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see also: View results for Women's Western Junior, Meridian Hills Country Club

Iris Lee defeated Athena Singh 1 up to become the youngest champion in the 99-year history of the tournament
Thirteen-year-old Iris Lee of Orlando, Fla., became the youngest champion in the 99-year history of the Women's Western Junior Championship, defeating Athena Singh of Morehead, Ky., 1 up in a dramatic final at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis, Ind.
The championship match wasn't decided until the final hole.
After Singh birdied the par-4 15th to take her first lead of the day, Lee responded immediately by winning the par-5 16th to square the match. The turning point came at the 17th, where Lee hit her approach shot inside Singh's and converted a birdie putt to move 1 up with one hole to play.
On the closing hole, Lee found the front of the green in regulation while Singh missed left and faced a difficult recovery. Singh chipped to three feet to keep the pressure on, but Lee calmly two-putted for par to secure the title.
The match featured swings in momentum throughout the afternoon. Lee held an early lead before Singh battled back to square the match several times. Neither player was able to create separation until Lee's birdie at the penultimate hole.
At 13 years and 6 months old, Lee surpassed the previous youngest champions in championship history. Mercedes Bush won the title in 1920 at age 14, while Alice Ann Anderson matched that mark in 1933.
Lee advanced to the championship match after defeating top-seeded Elizabeth Guthrie 2 & 1 in the semifinals, Grace Lee 2 & 1 in the quarterfinals, and No. 12 seed Jenna Kim in the Round of 16. She entered match play as the No. 5 seed after posting rounds of 69-70 to finish at 5-under 139 in stroke-play qualifying.
Singh, 17, arrived at Meridian Hills following a start in the U.S. Women's Open at Riviera Country Club. The future University of Houston player advanced to the final before falling just short in one of the most competitive championship matches of the week.
By reaching the final, both Lee and Singh earned exemptions into the 2026 Women's Western Junior Championship, scheduled for July 6-11 at River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst, Ill.

First played in 1920, the Women's Western Junior is one of the oldest junior golf tournaments in the United States. Long seen as a testing ground for the stars of the future, past Women's Western Junior champions include Candie Kung (1998), Cristie K...

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