Golfing:From Palos Verdes to the Olympics,Golf Excellence at PVGC
Written by Melani Edelstein, Photos by Ed McClure
A Vision in 1996
The golf tournament was founded by Cathy Marino, a Palos Verdes Golf Club Hall of Famer, alongside Therese Hession, then an emerging coach at Ohio State, and Sid Croft, PVGC member and the tournament’s first chair.
Marino and Hession — former LPGA competitors and teammates at Southern Methodist University — shared an ambitious but clear goal: bring the very best women’s collegiate teams to Palos Verdes and challenge them on a world-class stage.The vision took root quickly. (The Palos Verdes Golf Club also was thrilled to host the LPGA to the course, three back-to-back years; The Palos Verdes Open in 2021, The DIO Implant LA Open 2023 and The Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship in 2024.)
Originally known as the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, the event earned a reputation for elite competition, meticulous organization, and a championship course that demands creativity, patience, and precision under pressure. For three years, the Palos Verdes Golf Club welcomed the LPGA to the course. (The Palos Verdes Open in 2021, The DIO Implant LA Open 2023 and The Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship
Over time, the tournament evolved into the Therese Hession Regional Challenge presented by Northrop Grumman, honoring a coach whose influence on the game has proven as enduring as it is profound.
Today, the Tournament annually welcomes 16 of the top-ranked NCAA Division I programs, making it a must-play stop on the collegiate calendar — and a pipeline to the professional ranks.
PVGC Olympians: From Palos Verdes to Paris
In early August 2024, viewers worldwide were captivated by the Olympic Women’s Golf Tournament at Le Golf National in Paris.
For those familiar with Palos Verdes Golf Club, many of the faces in the Olympic field were instantly recognizable.
A remarkable number of athletes competing in Paris had once walked the fairways at PVGC in the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge — now known as the Therese Hession Regional Challenge.
Among the Olympic field were three past champions of this event:
• Lilia Vu (UCLA, 2018) – Team USA
• Rose Zhang (Stanford, 2023) – Team USA
• Carlota Ciganda (Arizona State, 2011) – Spain
Their presence on the Olympic stage underscored what insiders have long known: The Therese Hession Regional Challenge is not simply a collegiate tournament. It is a launchpad — seamlessly bridging the collegiate and professional games.
A Legacy Still Being Written
When Olympic viewers tuned in to Paris, they were watching more than a single tournament.
They were witnessing the continued evolution of women’s golf — and, in many cases, athletes who sharpened their competitive edge right here in Palos Verdes.
As the Therese Hession Regional Challenge celebrates 30 years, its influence is unmistakable. The tournament continues to attract the best collegiate players in the world. It continues to test them. And it continues to prepare them for the highest levels of the game.
From Palos Verdes to the Olympics, the pathway is no longer surprising. It is proven.
Leo Tocic
Stacy Lewis (Texas A&M) and Sky Sudberry
Elevating Women’s Golf
Longevity at this level does not happen by accident.
The continued success of the Therese Hession Regional Challenge reflects decades of commitment from coaches, players, volunteers, alumni, and sponsors — especially the steadfast support of Northrop Grumman.
It also reflects the leadership and dedication of Palos Verdes Golf Club’s membership.
From Sid Croft’s foundational role to retiring Tournament Chairman Ron DeFrees, Director of Golf Jim Gormley, and the countless members who volunteer and host teams, PVGC has embraced this event as part of its identity.
As Steve Lopes, PVGC Member and Therese Hession Tournament Chair, shared
“We are thrilled to welcome the Therese Hession Collegiate Tournament to Palos Verdes Golf Club. It is an honor to have the opportunity to elevate women’s collegiate golf and to offer the players, fans, and local community a world-class event that everyone can enjoy.”
Thirty years in, the celebration is about far more than a number. It is about tradition, opportunity, and a legacy that continues to shape the future of women’s golf — right here on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
17 Olympians Who Competed at PVGC
17 Olympians Who Competed at PVGC
Seventeen players from the 2024 Olympic roster of 60 previously competed at Palos Verdes Golf Club. That statistic alone speaks volumes about the caliber of the field year after year. Below are the Olympians who once tested their games on the PVGC course
- Bianca Pagdanganan – Philippines – Arizona (2017–18)
- Rose Zhang – USA – Stanford (2020–23)
- Mariajo Uribe – Colombia – UCLA (2008–09)
- Albane Valenzuela – Switzerland – Stanford (2016–19)
- Azahara Muñoz – Spain – Arizona State (2006–09)
- Celine Boutier – France – Duke (2012–16)
- Linn Grant – Sweden – Arizona State (2019–21)
- Patty Tavatanakit – Thailand – UCLA (2016–17)
- Emma Spitz – Austria – UCLA (2019–21)
- Alexandra Försterling – Germany – Arizona State (2018–22)
- Lilia Vu – USA – UCLA (2015–18)
- Carlota Ciganda – Spain – Arizona State (2008–11)
- Ana Belac – Slovenia – Duke (2017–20)
- Ines Laklalech – Morocco – Wake Forest (2015–16)
- Alessandra Fanali – Italy – Arizona State (2018–22
- Sara Kouskova – Czech Republic – Texas (2018–21)
- Leona Maguire – Ireland – Duke (2014–18)
