🇦🇺 Australasia (1972–present): From ALPG to WPGA — Connecting the Southern Hemisphere
While women’s professional golf was taking root in the U.S. and Europe, a new movement was emerging in the Southern Hemisphere.
In 1972, a group of Australian women professionals came together to form the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Association (ALPG). It was founded to create opportunities for women to earn a living through golf — to play, teach, and grow the game in a region that was still finding its voice in world golf.
The early years were challenging but filled with conviction. The ALPG built its own tournaments, forged partnerships, and welcomed international players who travelled to Australia each summer to compete. Among its members were legendary players like Karrie Webb, Rachel Hetherington, and Jane Crafter, whose success on global tours shone a spotlight on women’s golf in Australasia.
In 2021, the ALPG rebranded as the WPGA Tour of Australasia, aligning the region with the global network of WPGA organisations and acknowledging its shared heritage with the UK and USA. The rebranding reflected a broader vision — to promote women professionals in every role, from coaching and club leadership to competition and tour administration.
Today, the WPGA Tour of Australasia operates as the region’s leading professional circuit for women, co-sanctioning events with the Ladies European Tour and showcasing emerging talent from Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific.
It also plays a key role in developing pathways for women PGA members across the southern hemisphere — ensuring that the WPGA name continues to represent excellence, opportunity, and belonging wherever women play and work in golf.
👩💼 Leadership — Karen Lunn and the Modern WPGA Tour of Australasia
At the heart of the modern WPGA Tour of Australasia is Karen Lunn, one of Australian golf’s most respected figures. A former Ladies European Tour (LET) champion and 1993 Women’s British Open winner, Lunn now serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the WPGA Tour of Australasia.
Under her leadership, the organisation has strengthened its role as both a professional tour and a development pathway — nurturing elite talent while supporting women PGA professionals in coaching, education, and club leadership. Lunn has been a driving force behind greater visibility, equality, and opportunity for women in the sport, working to align the Australasian tour with global partners such as the LET and LPGA.
Her vision combines the insight of a former tour player with the purpose of a modern leader: ensuring that women across the region have the resources, recognition, and respect to thrive in every area of the game.
“We’re building on the legacy of those who came before us — and shaping a future where women’s golf stands equal, visible, and valued.”
— Karen Lunn, CEO WPGA Tour of Australasia