The Hawaii State Golf Association is inaugurating a Women’s Player of the Year award in 2019. It is based on a points system similar to the current HSGA Player of the Year award and designed to “support women in their journey to pursue challenging themselves in golf.”

All “active female HSGA members with permanent residence in Hawaii” are eligible. It comes with a stipend valued at more than $1,000 to help pay for event expenses at national and international competitions.

The HSGA provides this same stipend to the Men’s and Senior Men’s Player of the Year.

The HSGA, which provides handicapping for most Hawaii golfers, has opened tournaments to women the past few years, including Manoa Cup. The Hawaii State Women’s Golf Association no longer allows golfers who do not belong to HSWGA member clubs to play in its major events.

Women can earn HSGA points at 11 events this year, beginning with the Hawaii State Amateur and Women’s Army Invitational in March. The list also includes the Jennie K. Wilson and Waialae and Oahu Country Club Women’s Invitationals and Kauai, Big Island and Maui Amateurs, Mayor’s Cup and U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier.

For more information and details of the point system, visit hsga.golf.