Over three decades before she left the Met Area, Helen from Montclair GC was the model of consistency as she played in team matches, Golf Illustrated Matches, Griscom Cup Matches, the French American Challenge and WMGA and Garden State individual and partner tournaments. She won the 1980 Brother-Sister Championship, the 1993 Match Play Championship, the 1997 Sanford Cup Championship, the 1996 and 1997 Senior Championship, the 1994, 1998 and 1999 Better Ball Championship, the 2000 and 2001 Mackie and the 1999 and 2003 Sis Choate. In addition, she served on the WMGA Board for multiple years as the Intercity/Interdistrict Chair and Course Rating Chair.

Cynthia Alexandre Foshay (Mrs. DeWitt Alexandre) – member of Somerset Hills and WMGA Honorary Member (1979). Cynnie, as she was known, won her share of WMGA tournaments in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, including the Mother-Daughter with both her daughters, the Husband-Wife, and the Better Ball A. However, it was her dedication to the game of golf, including terms as WMGA president, vice-president and tournament chair, that is most memorable.

Petite but mighty is Laura, who played out of Bonnie Briar, Westchester Hills and Whippoorwill for the four decades that she played golf in the Met Area. As a junior she competed on two Junior Intercity teams and that team play continued as she played on and captained Griscom Cup Teams and Westchester/CT teams for the Sports Illustrated Cup. Golf was always a family affair for the Algieros, so it’s no surprise that she won the Mother-Daughter three times with her mom Claire and the Brother-Sister twice with brother Nick. And then there are four Better Ball Championships, one Mackie title, three Met Am titles, two Senior Championships, three Sis Choate titles, three Stroke Player Championships and Player of the Year honors in 2014! Of note, Laura was racking up wins in the TriCounty Golf Association’s tournaments, too. Laura’s best showing in the USGA’s Senior Women’s Amateur was reaching the quarterfinals in 2012. Her love for the game also extended to volunteering, so Laura served as the WMGA’s Team Competition Chair, as well as the President of Tri-County. There’s no doubt that golf, in some form, will always be a key component of Laura’s life.

Polly Andrews (Mrs. Jonathan Thorne) – Dubbed the “First Lady of Golf,” by a local reporter, Polly, of Innis Arden, won the Match Play Championship in her first title quest in 1935.  Her victory ensured her a spot on NY’s Griscom Cup team the next year, and though she won her matches, the Cup was claimed by Mass Golf that year.

Sylvia Annenberg (Mrs. Leo G. Federman/Mrs. Charles Leichner) – Dubbed the “Fair Woman of the Fairways,” Sylvia was a multiple winner throughout the 1930s and 1940s, representing Lakeville, Glen Oaks and Fresh Meadow Country Club. While her name is engraved on the Match Play and Stroke Play trophies, she truly made the headlines when she played in a 1937 Charity Match with the two “Babes,” Ruth and Didrickson, and a golf hustler out of Hollywood, John Montague. Over 10,000 spectators followed the match down the fairways of Fresh Meadow, and the crowd forced the players to quit after nine holes, with Annenberg and Montague down two to the Babes. 

Playing out of Raritan Valley, Maura and her dad Don won Low Net in the Father-Daughter Championship at the same time that she was setting records on the Rutgers Golf Team. In 1988, she was runner-up to Karen Noble in the Match Play Championship and then tried the Futures Tour but the touring life was not for her. Maura returned and won the WMGA’s Better Ball Championship twice, played on the French American Challenge Team, the NJ team for the Golf Illustrated Trophy, and, as a member of Montclair GC for a few years, shared in the team’s celebration as they claimed consecutive Interdistrict Titles in ‘96 and ‘97. Maura moved on to coach college golf, first at Rutgers for 21 years and then at Drew University for six years.

Joanne Barr (Mrs. William Tracy) – Her golf pro dad wanted her to play golf, so Joanne did and won the WMGA’s Junior Girls’ title in 1942.  However, Joanne liked strapping on her ice skates, so for a short time she actually toured with the Ice Follies. Yet, she continued to play golf and over the course of four decades, Joanne’s name was engraved on nearly every trophy in the WMGA collection. As a member of Glen Ridge and then  Essex Fells, Joanne won 6 Shore Titles and after many close calls, finally won the Match Play in 1971. She continued to coach skaters, and, in fact, credits a broken arm that she sustained during a coaching session with curing her hook!

Jean Bartholomew – Jean, playing out of Garden City, competed in WMGA junior events in the early 80’s and won the Maureen Orcutt in 1983, the same year she made it through the 2nd round of match play for the USGA Junior Girls’ title.  While playing collegiate golf at Duke, she won the WMGA Match Play title in 1986 and the Stroke Play title in 1988. Jean turned pro in 1990, played on the LPGA tour for 15 years, plays on the Legends Tour and is currently a teaching professional at Engineers Country Club. She has also won the Met PGA’s Women’s Open three times, most recently in 2020 at Engineers.

Ann Beard – member of Essex Fells and WMGA Honorary Member (1992). From the time she moved to the Met area in the 1960’s and joined the WMGA, Ann played in many local events, as well as nine USGA championships. Her two wins were with her daughter Kendra: the Better Ball A in 1982 and the Mother-Daughter in 1985.  While she did win the Essex Fells club championship over 20 times, as well as the NJ Senior Amateur title, Ann’s greatest accomplishments revolved around her dedication to the game. Beyond serving on the WMGA board, including one term as president, Ann is an expert on the Rules of Golf and served as the Chair of the USGA Women’s Committee. In 1991, she was honored with the MGA’s Distinguished Service Award, and her expertise in golf administration was further recognized when she was named the first recipient of the Judy Bell Award in 1998.  The award was created to honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to women’s and/or junior girls’ golf in the metropolitan area.

When your family is a golfing family at Essex Fells CC, there’s a good chance you’ll be playing at a young age. Beginning in 1976, Kendra competed in WMGA and other local tournaments. She was on three Junior Intercity teams and won the WMGA Junior Championship in 1981.  She also had her name engraved on the Father-Daughter Championship Trophy in 1980 and the Mother-Daughter Championship Trophy in 1985. In addition, when Kendra was a freshman at Wake Forest, she partnered with her mom, Ann, to win the 1982 Better Ball “A” Championship. Kendra was the Director of Women’s Competition for the USGA for 16 years, was a USGA Rules Seminar Instructor and officiated at Women and Men’s US Opens, the Masters and the British Open. In 2018 she was elected to the USGA’s Executive Committee, and while no longer in the Met area, Kendra’s golf connection remains strong.

Colleen Binkiewicz – Playing out of the Forest Hill Field Club, Colleen was a double crown winner of the Match Play and Stroke Play Championships in 1979 and 1983. The 1979 championships were noted for the surge of “youngsters” trying to topple the likes of “B” Bower and Judy Cooperstein. Following her winning 1983 season, Colleen went to Tulsa and played on the mini tour for a while, and she is currently a therapist who works with children who are on the spectrum and have special needs.

A member of Brookhaven, Georgianna won the Match Play Championship in 1907 and 1908. Earlier, in 1904, she won the Women’s Amateur at Merion.

Carolyn Cassidy Cudone (Mrs. Philip Cudone) – member of Crestmont, The Knoll, Montclair, and Forest Hill and WMGA Honorary Member (1973). Carolyn’s first win as a WMGA member was at the 1938 Windle Challenge. She and her mother won four Mother-Daughter Championships and she had her name engraved on the Match Play trophy five times between 1955 and 1965. However, it was after she turned 50 that she forever etched her name in golf history by winning the USGA’s Senior Women’s Amateur for five consecutive years from 1968-72. She is remembered as a “gracious winner and a cheerful loser who loved to laugh.”

Marion “Sis” Choate (Mrs. Allison Choate) – member of Apawamis and WMGA Honorary Member (1984). Sis competed in WMGA tournaments from the 1950’s through the 1970’s. She won her club championship at Apawamis 22 times, the USGA’s Senior Women’s Amateur in 1963, and was the Captain of the US Curtis Cup Team in 1974. When the inaugural WMGA Kirkland Pinehurst was held in 1969, she and her partner, Maureen Orcutt, were the winners. In 1989, the Pinehurst was renamed in her honor; a fitting tribute since she won the event four times.

A WMGA founder and member of Ardsley Golf Club. First treasurer of the WMGA (1899-1993), Mrs. Dewitt-Cochrane was a club champion at Ardsley, and like the other 4 founders, competed in the 1899 Women’s Amateur.v

Diana D’Alessio – Diana decided to give up horseback riding for golf and never looked back. The Newton GC golfer would win the Orcutt title three times and was the Junior Girls Champion once. Then, while playing collegiate golf at Furman,  Diana won the WMGA’s Stroke Play Championship in 1994 and captured consecutive Match Play titles in 1995 and 1996.  She was also the first time recipient of the WMGA’s Player of the Year award in 1995, and she claimed the honor again in 1996. Fulfilling a decision she made after attending a golf tournament with her dad, Diana turned pro in 1999 and spent 12 years on the LPGA tour before joining the Ladies European Tour (LET). Diana has since retired from professional golf.

Pam, who played out of Winged Foot GC, was an outstanding junior golfer in the late 1970s. She earned the title “Cardiac Kid,” along with Paula Slivinsky, from the local press as she went up against other young rising stars, as well as the seasoned players of the time, such as Bea Bower and Ann Probert. Pam played on the Inter-City Girls Team for the WMGA, as well as competed in the Griscom Cup Matches. She won the Junior Girls Mixed Pinehurst in 1978 and 1979, captured Low Net Honors in the 1979 Stroke Play Championship and won the 1981 and 1982 Father-Daughter Championship. Pam segued from golf to breeding horses, including the 1994 Derby winner, Go For Gin!

While Charlotte Glutting dominated during the 1930s, it was Charlotte De Cozen who moved into the limelight during the 1950s-70s. Referred to originally as the Longhitting Lass from Parsippany, Charlotte was a member of Montclair GC, Baltusrol GC and Westchester CC. Her breakthrough win was the 1951 Shore Cup Championship. She was in the running many times over two decades for the Match Play title but could never claim it. However, partnering with Joanne Barr Tracy, Charlotte won the Better Ball “A” twice, and thanks to liberal genealogy, Charlotte and her brother-in-law David Baldwin claimed the Sister-Brother Championship in 1955 and 1958. Charlotte was also lucky enough to play on Griscom Cup teams, as well as the WCC team when it won the Interdistrict Championship in 1977.

Phoebe (Mrs. Thorne) Dempsey – Phoebe, who played in many WMGA tournaments from the 1960’s through the ‘80’s, was a member of St. George’s, Meadow Brook and Piping Rock. She won the Match Play title in 1969 and credited her lessons with PGA teaching and playing pro Henry Picard, who Ben Hogan called the greatest teacher. Phoebe also played on the 1971 Griscom Cup team, won the Senior title in 1972, as well as a variety of other team events.

Val’s name first appeared in the WMGA archives in 1983 when she was a member of the Junior Intercity team. Since that time, this Montclair GC member has crafted her own “Tiny Tale.” The redhead can be spotted throughout the years on the many Montclair teams lifting the Founders Cup, as well as having her name engraved on the 1992 Mackie Championship and 1997 Sis Choate Championship trophies. Her dedication to golf is evident in the time that she spent as WMGA Met Rep, Team Captain, Treasurer, and President, and she is the current Foundation Chair. Obviously her mom, Louise, who was Tournament Chair, set a great example! Val was there to hoist the Griscom Cup as President in 2015 and serve as Captain of the American Team in the French American Challenge in 2018 and, indubitably, she will continue to be a part of WMGA history.

Marianne Doctor (Mrs. Kenneth Springer) – For over 50 years, Marianne played in WMGA events. She won the Junior Girls and Maureen Orcutt tournaments twice. In 1960, her dad, a golf pro, submitted her name and photo to Golf Digest, and Marianne, was one of the finalists in their yearly feature, “Most Beautiful Golfer.” While she did not ultimately win that title, she certainly has earned a bonanza of titles over the years.  As a member of  White Beeches, Cedar Brook, Ridgeway and Brae Burn, Marianne has won 2 Shore titles, the Mother-Daughter title, 3 Better Ball titles and an amazing 12 Husband-Wife titles!

Debbie Doniger – As a junior golfer, Debbie Doniger played out of Fairview CC, was on the WMGA’s Intercity Girls Team and won the Maureen Orcutt in 1985 and 1987 and the Junior Girls Championship in 1986 and 1987.  Debbie played on the UNC golf team, which she captained for three years, and won the ACC Individual title. When home, she competed in WMGA tournaments and captured the WMGA Match Play title in 1992 and was the 1993 Stroke Play Champion. Debbie would go on to compete professionally on the European Tour, as well as mini tours. These days, in addition to being the Director of Instruction at GlenArbor GC, Debbie contributes to Golf Magazine, Golf Digest and can be heard on Sirius XMPGATour radio’s live tournament coverage.

Bobby started playing golf during WWII and was a member of Hollywood GC, where she won multiple club championships. While playing golf was important to Bobby, so was volunteering, so it’s no surprise that she served on the WMGA Board as the Junior Girls Chair in the 1960s. Then in 1970, a week after she took the USGA’s Group B prize for 55-60 year olds, Bobby won the WMGA Senior Championship.

While Karen’s association with the WMGA only lasted a few years, the golfer from Westchester CC certainly packed those years with excitement. Playing with Margaret Platt during the Stroke Play Championship in 1990, Karen aced the 17th hole and won the Low Net Trophy. The next year, she dueled and won the Match Play Championship. She played on two Griscom Cup teams, and she was also undefeated in her matches during the French American Challenge when the Americans won. She took a job in PR the next year and could not defend her title, but she certainly has been a presence in sports ever since, including the LPGA and the NHL, with her marketing expertise.

As a young golfer out of Tuxedo GC, Allison played in WMGA tournaments, including Family Day championships with her mom and dad.  She went on to play golf at Winthrop University and spent the summer competing in golf events on the local and national level. Over the span of four years, Allison won three Mother Daughter Championships with her mom, Linda, the Match Play Championship in 2001, the Inaugural Met Amateur in 2002, and the Stroke Play Championship in 2004. During those years, she also won the NJ Amateur and qualified for three US Women’s Amateur Championships. Allison then went on to play professionally from 2004-2009 on the LPGA and LPGA Futures Tour.  These days she is a teaching pro at the Dyer Golf Academy in South Carolina.

For 29 years Mary was Spring Lake GC’s Club Champion, a two-time NJ State Women’s Am champion, and she won many trophies and titles playing in NJ and WMGA tournaments. In partner events, Mary won the Better Ball Championship four times, the Mackie six times, the Sis Choate four times and the Sister-Sister Championship five times. Mary was a frequent member of Griscom Cup, Golf Illustrated and French American Challenge teams, and she vied for the Match Play and Stroke Play titles for over two decades against some of the best players in the Met Area. Mary finally had her name engraved on the Sanford Cup in 2006, and the left-hander’s smile and steady, gritty golf play will long be remembered.For 29 years Mary was Spring Lake GC’s Club Champion, a two-time NJ State Women’s Am champion, and she won many trophies and titles playing in NJ and WMGA tournaments. In partner events, Mary won the Better Ball Championship four times, the Mackie six times, the Sis Choate four times and the Sister-Sister Championship five times. Mary was a frequent member of Griscom Cup, Golf Illustrated and French American Challenge teams, and she vied for the Match Play and Stroke Play titles for over two decades against some of the best players in the Met Area. Mary finally had her name engraved on the Sanford Cup in 2006, and the left-hander’s smile and steady, gritty golf play will long be remembered.