"LPGA Founder" Marilynn Smith Signed 11X14 Disney Art Print JG Autographs COA

Description

Up for auction
"LPGA Founder" Marilynn Smith Signed 11X14 Disney Art Print.
This item is certified authentic by
JG Autographs
and comes with their Letter of Authenticity.
ES-3459G
Marilynn Louise Smith
(April 13, 1929 – April 9, 2019) was an American
professional golfer
. She was one of the thirteen founders of the
LPGA
in 1950. She won two
major championships
and 21 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of the
World Golf Hall of Fame
. Smith was born in
Topeka, Kansas
. She started playing golf at age 12. She was a three-time winner of the Kansas State Amateur from 1946-48. She won the 1949 national individual
intercollegiate golf championship
while attending the
University of Kansas
. Smith turned pro in 1949 and joined the
Spalding
staff. She was one of the thirteen women who founded the LPGA in 1950. She won her first tournament in 1952 at the
Fort Wayne Open
. She would go on to win a total of 21 events on the LPGA Tour, including two
major championships
, the 1963 and 1964
Titleholders Championships
. She finished in the top ten on the money list nine times between 1961 and 1972, with her best finishes being fourth places in 1963, 1968 and 1970. She was named the LPGA Most Improved Player in 1963. She was the LPGA's president from 1958 to 1960. She was selected for membership of the
World Golf Hall of Fame
in the Lifetime Achievement category in June 2006 and was inducted in October 2006.
In 1973 she became the first woman to work on a men's golf television broadcast.
She died on April 9, 2019, four days before her 90th birthday.