HONORING THE LEGENDS
“As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now are a part of us; as we remember them.” — Jewish Prayer
MARLENE Hagge-Vossler
February 16, 1934 - May 16, 2023
LPGA Co-Founder Marlene Bauer Hagge Vossler was a phenomenal child athlete, along with her sister Alice, also an LPGA Co-Founder. Breaking barriers as a young woman – to play golf on selected golf courses and participate in tournaments. She wouldn’t let her age and gender hold her back, She was a golfer and wanted to compete. Like many of her LPGA Co-Founding sisters, “no” was not in her vocabulary.
The Tour blossomed as each of the Founders played her part to contribute. Marlene and Alice were featured as glamour girls, yet Marlene’s fierce competitive style is what sealed the deal for golf fans. On the road, Marlene was a fabulous travel companion - she cooked and cared about the girls. She credited her success to having life balance, not keeping golf as the constant number one.
With Marlene’s passing, she’s organizing the tee times up above and charging us to carry on and to keep golf as a welcoming place for women and to keep women in the game of golf. Golf It Foward™ #DriveOn
Kathy Whitworth
September 27, 1939 – December 24, 2022
On December 24, 2022, women’s golf lost a champion. Golf lost a legend.
Kathy Whitworth was known for 88 professional wins. The most of any golfer, male or female. A crowning achievement so many have chased yet never grasped. She was a runner up 95 times.
Kathy fell in love with golf at the young age of 15 and found her game dragging her clubs around the course rather than focusing on the range. With a golf career spanning nearly four decades, Kathy played with LPGA Founders such as Louise Suggs and Marilynn Smith and pioneers of the game such as Nancy Lopez and Hollis Stacy.
While her victories are impressive, including 6 majors, it is her grace, determination and fortitude that defined Kathy. She was a constant support for her fellow players and the first to offer them encouragement. Her love for the game lasted long beyond her professional career. She was a longtime supporter of the work of the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund, often the first to register for the annual pro-am raising money for college scholarships for young women.
Kathy’s incredible sense of humor and graciousness on and off the course will be missed.