It is a golf tournament unlike any other yet The Athena is fast developing a reputation as a perfect proving ground for the rising stars of Australian women’s golf.

The Athena returns to the sublime Peninsula-Kingswood Golf Club this week for the fifth iteration of golf’s most innovative tournament, 12 of the country’s emerging professionals and amateurs to participate in a range of skills challenges in Saturday’s ‘Combine’. The top eight from the Combine then advance to Sunday’s playoffs consisting of four-hole matches before crowning the champion.

Given The Athena is perhaps the only golf tournament in the world where winners are not invited back to defend, it will be a new name on what is becoming a very impressive honour roll.

Starting with South Australian Kristalle Blum in 2021, The Athena’s past champions include Kirsten Rudgeley (who defeated Grace Kim in a putt-off in 2022), Grace Lennon (2023) and Kelsey Bennett (2024).

Rudgeley and Bennett will both play on the Ladies European Tour in 2025 and Bennett says her win at The Athena was an important springboard.

In 2024, the 25-year-old won on the LET Access Series, took out the Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifier at Dubbo and then secured her LET card in clutch fashion at Qualifying School in December.

She pointed to her win at The Athena – her first as a professional – as crucial in embedding a winning mentality.

“My coach, Johnny (Serhan), always says that someone who can win can go a long way,” said Bennett.

“Someone who finishes top five every week but can’t completely get it over the line, it is different.

“When you actually do win events, it’s massive. To be able to handle that pressure, not a lot of people can do that. That’s a good confidence boost, to know that I can actually win an event.”

While the list of former champions is impressive, Bennett conceded that there is an element of luck needed in such a unique format.

With long drives, chipping challenges and nearest-the-pin competitions, The Athena is truly anyone’s tournament to win.

And, as Bennett displayed last year, one good hole can prove to be all the difference in the four-hole match play format on day two.

“You can be one of the best players, but with the skills challenge, it’s so tricky to guarantee yourself the top eight to get through to the match play,” said Bennett, who will play her first tournament as an LET member at next week’s WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast.

“And then, four-hole match play, that’s so tough. That’s so tricky.

“I’ve eagled the first hole in that final against ‘Chewy’ (Amy Chu) and I just felt, Poor Chewy. That sets you back a bit, because you’ve only got another three holes to try and make up for it.

“It’s a very interesting format and was just really good to get that first win.”

Past winners of The Athena

2021: Kristalle Blum (Coolangatta-Tweed Heads GC)

2022: Kirsten Rudgeley (Sandy Golf Links)

2023: Grace Lennon (Sandy Golf Links)

2024: Kelsey Bennett (Peninsula-Kingswood GC)