The championship season is in full swing as the Florida Senior Open just concluded and the Women’s Mid-Amateur is about to begin. This year, the event will be held May 3-5 at the Club at the Strand in Naples. The championship consists of three divisions: Championship, Middle, and Forward. The Championship Division will compete over 54-holes of individual stroke play, while the Middle and Forward Divisions will compete over 36-holes of individual stroke play.
While the field is teeming with talented players, we curated a list of five must watch players who are in the field for the weekend.
Ashley Zagers | Oldsmar | Round 1 Tee Time: 11:18 AM
Zagers captured the victory at the Women’s Mid-Amateur in 2023 after firing scores of 74-72-76 to outlast the field by one stroke. Zagers’ other accomplishments last season included making the cut and finishing tied-for-twenty-sixth at the Florida Women’s Open, securing a top-20 finish at the Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship with a final round of 69, and advancing to match play at the 94th Women’s Amateur. Zagers also competed in the Women’s Florida Cup matches as a member of the North Team. She was one of only two players to capture three wins and, subsequently, helped her team capture the win over South Florida. In addition, the defending champion also captured the victory at the 2022 Women’s Mid-Amateur, and advancing to the Round of 32 at the 93rd Women’s Amateur Championship.
Moreover, for the current season, Zagers competed in the 77th International Women’s Four-Ball Championship with partner, Meghan Stasi, and the duo secured a top-five finish after firing rounds of 68-73. Zagers hopes to continue her reign and win the championship for the third consecutive year.
Kim Benedict | Bonita Springs | Round 1 Tee Time: 11:54 AM
Benedict is another past champion in the field after capturing the victory in 2021 with rounds of 71-73. Last year, Benedict secured a tied-for-third place finish at the championship. Less than a month later, Benedict also made an appearance at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship where she advanced to the Round of 32. She also captured a victory at a Women’s Winter Series event along with making the cut and finishing in the top-30 at the Florida Women’s Open. Benedict is certainly a player to watch this week as she competes to earn yet another championship title.
Alexa Hammer | Jupiter | Round 1 Tee Time: 11:18 AM
Hammer started off her 2024 season with a win at the 77th Women’s International Four-Ball with partner, Gaby Coello, who is also a contender in the field this weekend. Hammer and her partner posted rounds of 70-69 to overcome a three shot deficit and capture the win.
Hammer also had a successful 2023 season as she captured a top-10 in the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, and she competed in the Women’s Florida Cup matches as a member of the South Team. Do not be surprised to see Hammer at the top of the leaderboard for the second time this season.
Terrill Samuel | Boynton Beach | Round 1 Tee Time: 12:03 PM
Samuel has played in only two events this season and has captured a first place finish at both. She secured a first place finish in the Middle Division at the 77th Women’s International Four-Ball with partner, Lisa McGill. The pair posted rounds of 69-68, outlasting the division by five strokes. In addition, Samuel captured the victory for the third consecutive year at the Women’s Senior Amateur Championship in April.
Her 2023 season included two USGA championship appearances, and in addition to her win her season also included two top-15 finishes in FSGA championships. She also competed in the Women’s Florida Cup Matches as a member of the South Team. This will be Samuel’s first year competing in the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and she is looking to add yet another win to her resume.
Kelli Taulbee | Tampa | Round 1 Tee Time: 11:00 AM
Taulbee is must watch player this week as she is no stranger to the top of the leaderboard. In 2023, she advanced all the way to the Semifinals at the 94th Women’s Amateur Championship and she also captured a top-15 at the 29th Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship. Taulbee also competed in the Women’s Florida Cup matches as a member of the North Team and helped her team to victory over South Florida. This will be her first time playing in the Women’s Mid-Amateur since 2022 in which she captured a tied-for-fourth place finish posting rounds of 69-74-77.
Don’t forget to follow along with live scoring as the championship begins on Friday. This is simply a short list of five unquestionably talented competitors in the field, however as most are aware, a trophy is up for grabs come Sunday, and the game of golf shows no favoritism.
Championship Division Round One Pairings | Middle & Forward Division Pairings
