Ninety-four years of an elite championship, and 2025 marks just the second time the state of Washington will host it.

Such is true of the Ladies National Golf Association (LNGA) Amateur Championship, with its 95th iteration being held at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash., on July 22-24.

The championship is one of five in the Women’s Elite Golf Series, meaning it certainly draws a talented field. That’s shown through the accomplishments of its former players, many of whom have collegiate accolades, Curtis Cup experience and USGA medals to their names.

Ann Swanson is one of 15 serving on the LNGA’s board of directors, having done so since 2007. A renowned local golf figure and Pacific Northwest Golf Hall-of-Famer, she knows high-prestige golf, and how this year’s championship fits that definition.

“This has been a pretty consistent stop for all the top amateur players,” Swanson said. “But now that it’s one of these five elite events, it really makes it more prestigious.”

Swanson played golf collegiately at Gray’s Harbor College, and has coached there, at Seattle University and, currently, Pacific Lutheran University. And as a player, she racked up nearly two dozen local, regional and national titles, and earned three appearances in the U.S. Women’s Open.

She also authored and published the centennial history books for both the Washington State Women’s Golf Association and the Seattle Women’s Golf Association.

So yes, her connection to the game in the Evergreen State could hardly be stronger. Serving on the board has allowed her to prioritize bringing the LNGA experience there.

“The LNGA has created lifelong friendships and memories for everyone involved,” she said. “As I came through the association in various roles, part of my goal at one time was to bring this championship to the state of Washington.”

Swanson’s efforts first paid off in 2015, when she successfully lobbied for Yakima Country Club to host that year’s LNGA Championship.

Her passion stems from it being the first national event she competed in, when it was held in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1968 and known as the Women’s Trans-National Championship.

“It’s just been a wonderful way to give back to the game,” she said of her directorial role. “And we are very excited about bringing this prestigious event out here.”

Serving alongside Swanson on the LNGA board are Cathy Mant and Allison Watson, who have done so since 2021. For this year’s championship, both will serve as Rules officials.

Like Swanson, Mant is a Pacific Northwest Golf Hall-of-Famer with collegiate coaching experience, serving as the head coach of the women’s golf team at Georgia State from 2000-2019. Her connection to the area comes a little further south in Eugene, where she found success in Oregon Amateur Championships, before going on to play 10 years on the LPGA Tour. In 2014 she received the USGA’s Ike Grainger Award for serving 25 years as a volunteer for that governing body. With her ties to the Pacific Northwest very much still intact, she’s excited for what this championship can offer.

“The local community has the opportunity to see the best [players] in the world,” she said. “Out of this tournament will come some of the future stars of the LPGA. I know that so many times when people come, they’re just amazed at how far the women can hit it.”

Watson’s professional background includes a 26-year tenure as a Microsoft executive. She began to extensively advocate for women’s golf as a board member for both the LNGA and Hawaii State Junior Golf Association after connecting with decorated pro Mary Bea Porter-King (also on the LNGA board). Serving in those roles while also Rules officiating, Watson has seen the game’s impact.

“There’s an incredible opportunity for Washingtonians to understand the powerful force in women’s golf,” she said. “To basically get to know the players close up.”

The Home Course is an ideal venue to showcase these players, with its history of hosting elite amateur events for women. Co-owned and operated by WA Golf and the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, the course has previously hosted the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, the Washington Women’s Amateur, the PNGA Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur championships, among many other local, regional, and national championships.

Not lost on either Watson or Mant is that the championship has reached its 95th year, and second in Washington. The championship has been held at a Northwest venue on two other occasions, both at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club (1961, 1974).

Regarding future goals for the championship, Watson indicated she’d potentially look for a “10-year repeat” of the LNGA Championship returning to the Pacific Northwest, as well as for one its champions to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur. She also would like it to provide hope for the next generation of the region’s players.

“[We want] to see the junior golfers in the Pacific Northwest look up to the people who play women’s golf at the highest level and see that if they’re growing up around here, they can get that too,” she said. “Find heroes that are near you, and look like you, and you can be around.”

Mant is similarly aware of what LNGA success can lead to.

“It’s almost a steppingstone,” she said. “You win this kind of tournament, you’re the quality that can make it in the future, if that’s what you want your life to be, as far as the very premier level of golf.”