Scholarships
Golf Australia facilitates and encourages a number of pathways for young amateurs in Australia as they develop their games, including the continually expanding Golf Australia Give Back program.
Karrie Webb Series presented by Nippon Shaft
Grace Kim, Sarah Jane Smith, Karrie Webb, Hannah Green and Becky Kay at the 2019 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
The Karrie Webb Series forms a subset of the Golf Australia Order of Merit with a combination of female amateur and professional events forming the Karrie Webb Series schedule. Minimum standards for an event to be included on the schedule are established by Golf Australia.
Players are awarded points based on their finishing position in each event. Points are weighted according to the caliber of event.
Players must compete in a minimum of six events from the Karrie Webb Series schedule to be eligible to win the series, with the best six finishes being counted regardless of number of events contested.
The Karrie Webb Series runs annually and concludes each year in March.
There are two recipients of the Karrie Webb series scholarship per year with the scholarship recipients being determined as follows:
Selection based on performance in the Karrie Webb series
Leading Australian Female on WAGR
The WAGR cut-off for the 2023-24 Karrie Webb Series will be 21 March 2024.
The Karrie Webb Series will conclude following the Rene Erichsen on 22 March 2024.
The KWS events are held across Australia and are inclusive of female amateur and professional events.
Minimum standards are established for conducting the events by Golf Australia (e
vents must be a minimum of 54-holes and qualify as a WAGR event).
Players are awarded points based on finishing position (forms a subset of the Golf Australia Order of Merit).
Points are weighted according to the standard of competition (amateur vs. professional).
Players must compete in a minimum of six events from the KWS to be eligible to win the scholarship.
Total points are accumulated from the best six finishes regardless of the number of events contested.
The KWS will run annually and conclude each year in March.
2023: Justice Bosio (Qld) and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (WA)
2022: Kirsten Rudgeley (WA) and Caitlin Peirce (QLD)
2021: Grace Kim (NSW) and Kirsten Rudgeley (WA)
2020: Grace Kim (NSW) and Gabi Ruffels (VIC)
2019: Grace Kim (NSW) and Becky Kay (QLD)
2018: Grace Kim (NSW) and Becky Kay (QLD)
2017: Becky Kay (QLD) and Karis Davidson (Qld)
2016: Hannah Green (WA) and Karis Davidson (Qld)
2015: Hannah Green (WA) and Julienne Soo (VIC)
2014: Minjee Lee (WA) and Su Hyun Oh (VIC)
2013: Minjee Lee (WA) and Su Hyun Oh (VIC)
2012: Breanna Elliott (VIC) and Whitney Hillier (WA)
2011: Ashley Ona (QLD) and Jessica Speechley (WA)
2010: Stacey Keating (VIC) and Jessica Speechley (WA)
2009: Stacey Keating (VIC) and Julia Boland (NSW)
2008: Stephanie Na (SA) and Kristie Smith (WA)
In 2024-2025 the following events form the Karrie Webb Series (in calendar order):
Bowra & O'Dea: August 26th
Mandurah Open: August 30th
Queensland Strokeplay: September 2nd
Keperra Bowl:
The Dunes Medal:
The ISPS HANDA Australian Open:
Master of the Amateurs:
Australian Amateur:
Avondale Amateur:
Riversdale Cup:
SA Rene Erichsen Salver:
*Please note that that any 54- or 72-hole WPGA event must have a minimum of 6 amateurs compete to count towards the KW series.
The key aspects of the scholarships are:
Two scholarships to the value of $15,000 to be spent on international travel, playing experiences over the northern hemisphere summer and additional development opportunities (funded by Karrie Webb)
Mentoring support from Karrie Webb for the duration of the scholarship
Play and train with Karrie (if logistically possible)
Experiences enjoyed by past scholarship recipients:
Visited and trained with Karrie Webb at an LPGA event
Played a practice round with Karrie at a nominated event
Scholarship recipients are selected by Karrie Webb following recommendations from national selectors in May each year following the completion of the KWS and before a northern hemisphere summer trip.
Potential Karrie Webb Scholarship winners are based on:
Performance in the Karrie Webb Series
One Australian selected from the WAGR
Community work supported by the individual (either inside or outside of golf)
Performance as an ambassador for golf in Australia and overseas
Shows outstanding demeanour both on and off the golf course
Must be Australian citizens
If an Australian based WPGA Tour event is co-sanctioned with another main tour (LET, LPGA) it will count for the KW Series no matter the number of amateur competing
If a 54- or 72-hole WPGA Tour event has a minimum of 6 amateurs it will count for the KW Series
State stroke play events must have 54 holes at least for it to count as part of KW Series
The objectives of the Karrie Webb Scholarship are:
The promotion of women’s golf in Australia
Improve the quality of the development programs for elite Australian women golfers
Provide increased opportunities for international playing experiences for elite women athletes
Inspire young women golfers through direct association with Karrie Webb
Recognise Karrie Webb’s contribution to Australian golf by way of meaningful support for female golfers
Karrie Webb Coaching Scholarship
The Karrie Webb Coaching Scholarship aims to acknowledge, support and further develop young female coaches who aspire to excel in their coaching careers. The scholarship provides valuable opportunities for recipients to enhance their coaching skills and learn from world class coaches and mentors from Australia and around the world. Applications will be available early 2024 and the successful recipient will be announced 22 March 2024.
Here are the key details:
Recognition and Support: The scholarship aims to recognize and support aspiring female coaches, acknowledging their potential and dedication in the coaching field.
Skill Enhancement and Mentorship: Recipients of the scholarship will have the privilege of attending various coaching events and shadowing world-class coaches in their working environments. This experience will be invaluable in improving their coaching abilities and gaining insights from experts in the field.
Financial Support: The scholarship includes a monetary award of $7,500 enabling the coach to cover expenses related to attending coaching events, such as travel, accommodation, and registration fees. Additionally, it provides financial support for the coach to gain hands-on experience, learn new techniques, and expand their coaching knowledge.
Application Process: Interested individuals can apply for the scholarship through a structured application process. Karrie Webb and the Golf Australia High-Performance team will review the applications and select the deserving recipients based on their potential and passion for coaching.
Tailored Development Opportunities: Upon selection, the scholarship recipients will work closely with Karrie Webb and the GA High-Performance team to identify their specific coaching needs and development opportunities. This personalized approach ensures that the scholarship aligns with the individual recipient's goals and provides relevant support for their coaching journey.
Cameron Smith Scholarship
Cam Smith with 2019 scholarship winners Tyler Duncan and Elvis Smylie
As a part of Golf Australia's Give Back program, Queensland's Cameron Smith founded his own scholarship program in 2016, a year after he cracked the top five at the US Open and kick-started his professional career.
Cam was heavily involved in the QAS, Golf Queensland's and Golf Australia's High Performance programs as a promising amateur and was desperate to give back to the framework that helped him transition to a professional golfer.
Evolving over its first few years, the Cameron Smith Scholarship offers two athletes an invitation to Cameron’s home in Florida for a week of practice, training and living like a PGA Tour professional, a truly unforgettable experience.
Re-live the 2018 experience with Queensland scholarship recipients Louis Dobbelaar and Jediah Morgan below:
