Manheim Township girls golf team are ‘future of golf’ at USGA press conference at Lancaster Country Club | Pro Golf

Before the proceedings began, the 11 members of the Manheim Township girls golf team and their coach, resplendent in their uniforms, walked to the front of the room to look at the five shiny, silver United States Golf Association championship trophies that were on display.

While there, they caught the eye of John Bodenhamer, the USGA chief championships officer.

“That’s the future of golf,” Bodenhamer said later at Lancaster Country Club during a press conference announcing that five USGA events, capped by the 2044 U.S. Women’s Open, will be held at the club “I think it’s so cool that they’re here for this announcement.”

In reality, those 11 girls were the essence of the announcement.

LCC — a club that Bodenhamer said helps define what are “the cathedrals of the game” — will start its run by hosting the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2028, then continue with the 2033 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, the 2037 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, the 2040 U.S. Women’s Amateur, and finally the ’44 Open.

It’s nearly all the significant USGA events for female golfers.

“I think that this is just a vision,” Township coach Maci Seibel said. 
“It’s inspiring to see girls golf at Lancaster Country Club and to see it grow. We’re honored to be here.”

The Blue Streaks were invited to the event through an LCC member who is on the board at the club, Seibel said.

The team also was going to play nine holes following the press conference.

“I think it’s amazing,” said senior Sonia Dumasia, Manheim Township’s captain. “They brought so many incredible people here today and our girls are so privileged to see their future, what their future could look like, and we have a lot of girls, and I think it’s just inspiring to see other females in the game.”

Accomplished Amateur Golfer from Western Pennsylvania, who won 7 USGA events, Carol Semple Thompson, speaks during the USGA press conference at Lancaster Country Club on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.

CONNOR HOLLINGER | LNP Correspondent

Among those who spoke was Carol Semple Thompson, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Sewickley native, who never turned pro, has competed in 122 USGA events, winning seven titles.

She lauded what playing junior golf taught her.

“It’s great for so many things,” Semple Thompson said. “It teaches you patience. It teaches you respect to honor the rules of the game. The young kids who are playing junior golf have a great opportunity to learn about how to control their emotions on the golf course and I think that we’re very lucky if we can play junior golf.”

Dumasia said she can see the upcoming USGA events inspiring others.

“Just for Lancaster Country Club to be a home base,” she said, “I think that’s incredible for not only like the girls here, but also just Lancaster in general. I think it brings so many incredible people here, and our own Lancaster natives could, you know, rise up the ranks and just keep on going. So that’s great.”

Bodenhamer mentioned the possibility of a player making history by winning the Women’s Amateur in ’40 and the Women’s Open in ’44. Only one player, Juli Inkster, has accomplished that feat, winning the Amateur at Prairie Dues Golf Club in 1980 and the Open there in 2002.

But Rory Connaughton, the championship committee chair at LCC, had bigger ambitions.

“My real hope and my secret hope is that someone from our community will be inspired by what is on offer here and will be that player,” he said. “One can dream, anyway.”

Just ask the Manheim Township girls golf team.

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