaccio spent one-on-one time with the girls, offering advice and taking photos. This proved to be one of the highlights of the week for many girls in the field, but especially Alexis Faieta.
“The panel with Emilia and Mo really stood out to me and my mom because we had never seen something like that at other events I’ve played in,” Faieta explained. “Not only was it inspiring to hear them talk about their golf journeys, but it felt good to hear people speak who have been through these same events.”
As for the competition itself, Madelyn Dickerson won the Discovery Division in a sudden-death playoff following two nine-hole rounds of play. In the Futures National Division, Canadian Anna Wu came from behind with a final round 2-under-par 70 to win by two. Lastly, the top player in the PKBGT Performance Index, Riley Grimm, managed to get up-and-down from a greenside bunker on the final hole for par to secure the Bell National title at 3-under 213. Winning was certainly the goal all along, but it was just a small part of what these girls took away from the week.
“This was such an unforgettable experience,” Grimm shared. “I got to meet so many new girls from all over the world and to be able to play at such a historic course was special.”
With the first LPGA*USGA Girls Golf National Championship now in the books, the focus shifts to making it bigger and better for next year. But if you ask Faieta, the tournament is already making waves.
“I’ve been playing golf for 11 years, but this tournament is a special one because it really feels like the game, for girls especially, is heading in the right direction.”
Congratulations Riley Grimm! The future of the LPGA.