Mary Mills (golfer)

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Mary Mills
Personal information
Full nameMary Mills
Born (1940-01-19) January 19, 1940 (age 86)
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Career
College Millsaps College
Florida International University
Turned professional1962
Former tour LPGA Tour (1962–81)
Professional wins9
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour9
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 3)
Western Open 4th: 1965
Titleholders C'ship T2: 1966
Women's PGA C'ship Won: 1964, 1973
U.S. Women's Open Won: 1963
du Maurier Classic DNP
Achievements and awards
LPGA Rookie of the Year 1962

Mary Mills (born January 19, 1940) is an American former professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1962 and won three major championships and nine LPGA Tour victories in all.

Contents

Amateur career

Mills was born in Laurel, Mississippi. She began playing golf at age 11 and her instructor was Johnny Revolta, an 18-time PGA Tour winner and PGA Championship victor. She won the Mississippi State Amateur eight consecutive years starting in 1954, and won the Gulf Coast Amateur twice. She was also medalist in the U.S. Girls' Junior, Western Junior, and the National Collegiate Championship. She attended Millsaps College where she was the No. 1 golfer – on the men's team – all four years.

Professional career

Mills turned pro and joined the LPGA Tour in 1962, and earned LPGA Rookie of the Year honors. She posted multiple wins in three different seasons on tour, and was in the top-10 on the money list five times, with a high finish of sixth in 1973. She won the U.S. Women's Open in 1963 and the LPGA Championship in 1964 and 1973. She finished in the top ten on the money list four times, with her best finish being sixth place in 1973. She continued playing a full LPGA Tour schedule into the 1980s. She also continued her education. A philosophy major at Millsaps, she returned to school in the 1990s to earn a master's degree in landscape architecture from Florida International University. She puts that degree to use these days designing golf courses. She is also a well-regarded golf instructor.

Professional wins

LPGA Tour wins (9)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (3)
Other LPGA Tour (6)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Jul 20, 1963 U.S. Women's Open −3 (71-70-75-73=289)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Sandra Haynie
Flag of the United States.svg Louise Suggs
2Sep 13, 1964 Eugene Ladies' Open +1 (70-68-75-76=289)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Sandra Haynie
3Oct 4, 1964 LPGA Championship −6 (68-69-72-69=278)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Mickey Wright
4Aug 15, 1965 St. Louis Open −3 (73-71-72=216)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Marlene Hagge
Flag of the United States.svg Carol Mann
5Sep 12, 1965 Eugene Open +6 (75-74-73-72=294)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jo Ann Prentice
6Oct 19, 1969 Quality Chek'd Classic −3 (70-73-70=213)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Carol Mann
7Jun 28, 1970 Len Immke Buick Open E (73-74-69=216)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Althea Gibson
Flag of the United States.svg Sandra Haynie
8Jun 10, 1973 LPGA Championship −4 (73-73-72-70=288)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Betty Burfeindt
9Jul 1, 1973 Lady Tara Classic −2 (77-70-70=217)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Laura Baugh
Flag of the United States.svg Sandra Haynie
Flag of the United States.svg Sharon Miller
Flag of the United States.svg Judy Rankin

LPGA Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
11970 Len Immke Buick Open Flag of the United States.svg Althea Gibson
Flag of the United States.svg Sandra Haynie
Won with par on second extra hole
Haynie eliminated by birdie on first hole
21973 Dallas Civitan Open Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Whitworth Lost to par on second extra hole

Major championships

Wins (3)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up
1963 U.S. Women's Open −3 (71-70-75-73=289)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Sandra Haynie, Flag of the United States.svg Louise Suggs
1964 LPGA Championship −6 (68-69-72-69=278)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Mickey Wright
1973 LPGA Championship −4 (73-73-72-70=288)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Betty Burfeindt

See also