MOUNTAINHOME, Pa. — The Women's Eastern Golf Association Amateur championship was held earlier this week. Buck Hill Golf Club in Monroe County hosting this tournament, one of the few still played in a stroke-play format.
The WEGA is one of the oldest and most prestigious amateur golf championships. This year's tournament featured a strong field of ladies from clubs and colleges all over the U.S, including Penn State's Michelle Cox, who also happens to be from the Allentown area.
"It's really cool course. I remember playing it in high school matches and it's awesome that they have it here for the second year in a row," said Cox.
This championship has been an important accomplishment in the careers of many players and champions who have gone on to play professionally. That is the hope for many of this year's players.
"There's a lot of people to look up to. They were talking at the practice round dinner how it's all about tradition. So it's to keep that rolling," Cox said.
Some of the leaders in this year's tournaments, Cox included, have already made a name for themselves with some of the other players.
"I watched her at the Big Ten, so I followed her group around for a little bit so it's really cool to like put on the same greens as her and watch her like behind me play like some incredible golf out here," said Meredith Finger.
16-year-old Finger hopes to continue her golf career into college. This is he first time playing in this tournament and is taking pointers on how to improve.
"I know I'm like one of the youngest in this field. So it's interesting to see all these college players and how they use their course management skills to score low and I just want to like learn from them and do as good as they can," Finger said.
Here's how the 2024 championship standings ended up:
Cox finished second in the tournament behind Kylie Eaton from Rhode Island.
Finger placed 5th overall.