Ann Gregory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ann Gregory |
|
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 25, 1912 Aberdeen, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 1990 (aged 77) Gary, Indiana, U.S. |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Spouse | Leroy Percy Gregory |
| Career | |
| Status | Amateur |
| Achievements and awards | |
| United Golf Association | 1966 |
| African American Golfers Hall of Fame |
2006 |
| National African American Golfers Hall of Fame |
2011 |
| National Black Golf Hall of Fame |
2012 |
Ann Gregory (born July 25, 1912 – died February 5, 1990) was an incredible African-American amateur golfer. She was so good that black newspapers called her "The Queen of Negro Women's Golf." Many people, including famous tennis player Arthur Ashe, believed Ann Gregory was the best African-American female golfer of the 20th century.
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Ann Gregory's Golf Journey
Ann Gregory started playing golf while her husband was away. He was serving in the Navy during World War II. She quickly became very skilled at the sport.
Early Wins and Achievements
In 1948, Ann Gregory won a big tournament in Kankakee, Illinois. She beat some strong players who had been champions before. Two years later, in 1950, she had an amazing year. She won the Sixth City Open in Cleveland and the Midwest Amateur tournament. She also won the national tournament for the United Golf Association. That same year, she even tied the women's course record at a tournament in Flint, Michigan.
Breaking Barriers in Golf
Ann Gregory made history on September 17, 1956. She became the first African-American woman to play in a national championship. This was the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, run by the United States Golf Association.
Facing Discrimination
Sadly, Ann Gregory faced unfair treatment because she was African-American. In 1959, after the U.S. Women's Amateur, she was not allowed to attend the player's banquet. This happened at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda.
In her hometown of Gary, Indiana, African-Americans were not allowed to play at the South Gleason Park Golf Course. But in the early 1960s, Ann Gregory bravely played there. She said, "My tax dollars are taking care of the big course and there's no way you can bar me from it." Other African-Americans followed her lead. Soon after, the ban on the course was lifted.
In 1963, at another Women's Amateur event, a fellow player mistakenly thought Ann Gregory was a maid. This shows the challenges she faced.
Later Successes and Legacy
Ann Gregory continued to achieve great things. In 1971, she was the runner-up at the USGA Senior Women's Amateur. This made her the first African-American to finish second in a USGA women's competition.
In 1989, when she was 76 years old, Ann Gregory won a gold medal. She competed in the U.S. National Senior Olympics. She beat 50 other women by a huge margin of 44 strokes!
Throughout her golf career, Ann Gregory won almost 300 tournaments.
Beyond the Golf Course
Ann Gregory was also a leader in her community. In 1954, she became the first African-American to be appointed to the Gary Public Library Board in Indiana.
Today, there is a special granite marker in her memory. It stands at the sixth hole of the South Gleason Park Golf Course in Gary, Indiana.
Ann Gregory has been honored in several Hall of Fames:
- United Golf Association Hall of Fame (1966)
- African American Golfers Hall of Fame (2006)
- National African American Golfers Hall of Fame (2011)
- National Black Golf Hall of Fame (2012)
From 2000 to 2007, the Urban Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas held the Ann Gregory Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament. This helped students in her name.
