The New York State Golf Association says 63 of the state’s top female amateur golfers will compete at Pinehaven Country Club in Guilderland on July 20-21 for the 96th NYS Women’s Amateur and the 17th NYS Women’s Mid‑Amateur championships.
The combined field is split into a 51-player Amateur division (54 holes across two days with a 36‑hole cut to the top 30 and ties) and a 12-player Mid‑Amateur division (36 holes, no cut). The winner of the Amateur earns an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Western New York competitors highlighted
The NYSGA release names several players with Western New York ties, including 14‑year‑old Natalie Wasik of Lockport Town & Country Club and veteran champion Kim Kaul of East Aurora Country Club. Both will be among the players to watch when rounds begin Monday morning.
Notable names and defending champions
Hayden Knapp of Glens Falls Country Club comes in as the defending Women’s Amateur champion. Natalie Grainger is the two‑time defending Women’s Mid‑Am champion. The Amateur field also features multiple past NYSGA titleholders and junior standouts such as Nina Choe, Lily Zhang and Julia Zigrossi.
Schedule and format
Practice rounds and registration are set for Sunday, July 19. Monday (July 20) will host Rounds 1 and 2 (Amateur and Mid‑Am tee times are scheduled separately); Tuesday (July 21) finishes the final 18 holes for Amateur players and concludes Mid‑Am competition. Awards ceremonies are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Pairings, live scoring and course photos are posted by the NYSGA on its event pages.
This item is based on a NYSGA press release distributed July 17, 2026.
