2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur: How to watch, who’s playing at Chambers Bay

Rising Kentucky senior Jensen Castle takes aim at her 2021 title defense when the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur kicks off Monday at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.

The Women’s Am, which runs Aug. 8-15, is hosted by the United States Golf Association and is one of the organization’s original three championships. The tournament was first conducted in 1895, shortly after the inaugural men’s U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open, and has been conducted every year since, except 1917-18, when it was suspended due to World War I, and 1942-45, when it was suspended due to World War II.

The winner receives multiple exemptions from qualifying several USGA championships including the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, the next 10 U.S. Women’s Amateurs (if eligible), the next 10 U.S. Girls’ Juniors (if eligible), the next 15 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs (or 15 years from the time the player becomes eligible), and the next 15 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateurs (or 15 years from the time the player becomes eligible).

Coverage of the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur from Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., can be found on Golf Channel, with streaming options available any time on any mobile device and online through NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

The field for the 122nd U.S. U.S. Women’s Amateur features 156 players from 14 countries, including the United States, which boasts competitors representing 34 states. The oldest competitors, both age 60, are Martha Leach of Hebron, Ky., and Ellen Port of St. Louis, Mo., while the youngest competitors are 13-year-olds Anna Fang of San Diego, Calif., and Alice Ziyi Zhao of Irvine, Calif.

Eight competitors rank inside the top 35 on the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking as of Aug. 3:

Missing from the