The Donna Returns: Top Amateur Golfers Set for Boonsboro

The eighth annual Donna Andrews Invitational brings rising collegiate stars, former champions, and elite senior competitors to Lynchburg beginning Sunday.

The eighth annual Donna Andrews Invitational returns to Boonsboro Country Club beginning Sunday, June 14, bringing together one of the strongest women's amateur golf fields in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Named for Lynchburg golf legend and six-time LPGA Tour winner Donna Andrews, "The Donna" has grown into one of the premier women's amateur events in the Mid-Atlantic and continues to attract elite players from across the country. The combination of first-class hospitality, a championship-caliber golf course, and a highly competitive field has made the tournament a summer destination for amateur golfers nationwide.

WHO IS DONNA ANDREWS?

In Lynchburg and golfers worldwide, Donna Andrews needs little introduction.

A six-time LPGA Tour winner, major champion, and proud Lynchburg native, Andrews was inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame in 2017, becoming one of just 45 individuals ever selected for the honor. Among Hall of Fame members such as J.C. Snead, Curtis Strange, and Lanny Wadkins, Andrews remains one of only a handful of major champions and one of just eight women inducted into the Hall.

WHO IS THE TOURNAMENT DEDICATED TO?

The tournament is dedicated to the memory of Eleanor Marjorie-Anne Washburn, the spirited daughter of Eric Washburn and granddaughter of tournament founder Steve Washburn.

It bears repeating from previous stories because Eleanor's legacy remains an important part of what makes The Donna special.

Born in 2018, Eleanor was a vibrant, feisty, and fiercely independent little girl who loved Taylor Swift, Frozen, and Tangled. Like her favorite heroines, she faced life's toughest challenges with courage, grace, and grit. Though medulloblastoma claimed her life far too soon, it never touched her spirit.

Her legacy now lives on through the strength, perseverance, and sisterhood celebrated at the Donna Andrews Invitational—an event where her "feisty little fighter girl" spirit continues to inspire every competitor who tees it up at Boonsboro.

WHAT IS BOONSBORO?

While the field draws the headlines, Boonsboro Country Club remains a defining part of what makes the Donna Andrews Invitational special.

Unlike many clubs that host high-level amateur championships, Boonsboro strikes a rare balance—providing a championship-caliber test while maintaining a welcoming, member-driven atmosphere. It is a place where players know they will be challenged but also appreciated.

That standard has been built over decades and continues today through the leadership of Director of Golf Aaron Marks and Head Golf Professional David Phillips, along with a membership that takes great pride in both the event and the club's reputation throughout Virginia.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS YEAR

Both the Open and Senior Divisions will crown new champions this year as last season's Wake Forest tandem of Emilia Doran and Brenda Corrie Kuehn will not return to defend their respective titles.

The tournament once again features two divisions:

• Open Division — available to competitors meeting amateur eligibility requirements

• Senior Division — available to competitors age 50 and older

Tournament play begins at 7:30 a.m. each day from Sunday, June 14 through Tuesday, June 16.

For tee times, live scoring, and tournament results, be sure to follow Golf Genius throughout the week.

The 2026 field includes competitors from some of the nation's top collegiate golf programs, including Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Wake Forest, Auburn, Indiana, Georgia Southern, Illinois, Delaware, Bucknell, Cal Poly, the College of Charleston, and many others.

The Senior Division is equally impressive, featuring a who's who of champions from Virginia, the Carolinas, and beyond.

Whether following the Open Division's rising collegiate stars or the accomplished veterans competing in the Senior Division, spectators will have no shortage of outstanding golf to watch throughout the week.

Players to watch are highlighted below.

OPEN DIVISION PLAYERS TO WATCH

The 2026 Donna Andrews Invitational features a deep Open Division field. Collegiate golfers from programs including Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Northwestern, Auburn, Oklahoma, Illinois, Delaware, Clemson, Miami, Quinnipiac, Bucknell, James Madison and others will compete alongside state champions, USGA participants, AJGA winners, and some of the nation's top junior golfers. Here are some of the players who could make an impact this week at Boonsboro.

Jackie Rogowicz (Former Champion)

Not only a familiar face at The Donna, Rogowicz has no shortage of amateur golf accomplishments throughout the Mid-Atlantic. She captured The Donna title in 2021 and has won several prestigious amateur events, including the Porter Cup and multiple Pennsylvania Women's Amateur championships. An Academic All-Big Ten honoree at Penn State, her experience and winning pedigree make her an annual contender at Boonsboro.

Bella Bugg

One of the most decorated players in the field, Bugg is a former Tennessee Women's Amateur champion, AJGA winner, and state champion. Now competing collegiately after stops at Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Chattanooga, she brings extensive tournament experience and a proven ability to win.

Frances Brown

An Auburn golfer and four-time Alabama state champion, Brown owns one of the most impressive junior résumés in the field. She was named Southeastern Junior Golf Tour Player of the Year and was on the roster as Auburn reached NCAA Championship competition.

Molly Hardwick Brown

After missing last year's event, Hardwick Brown returns to Boonsboro where she opened the 2024 tournament with a 67. The College of Charleston standout is a First Team All-CAA performer and former South Carolina state champion who consistently competes at a high level.

Maggie Carlson

The University of Kentucky golfer entered college as the top-ranked player in Illinois' Class of 2025. Carlson has already competed in major amateur events, including the U.S. Girls Junior and Junior PGA Championships, while collecting numerous state and regional honors.

Mary Grace Dunigan

Dunigan finished among the leaders at last year's Donna and returns with a growing list of collegiate accomplishments. The University of Delaware golfer has earned conference honors and multiple collegiate top finishes while building on a successful junior career in Pennsylvania.

Kylie Eaton

Eaton returns to Boonsboro after competing in last year's event. The University of Illinois golfer is a two-time Rhode Island Women's Amateur champion and winner of the Women's Eastern Amateur. Her amateur accomplishments make her one of the stronger contenders in the field.

Samantha Galantini

A senior at Quinnipiac University, Galantini owns one of the most extensive amateur résumés in the field. She has qualified for multiple U.S. Women's Amateur championships and the U.S. Women's Four-Ball Championship while compiling numerous collegiate and AJGA successes.

Claire Green

The rising Clemson sophomore quickly made an impact during her freshman season. Before college, Green won a South Carolina state championship, earned South Carolina 3A Golfer of the Year honors, and captured multiple SCJGA events. Her competitive résumé continues to grow at both the collegiate and amateur levels.

Kathryn Ha

One of the most accomplished young players in the field, Ha captured the prestigious Scott Robertson Memorial Championship and earned Virginia Girls Golfer of the Year honors. Now at Vanderbilt, she enters the tournament as one of the favorites.

Ella June Hannant

One of North Carolina's rising stars, Hannant has built a remarkable junior golf résumé. A Drive, Chip and Putt champion with multiple appearances at Augusta National, she has also posted victories on the Peggy Kirk Bell Tour and top finishes in major amateur events. She is committed to Nebraska.

Danielle Higbee

A rising sophomore at Augusta University, Higbee earned multiple top-30 finishes during her freshman campaign. Prior to college, she was a three-time Delaware All-State golfer, three-time conference champion, and winner of the Peggy Kirk Middle Atlantic Girls Classic.

Joelle Johnson

The Bucknell sophomore is coming off a breakthrough freshman season that earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors. Johnson led the Bison in scoring average and posted multiple runner-up finishes during her first collegiate campaign.

Ellison Lundquist

A member of the Oklahoma women's golf program, Lundquist entered college as one of the nation's top recruits. She qualified for the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur and was a former AJGA All-Star champion. Her collegiate experience and national-level success make her a player to watch.

Sarah Lydic

Lydic finished 11th at last year's Donna and is coming off an outstanding season at Wake Forest. The Delaware state champion has competed in multiple USGA championships and won the 2025 BMW GAP Championship, making her one of the favorites entering the week.

Elsie MacCleery

The University of Virginia standout enjoyed a strong freshman season that included a top-15 finish at the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional. A former Virginia State Golfer of the Year and state champion, MacCleery continues to establish herself among the region's top young players.

Kennedy MacCleery

One of the youngest competitors in the field, MacCleery has already accumulated significant junior success. A previous Donna participant, she has demonstrated the ability to compete against older players and continues to build an impressive résumé.

Megan Meng

A Northwestern University standout, Meng competed on a team that advanced to the NCAA Championships. A two-time Rolex Junior All-American and former New Jersey Golfer of the Year, she entered college as one of the nation's premier junior golfers.

Sydney Moss

The Louisiana Women's Amateur champion has enjoyed success at multiple collegiate stops and continues to build an impressive amateur résumé. Moss recently captured her first collegiate victory and has established herself as one of Louisiana's most accomplished amateur golfers.

Morgan Mussatt

The Randolph-Macon standout has proven that golfers from smaller programs can compete with anyone. Mussatt became the first player in program history to qualify for the U.S. Women's Amateur and has earned numerous state, conference, and national honors.

Grace Petzold

Petzold finished 14th at last year's Donna Andrews Invitational and enters the tournament after a successful collegiate career that included stops at St. Catherine University and James Madison. A Minnesota state champion, she has earned numerous academic and athletic honors along the way.

Reagan Ramage

The reigning Conference USA individual champion enters with one of the strongest recent accomplishments in the field. A former USGA Girls Junior participant and accomplished Kentucky junior golfer, Ramage has the game to contend for the title.

Carlee Rogers

A member of the University of Miami program, Rogers was one of Tennessee's top junior golfers before college. Her accomplishments include a Tennessee Junior Championship title, a U.S. Women's Amateur appearance, and national recognition through the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.

Anushka Sawant

Sawant finished 13th in last year's Donna Andrews Invitational and is coming off her sophomore season at the University of Delaware. She has qualified for both the USGA Women's Four-Ball Championship and the USGA Girls Championship while earning multiple AJGA top-10 finishes.

Jessica Spicer

A former Virginia Tech Hokie, Spicer has established herself as a consistent amateur competitor through strong performances in both college and regional events. Spicer has won Carolinas Women's Amateur Championship as well as the VSGA Women's Stroke Play Championship. Her experience and steady play make her a candidate for a breakout performance this week.

Sarah Spicer

A former Virginia Tech standout, Spicer has enjoyed a successful amateur career highlighted by a North Carolina State Amateur title, a Virginia Women's Stroke Play Championship, and multiple USGA appearances. She also finished among the top 20 at a previous Donna Andrews Invitational.

SENIOR DIVISION PLAYERS TO WATCH

The Senior Division is once again loaded with accomplished players from across Virginia, the Carolinas, and beyond.

While defending champion Brenda Corrie Kuehn will not return to defend her title, six of last year's top seven finishers are back in the field, including Toni Notaro, Judy Penman, Kimbra Benson, Ronda Henderson, and Bev Lane. Add in past participants Kathy Hartwiger, Mimi Hoffman, Kristin Shifflett, Patty Moore, Susan West, Susan Podolsky, and Anna Schultz, and the result is one of the deepest senior fields in tournament history.

Several first-time competitors, including Robin Gallagher, Peggy Freeman, Linda Jeffery, and Jamie Hoffman, add even more depth to an already talented field. With so many accomplished players returning to Boonsboro, identifying a favorite is no easy task.

Suzi Spotleson

Start with 2024 Senior Division champion Suzi Spotleson.

A former Northwestern University softball standout, Spotleson chose softball over basketball when college coaches came calling and helped the Wildcats advance to the 1986 Women's College World Series and the 1987 regional finals. Since turning her competitive focus to golf, she has become one of Ohio's most accomplished senior amateurs, winning four Ohio Senior Amateur titles and three Ohio Mid-Amateur championships. In 2021, she captured both titles in the same season.

Kathy Hartwiger

The 2023 Donna Senior Division champion returns after missing last year's event and enters as one of the most accomplished players in the field.

Hartwiger's 2025 season was remarkable. She won the R&A Senior Women's Amateur Championship, the Women's Eastern Senior Championship, and successfully defended her Carolinas Senior Women's Amateur title. She also tied for third at The Donna in 2024.

Her career accomplishments include a 2002 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur title, 10 Alabama Women's Amateur championships, 21 Alabama Golf Association state tournament victories, and multiple appearances in USGA championships.

Mimi Hoffman

One of Virginia's most decorated senior golfers, Hoffman enters as the 2025 Virginia Super Senior Women's Champion. She is a five-time VSGA Senior Women's Amateur champion and a former VSGA Women's Amateur champion.

Joan Gardner

Gardner enjoyed another strong season in 2025, earning medalist honors at the VSGA Senior Women's Amateur before advancing to the championship match rounds. She finished the year ranked No. 2 among Virginia senior women golfers.

Kristin Shifflett

Despite a few uncharacteristic rounds last year, Shifflett still managed a 13th-place finish at The Donna, highlighted by a second-round 75. The top-ranked senior woman in Virginia, she was named the 2025 VSGA Senior Women's Golfer of the Year and has captured back-to-back VSGA Senior Women's Amateur titles.

Robin Gallagher

Gallagher arrives at Boonsboro fresh off a victory at the 2025 Carolinas Women's Super Senior Amateur Championship, which she won in a playoff. She is expected to be a factor throughout the week.

Linda Jeffery

West Texas native and current Alabama resident Linda Jeffery has quickly built an impressive competitive résumé. Jeffery captured the 2023 Alabama Women's State Senior Amateur Championship, competed in the 2023 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur, and advanced to the semifinals of the 2023 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur. Today she remains a nationally ranked senior amateur golfer while also serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, making her one of the most accomplished and interesting competitors in this year's field.

Shawn McCullough

Few players arrive with more momentum than McCullough.

She has been named VSGA Super Senior Women's Golfer of the Year three consecutive years (2023-25), won the Virginia State Super Senior Stroke Play Championship in both 2024 and 2025, and finished runner-up in the 2025 North Carolina Super Senior Championship. McCullough also qualified for the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur in both 2022 and 2023.

Shirley Vaughn

Vaughn continues to compete successfully in major senior amateur events throughout the country, including the prestigious North & South Senior Women's Championship. Her experience and competitive record make her another player capable of contending at Boonsboro.

With returning champions, nationally ranked players, state champions, and USGA veterans throughout the field, the Senior Division promises to be competitive this week.