C.R. Miller Match Play Invitational

Since 1974, the WPGA has administered one of the top junior match play competitions in the region. 

The C.R. Miller Memorial Match Play Invitational was started in 1974 by Ritchie Miller of Fox Chapel Golf Club in honor of his father, Charles R. Miller.

Initially run by Fox Chapel Golf Club, the event was soon turned over to the WPGA, where it has continued to be administered.

Since its inception, the event has always consisted of four rounds of match play with the 16 top-ranked juniors from Western Pennsylvania being invited to participate.

Frank Fuhrer III won the first event in 1974, and the list of champions resembles an honor roll of junior golf in the region.

Arnold Cutrell (1981), John Aber (1984), Brian Tutich (1993), Nathan Smith (1995), Justin Smith (1998 and 1999), Mike VanSickle (2004), William Miller (2005), Easton Renwick (2008 and 2009), Palmer Jackson (2017 and 2019).

Six winners of the C.R. Miller Memorial Match Play have gone on to win the WPGA Amateur Championship – Frank Fuhrer III, Brian Tutich, Nathan Smith, William Miller, Easton Renwick and David Fuhrer II.

Frank Fuhrer, Nathan Smith Arnold Cutrell and Easton Renwick also went on to win the WPGA Open Championship.

Four players have won the C.R. Miller Memorial Match Play twice, with Justin Smith, Easton Renwick, Palmer Jackson and Wes Warden all claiming the event on multiple occasions.

Early versions of the Invitational had the low 16 players from the WPGA Junior Championship being invited, and often there were hole-by-hole playoffs conducted at the end of the championship to finalize the field. Now, the WPGA selects the field based off overall performance, delegating the top seed to the reigning WPGA Junior champion.

In 2018, the event expanded to include the WPGA Girls Match Play Invitational, which runs concurrently with the C.R. Miller Memorial. Caroline Wrigley won the first WPGA Girls Match Play Invitational, and no player has claimed the event twice.