Sponsored by the Mid-Pacific Country Club Women’s division, the event has helped to promote women’s golf in Hawaii and is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the state. The tournament was named in honor of Jennie K. Wilson, a former dancer in the court of King Kalakaua, and the wife of one of Honolulu’s beloved mayors, John H. Wilson, after whom the “Wilson Tunnel” on the Likelike Highway was named. Even though Jennie K. was not a golfer, she was beloved by people from all over Oahu.
The “Jennie K.”, as the tournament is fondly known in the golfing community, is considered the premier amateur women’s golf event in Hawaii. It is one of only two 54-hole low gross medal play tournaments for amateur women. The tournament is played at Mid Pacific Country Club, in Lanikai, Kailua, where the course sports a spectacular backdrop, with glorious views of the Ko’olau mountain range. Golfers from many different walks of life and generations are proud to say they are participants and winners of the “Jennie K.”
Participants over the years have been the best women golfers in Hawaii and around the world. The winner of the inaugural Jennie K was Edna Lee Jakola, who went on to win again in 1955. Other winners included six-time winner Joan Damon, Billie Beamer, Lesly Ann Komoda, Anna Umemura and Michelle Wie who won the title at the age of 11. The 2004 Jennie K. winner was 16 year old Amanda Wilson of Hilo.
The motto of the Jennie K. since its inaugural year in 1950 is Kulia I Ka Nu’u, meaning strive for the highest. Not only was this the personal motto of both Queen Kapiolani and Aunty Jennie, year after year it also seems to fit for each of the women challenging them in this prestigious competition.
- 2019 Jennie K. Wilson Invitational Date
- Past Champions
2018 Jennie K. Wilson Invitational Champion
Natsumi Nakanishi
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1950 Edna Lee
1951 Jackie Yates
1952 Jackie Pung
1953 Jackie Yates
1954 Jackie Yates
1955 Edna Lee
1956 Tura Nagatoshi
1957 Joan Damon
1958 Ramona McGuire
1959 Ramona McGuire
1960 Amie Amizich
1961 Joan Damon
1962 Joan Damon
1963 Joan Damon
1964 Joan Damon
1965 Billie Beamer
1966 Joan Damon
1967 No Tournament
1968 Tura Nagatoshi
1969 Billie Beamer
1970 Tura Nagatoshi
1971 Eva Chang
1972 Marga Stubblefield
1973 Ai-Yu Tu
1974 Yu-Hsia Tai
1975 Li Hsiang (Angel) Tsai
1976 Brenda Rego
1977 Althea Tome
1978 Debbie Spencer
1979 Huang Pi-Hsun
1980 Cindy Flom
1981 Beverly Kim
1982 Lynne Winn
1983 Lori Castillo
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1984 Bobbie Kokx
1985 Mildred Stanley
1986 Sherrie Sue
1987 Lynne Winn
1988 Pam Kometani
1989 Sherrie Sue
1990 Nicole Horner
1991 Lesly Ann Komoda
1992 Donna Forbes
1993 Lesley Ann Komoda
1994 Kari Lee Williams
1995 Anna Umemura
1996 Kathy Cho
1997 Anna Umemura
1998 Anna Umemura
1999 Kari Lee Williams
2000 Bobbi Kokx
2001 Michelle Wie
2002 Kira-Ann Murashige
2003 Stephanie Kono
2004 Amanda Wilson
2005 Mari Chun
2006 Kristina Merkle
2007 Kristina Merkle
2008 Xyra Suyetsugu
2009 Kristina Merkle
2010 Kristina Merkle
2011 Eri Jona
2012 Nicole Sakamoto
2013 Hinako Yamauchi
2014 Mariel Galdiano
2015 Mariel Galdiano
2016 Kaira Nabeshima
2017 Natsumi Nakanishi
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