Kim-Schaad’s Second Act: Wins Mid-Am Thriller in Extra Holes at Monterey Peninsula

Ina Kim-Schaad, 42, of Jupiter, Fla., claimed her second U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur title in dramatic fashion on Thursday, draining an 18-foot birdie putt on the fifth extra hole to defeat Hanley Long, 28, of Clarksville, Tenn., on Monterey Peninsula Country Club’s Dunes Course. 

The victory came in record-setting fashion — not only was the match the longest championship final in U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur history at 23 holes, but it capped a week that saw multiple milestones, including a record number of championship entries and the youngest field in championship history. 

USGA Announces 14 New State Junior Team Programs Under U.S. National Development Program Umbrella

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the launch of the State Junior Team Program in 14 states that will support the pipeline for elite junior golfers ages 13-18 into the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP). 

The 14 states added to the program are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota, Texas and Washington. Teams are created through the USGA’s close collaboration with its Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) and the PGA of America Sections. Rosters for these 14 teams will be released after the conclusion of the 2026 season. 

Kim-Schaad Returns to the Final, Long Joins Her After Dominant Semifinal Win

Ina Kim-Schaad, 42, of Jupiter, Fla., the 2019 champion, earned her place back in the final match of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, defeating co-medalist Katherine Zhu, 25, of San Jose, Calif., 3 and 2 on Wednesday afternoon at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. She will face Henley Long, 27, of Clarksville, Tenn., in Thursday's 18-hole final.

“Pinch me,” said Kim-Schaad. “I mean, this was obviously my goal coming in for sure. I've worked ready hard this year to try and get here. But, yeah, it's still pretty unbelievable. I'm super excited and grateful that I get to play this course one more time. I'm excited.” 

Prime Video to Broadcast PGA TOUR The Skins Game on Black Friday

For the first time since 2008, “The Skins Game,” one of golf’s most celebrated television franchises, will officially return on Black Friday with Prime Video set to exclusively broadcast the special event globally, produced by Pro Shop and Propagate Content in coordination with PGA TOUR Studios.

Slated to compete in the relaunched “The Skins Game” are 2025 FedExCup Champion, 2025 Ryder Cup points leader and seven-time DP World Tour champion Tommy Fleetwood, 16-time PGA TOUR winner Justin Thomas, two-time major champion Xander Schauffele and eight-time PGA TOUR winner Keegan Bradley. The foursome —which has combined to win 34 career PGA TOUR events — will compete at the new Panther National in South Florida, the vision of Jack Nicklaus and Thomas in his debut design.

Golf VX Launches National League

Golf VX, the fast-growing leader in indoor golf innovation, today announces the launch of its first National League Series, set to begin October 20, 2025. The new league marks a milestone expansion for the brand, bringing structured competition, community, and national recognition to Golf VX franchise locations.

 

The inaugural season will take place at Golf VX Arlington Heights (IL) outside of Chicago and Golf VX North Dartmouth (MA) outside of Boston, uniting players of all skill levels in an 8-week competitive series that culminates in a National Championship round on December 19.

Club Champion Opens at Streamsong Golf Resort

Club Champion, the world’s leading custom golf club fitter, announced the opening of its newest fitting studio at Streamsong Golf Resort in Florida, marking the company’s 152nd location worldwide. 

With 141 studios in the United States and 11 international locations across Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, Club Champion continues to expand its reach to serve passionate golfers wherever they play.

Doran Cruises Into Quarterfinals in Mid-Am Debut

Emilia (Migliaccio) Doran has spent plenty of time telling golf stories the past few years — this week, she’s writing one of her own. 

The 26-year-old Wake Forest alum and Golf Channel/SiriusXM analyst continued her impressive run at Monterey Peninsula Country Club's Dunes Course on Tuesday, winning twice to reach the quarterfinals in her U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur debut. 

Exmoor Country Club Awarded 2033 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur

As the 38th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur continues in Northern California, the United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Exmoor Country Club, in Highland Park, Ill., will host the 2033 edition of the championship. It will be the third USGA championship held at the club, but the first since 1965.  

“The USGA is thrilled to return to Exmoor Country Club, a venue with a rich history and deep ties to women’s amateur golf,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director of championships. “Exmoor has been a long-standing figure in the Chicago golf community, and we look forward to providing an exceptional experience both on and off the golf course for the best female mid-amateurs in the game.”  

Tour Edge Introduces All New Exotics Drivers Woods and Hybrids

Tour Edge Golf, a leader in high-performance golf equipment for nearly 40 years, unveils its most complete Exotics metalwood lineup to date. 

The series spans drivers and fairways with the LS, Max, and Lite models, rounded out by the versatile Max Hybrid, giving golfers unmatched options across the long game.

Tour Edge Introduces All New Exotics Irons

Tour Edge Golf, a leader in high-performance golf equipment for nearly 40 years, announces three new iron sets in its new Exotics series: two players models and a powerful game improvement option.

“Each model has been perfected to address a distinct performance need,” said Tour Edge Founder and CEO David Glod. “I’m confident that any golfer who steps into a Tour Edge fitting will walk away with a set that elevates their iron play.”

Bridgestone Golf Announces New e12 SPLASH Golf Ball

Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, today announced the new e12 SPLASH golf ball. Featuring a new RPL-X Hydrophobic Coating that repels water, prevents mud balls and provides superior performance in rainy and wet conditions, the new e12 SPLASH is the first ball of its kind.

“We’re thrilled to launch the first ball that delivers truly superior performance in wet conditions,” said Adam Rehberg, Sr. Marketing Manager of Product for Bridgestone Golf. “The RPL-X Coating on the new e12 SPLASH is the result of years of dedicated development and represents another breakthrough manufacturing innovation from Bridgestone’s world-class engineering team. For golfers who play in wet or muddy conditions, the e12 SPLASH is a performance game-changer.”

Past Champions Collide as Kim-Schadd Edges Chugg in Round of 64 Thriller

In one of the most anticipated matchups of the Round of 64, two past champions squared off Monday at Monterey Peninsula Country Club’s Dunes Course, each hoping to add another chapter to her U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur legacy. When it was over, 2019 champion Ina Kim-Schadd, of Jupiter, Fla., had outlasted 2017 champion and two-time runner-up Kelsey Chugg, of Salt Lake City, Utah, for a 1-up victory. 

“I knew it was going to be a good match, obviously, Kelsey is such a good player,” said Kim-Schaad, who works as a mental performance coach for Fearless Golf. “We were both joking before we were playing that it sucks to have to play your friend so early on, but at least we’re going to have a good time. And true to form, she rattled off four birdies on the front nine. I knew there was going to be no giving up. We were both going to keep grinding.” 

TGL Presented by SoFi and ESPN Announce Season 2 Schedule

TGL presented by SoFi and its domestic broadcast partner, ESPN, today announce the Season 2 schedule for the primetime, team golf league. 

The second season of TGL tees off on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m., ET, with the league’s broadcast network debut on ABC. The opening match features New York Golf Club vs. defending champion Atlanta Drive GC in a rematch of Season 1’s thrilling Finals.

The Season 2 schedule tglgolf.com/schedule includes 15 regular season matches, followed by TGL’s playoffs featuring the top four teams in the SoFi Cup Standings, culminating in a best-of-three Finals on Monday, March 23, and Tuesday, March 24. 

Tour AD DI Wins at The Old Course at St. Andrews

Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc. announced today that the winner of the DP World Tour Alfred Dunhill Links Championship held at the Old Course at St. Andrews, was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD DI-7 X-Stiff flex wood shaft in his Titleist TRS2 9.0° Driver, and a Graphite Design Tour AD DI-105 X-Stiff flex hybrid shaft in his TaylorMade Stealth 2 19° Hybrid. 

The champion won his 4th DP World tournament with a score of 18 under par after posting three incredible rounds of 66 each where the tournament was reduced to 54 holes due to inclement weather.

Bushnell Golf Announces New Wingman HD

Bushnell Golf, the #1 brand in Electronic Measuring Devices, today introduced the next evolution in its groundbreaking lineup of GPS golf speakers: the Wingman HD. Building on the legacy of the category-defining Wingman series, the new Wingman HD combines cutting-edge GPS and Bluetooth technology, premium audio, and an all-new high-resolution color touchscreen, delivering a multi-sensory experience designed to elevate every round.

With a bold, new design and 360° sound, the Wingman HD provides golfers with both audible and clear visual front, center, and back distances, plus up to six on-screen hazards per hole. Whether managing an approach or relaxing between shots, the Wingman HD makes it easy to see it, and hear it, all without missing a beat.

Split Verdict: Jessica Spicer, Zhu Co-Medalists (141) on the Peninsula

The name of the game on Sunday was survival. After a flurry of early red numbers, Monterey Peninsula Country Club’s Dunes Course showed its teeth, sending scores climbing as the day wore on. 

Just two players managed to post rounds of 2-under 70 -- the day’s low score --and only eight competitors in the 132-player field finished under par in stroke play. On average, the course played more than a full stroke tougher than it did on Saturday. 

Mid-Am Rookie Zhu (67) Leads at Monterey Peninsula C.C.

For Katherine Zhu, 25, of San Jose, Calif., this week has been circled on her calendar ever since she graduated from University of California, Berkeley in 2022.  

After a standout amateur and collegiate career -- highlighted by one of the best freshman seasons in Cal history -- Zhu briefly tried professional golf before regaining her amateur status in 2023. After unsuccessfully making it to the LPGA Tour and anxiously waiting to turn 25 (she did in January), becoming eligible for mid-amateur golf quickly became a major milestone. The timing couldn’t have been better: in her very first year of eligibility, the 38th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur was set to be played just 90 minutes from home at Monterey Peninsula Country Club, one of the most prestigious venues in the country. 

The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa Makes Playing Here Easier than Ever

Recognized as a Distinguished Golf Destination, The Westin Kierland’s 27-hole resort course offers stunning views, top-tier service, and a fun, scenic, and playable layout.

It 

And right now they’re offering special fall rates and packages to make visiting easier than ever.

Newton Golf Company Excels at 2025 World Long Drive Championship

Newton Golf Company, a technology-forward golf company delivering performance-driven innovations through physics-based engineering, proudly celebrates the impressive results achieved by athletes using Newton Golf shafts at the 2025 World Long Drive (WLD) Championship.

Leading the way for Newton Golf is Tanner Pipes, who captured the Men’s Amateur title with a 396-yard drive, showcasing Newton’s performance advantage on the tee. He was joined by 2017 WLD Champion Justin James, who advanced to the Final 4 in the Men’s Open Division, and Jeanine Minnick, who reached the Final 8 in the Women’s.

Bella Ridge Golf Club to Open for Limited Preview on Monday

Bella Ridge Golf Club, Colorado’s newest golf course, will open for limited preview play on Monday, October 6.

The 18-hole, par-72 championship layout was designed by golf course architect Art Schaupeter on the rolling hills of the Podtburg family’s former dairy farm. Limited tee times are now available on the club’s website www.bellaridgegolf.com.