Sandra Spuzich (April 3, 1937 – October 6, 2015) was an American
professional golfer
A professional golfer is somebody who receives payments or financial rewards in the sport of golf that are directly related to their skill or reputation. A person who earns money by teaching or playing golf is traditionally considered a "golf pr ...
who played on the
LPGA Tour
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organization for female golfers. The organization is headquartered at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly ...
in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Spuzich was born in
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
, of Polish, Serbian, Macedonian and Lebanese descent. She was an amateur golfer and elementary school teacher when she decided to turn professional in 1962. Her first win came at the 1966
U.S. Women's Open
The U.S. Women's Open is one of 15 national golf championships conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is the oldest of the LPGA Tour's five major championships, which includes the Chevron Championship, Women's PGA Championship, ...
by one stroke over
Carol Mann
Carol Mann (February 3, 1941 – May 20, 2018) was an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1961 and won two women's major golf championships, major championships and 38 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of ...
and two strokes over
Mickey Wright
Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright (February 14, 1935 – February 17, 2020) was an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She became a member of the tour in 1955 and won 82 LPGA Tour career events including 13 major champions ...
. The tournament was held at
Hazeltine National Golf Club
Hazeltine National Golf Club ( ) is a golf club located in Chaska, Minnesota, a suburb southwest of Minneapolis, United States. It is a private club and therefore closed to guests not accompanied by a member. The golf course was designed by Ro ...
in
Chaska, Minnesota
Chaska ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Carver County, Minnesota, Carver County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 27,810 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. An outer ring suburb of the Twin Cities located southwe ...
– the first major championship played there.
In 1982 at the age of 45, Spuzich became the oldest player to win two LPGA Tour events in the same year when she won the
Corning Classic followed by the
Mary Kay Classic.
Spuzich died in Indianapolis on October 6, 2015. Her life partner was fellow LPGA golfer
Joyce Kazmierski.
Professional wins
LPGA Tour wins (7)
LPGA Tour playoff record (2–2)
Other wins (1)
*1966
Haig & Haig Scotch Foursome (with
Jack Rule, Jr.)
Major championships
Wins (1)
References
American female golfers
LPGA Tour golfers
Winners of LPGA major golf championships
Indiana Hoosiers women's golfers
LGBTQ golfers
American lesbian sportswomen
LGBTQ people from Indiana
Golfers from Indianapolis
American people of Polish descent
American people of Serbian descent
American people of Macedonian descent
American people of Lebanese descent
Sportspeople of Lebanese descent
1937 births
2015 deaths
20th-century American sportswomen
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