Flag & Bow Invitational Celebrates a Successful Second Year

All images courtesy of Mogie Adamchik.
 
Strong winds made for a challenging day at the second annual Flag & Bow Invitational, but there was plenty to celebrate as 43 women gathered at Essex County Country Club for an event that brought together competitive golf and female-owned businesses.

Behind the event is Christina Parsells, a former Division I golfer and current mid-amateur competitor who founded Flag & Bow, a women’s golf lifestyle brand that brings a love of the game into everyday style. After college, Parsells experienced firsthand the limited opportunities for women to continue competing at a high level. She created the Invitational to give fellow mid-amateurs a place to test their games, reconnect with friends and meet new ones—and, above all, keep playing.

This year, gusts reaching 30 mph across the 6,200-yard setup put those games to the test. Lauren Greenlief and Krissy Ortiz finished tied at four over par, sending them into a two-hole playoff. Greenlief, the 2015 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, came out on top to claim the 2026 title.

2026 champion Lauren Greenlief with her Claire Nilan artwork.

Essex County’s hospitality extended well beyond welcoming the field. The club’s Head Professional, Don McCabe, and Assistant Professional, Dylan Skinner, even caddied during the playoff—a fitting finish to a day of support from the host club.

That same personal touch carried through the details of the event, where female-owned businesses played a central role. Rather than a traditional trophy, Greenlief took home artwork by Claire Nilan, whose work has become a signature of the annual competition. As the Invitational moves to a different course each year, each champion will have a piece of art to hang at home and remember the day.

The competitors also received a keepsake of their own. This year’s tee gifts included makeup pouches from the new Flag & Bow Custom Collection, featuring artwork of select holes at Essex County. Competitor Anina Ku also shared her company, Taora, which creates herbal stress-relief tonics rooted in Chinese medicine.

Following its inaugural event at Somerset Hills Country Club in 2025 and this year’s competition at Essex County, the Invitational will head to Baltusrol Golf Club in 2027, continuing Parsells’ vision of giving women more opportunities to compete and stay connected to the game.