91st Women’s Amateur Preview

As summer heats up, one of Idaho’s most prestigious championships returns to the forefront of the local golf scene. From Thursday, June 19th through Saturday, June 21st, the 91st playing of the Idaho Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships will take over Canyon Springs Golf Course in Twin Falls, bringing together some of the region’s top collegiate and amateur talent for a 54-hole, stroke-play showdown.  

Nestled along the Snake River and beneath the Perrine Bridge, the course was first envisioned by Joe McCollum and J.R. Simplot in the mid-1970s. Originally built as a 9-hole layout in 1975, the course has grown into an 18-hole gem, still a three-generation-owned operation by the McCollum family. 

Each hole offers a unique experience, from canyon-wall tee shots to approaches lined by a waterfall. The course is both breathtaking and demanding; players will need to bring more than just a strong swing— they’ll need strategy and passion. 

In 2024, for the first time in tournament history, the Women’s and Mid-Amateur fields competed side by side from the same set of tees. This year, the combined event will be played from separate tees. In any case, this championship has proven to be a springboard for future college standouts — or a victory lap for those who already are.

WOMEN'S AM:

Maddie Montoya with the Jean Lane Smith Cup in 2023. She is the most recent defending champion | Shane René

Leighton Shosted, the reigning champion, was nothing short of dominant at Hillcrest Country Club last year. Her opening-round 66, fueled by seven birdies, stunned the field and set the tone for what became a wire-to-wire win. But her absence from the 2025 field opens the door for a fresh set of storylines.   

The most recent champion in the field, Maddie Montoya, etched her name on the Jean Lane Smith Cup in 2023. Now a standout at Montana State University, Montoya won the Big Sky Conference Championship individual title and finished the season with the eighth-best scoring average in program history. She also competed in the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball this May, then added to what’s become a banner year by winning the Montana State Match Play last week. A win at Canyon Springs next week would put her on a short list of women with multiple State Amateur titles. 

Carly Carter, the 2022 champ and a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin, rounds out a trio of recent champions whose amateur careers have been nothing short of exceptional. Her 218 (72-77-69) win at Idaho Falls Country Club laid the foundation for a strong college career and has continued to elevate the Women’s Amateur as the field’s highest WAGR-ranked player. With both Montoya and Carter returning in 2025, the stage is set for a highly competitive showdown as each looks to add a second title to their name. 

Ava Schroder, another competitor in the Women’s Amateur, made a big statement in last year’s Match Play Championship, ultimately pulling ahead to close out the final match 4&2, showcasing the kind of skill that earned her a spot on Brigham Young University's Women’s Golf Team. She now looks to bring that same competitive edge to this year’s Women’s Amateur.

MID-AM:

Karen Darrington is set to return for her first championship in the better part of two seasons | Shane René

Jennifer Harper, the reigning  Senior Women’s Amateur Champion and Sun Valley Resort Club Champion, returns to the Mid-Am division this year with momentum on her side. She claimed her first IGA championship title with a steady 79 to finish at 153 (+9) and secure the win of the 2024 Match Play Championship. With a major victory behind her and fresh off a third-place finish at the Four-Ball Championship, Harper is back and ready to compete for another trophy. 

Sierra Olyer will also be on the hunt for the Mid-Am title. She capped off her Fall 2024 season with a win at the Tournament of Champions, helping her earn a spot on the Lamy Cup team, where she went on to win two of her three matches in May. With both Oyler and Harper claiming recent victories, the Mid-Am field is shaping up to be a highly competitive match. 

And last, but certainly not least, Karen Darrington will return to the competition this year after some time away on a mission in Tonga, bringing one of the most decorated amateur resumes in Idaho golf history back to the field. With a staggering 21 major amateur titles, Darrington’s legacy spans decades. She first claimed the Women’s Amateur crown in 1979, just two years after she began competitive golf, and went on to win it five more times in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1991, and 1992. Along with the Women's Amateur, she has earned herself six Mid-Amateur titles in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Her dominance extended into the senior ranks as well, where she added nine Women’s Senior Amateur Championships, most recently in 2023. Darrington’s long-standing excellence is a reminder of the deep roots and resilience that characterize the championship.