ELMSFORD, N.Y.  (September 10, 2015) – Today begins the USGA Women’s State Team Championship at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where 52 teams of three players representing each state go head-to-head to claim the coveted Judy Bell trophy.

This biennial competition last occurred in 2013, when the Met Area’s own New Jersey Team took home the title. This year, New Jersey boasts a member of that reigning team once again.

Taking on the role of playing captain, Tara Fleming of Jersey City will look to keep the trophy within NJ borders, this time with different teammates Ami Gianchandani of Short Hills and Adrienne MacLean of Basking Ridge. Fleming also competed in the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball championship, where she advanced to the Round of 32 with partner Alicia Kapheim. Earlier this season, Gianchandani claimed the New Jersey Junior Girls Championship and competed in the U.S. Girl’s Junior, making her debut into the USGA circuit. MacLean has veteran experience on a national level, competing in 13 USGA championships, two of which she represented New Jersey in the Women’s State Team. Later this month, she will compete in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

This year’s New York team consists of Lindsay May of Auburn and WMGA Champions Ellen Oswald of New City and Dani Mullin of West Islip, who will be the playing captain. Oswald, who represented New York in 2013, and Mullin are no stranger to competing on a team together, having previously played in the MGA/WMGA French-American Challenge last season and in the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball Championship earlier this season. May finished as the runner-up in the 2015 New York State Women’s Amateur, while Mullin won the 2015 New York State Women’s Mid-Amateur.

Also representing the Met Area is Connecticut. Team members include two-time WMGA Public Links Champion Daria Cummings of Monroe, WMGA Match Play Champion Sheila Torgan of Fairfield and Jennifer Holland of Branford. Holland represented Connecticut is 2013 and will be a playing captain this time around.

The USGA Women’s State Team Championship takes place from September 10-12 at  at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where 52 teams compete in 3-count-2 stroke play format for 54 holes.