Feb 09, 2010
1909 Birthday of Virginia Van Wie, three-time U.S. Women's Amateur champion
Virginia Van Wie turned to golf mainly as a means of exercise during an illness in her youth, but eventually developed into one of the era's best amateur golfers. Van Wie reached the final of the 1928 U.S. Women's Amateur at age 19, but lost to Glenna Collett, 13 and 12, in the second-most-lopsided match in the event's history. Two years later, Van Wie returned to the Women's Amateur final, but again lost to Collett, 6 and 5. By the early 1930s, however, Van Wie won three consecutive championships. She exacted revenge on Collett, beating her, 10 and 8, in the 1932 final. Van Wie also appeared in the first two Curtis Cups (1932 and 1934) before retiring after her third Amateur victory.
Visit the USGA Museum to learn more about
the history of golf.