USGA renames medal to honor NW’s JoAnne Carner

The United States Golf Association has announced the medal presented each year to the U.S. Women’s Amateur champion will be renamed and redesigned to honor golf legend JoAnne Carner in recognition of her remarkable golf career, which includes eight USGA championship victories, the most by any female golfer.

The gold medal in its current form, which has not had a formal name prior, dates back to 1977. Beginning with the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur next August, each champion will receive the JoAnne Carner Medal along with the Robert Cox Trophy.

JoAnne will become the third golfer to have a USGA championship medal named after her, preceded by Jack Nicklaus in 2012 for the U.S. Open gold medal, and by Mickey Wright in 2020 for the U.S. Women’s Open gold medal.