Nancy Lopez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nancy Lopez |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Nancy Marie Lopez |
| Born | January 6, 1957 Torrance, California, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Residence | The Villages, Florida, U.S. |
| Spouse | Ed Russell (m. 2017) Ray Knight (1982–2009) Tim Melton (1979–1982) |
| Children | Ashley, Erinn, Torri |
| Career | |
| College | University of Tulsa (two years) |
| Turned professional | 1977 |
| Current tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 51 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| LPGA Tour | 48 |
| LPGA of Japan Tour | 1 |
| Other | 3 |
| Best results in LPGA Major Championships (Wins: 3) |
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| Kraft Nabisco C'ship | T3: 1995 |
| LPGA Championship | Won: 1978, 1985, 1989 |
| U.S. Women's Open | 2nd/T2: 1975, 1977, 1989, 1997 |
| du Maurier Classic | 2nd/T2: 1979, 1981, 1996 |
| Women's British Open | DNP |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 1987 |
| LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year |
1978 |
| LPGA Tour Money Winner |
1978, 1979, 1985 |
| LPGA Tour Player of the Year |
1978, 1979, 1985, 1988 |
| LPGA Tour Vare Trophy |
1978, 1979, 1985 |
| GWAA Female Player of the Year |
1978, 1979, 1985 |
| Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year |
1978, 1985 |
| LPGA William and Mousie Powell Award |
1987 |
| Flo Hyman Memorial Award | 1992 |
| USGA Bob Jones Award | 1998 |
| Old Tom Morris Award | 2000 |
Nancy Marie Lopez (born January 6, 1957) is a famous American former professional golfer. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1977. During her amazing career, she won 48 LPGA Tour events. This includes three major championships, which are the biggest tournaments in women's golf.
Contents
Early Golf Days: Amateur Career
Nancy Lopez started playing golf at a very young age. She was incredibly talented! When she was just 12 years old in 1969, she won the New Mexico Women's Amateur tournament. She also won the U.S. Girls' Junior championship twice, in 1972 and 1974.
After finishing high school, Nancy played in the U.S. Women's Open as an amateur. She even tied for second place in 1975! She went to the University of Tulsa for two years. There, she was named an All-American and Female Athlete of the Year in 1976. She also won a national college golf championship. Nancy decided to become a professional golfer in 1977.
Amateur Wins: A Look at Her Early Success
Nancy's amateur career was full of victories. Here are some of her notable wins:
- 1969 New Mexico Women's Amateur
- 1970 New Mexico Women's Amateur
- 1971 New Mexico Women's Amateur
- 1972 U.S. Girls' Junior, Women's Western Junior
- 1973 Women's Western Junior
- 1974 U.S. Girls' Junior, Women's Western Junior
- 1975 Mexican Amateur
- 1976 AIAW National Championship, Women's Western Amateur, Women's Trans National Amateur
Becoming a Pro: Professional Career Highlights
Nancy Lopez's first full season on the LPGA Tour in 1978 was truly remarkable. She won nine tournaments that year! This included an incredible streak of five wins in a row. She was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. She also won several important awards, like the Vare Trophy (for the lowest scoring average), LPGA Rookie of the Year, and LPGA Player of the Year. The Associated Press even named her Female Athlete of the Year.
She continued her winning streak in 1979, winning eight more times. Nancy kept winning multiple tournaments each year from 1980 to 1984. She took some time off in 1983 and 1984 when her first child was born.
More Wins and Family Time
When Nancy returned to full-time play in 1985, she had another fantastic year. She won five tournaments and many other top finishes. She won the money title, scoring title, and Player of the Year Award again. For the second time, she was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.
Nancy's schedule was lighter in 1986 because her second daughter was born. But she came back strong, winning multiple times in 1987, 1988, and 1989. She earned Player of the Year honors again in 1988. Her schedule was reduced again in the early 1990s after her third daughter was born. Even with a shorter schedule, she won twice in 1992.
Major Championships and Hall of Fame
Nancy Lopez is considered one of the greatest women golfers ever. She won three major championships, all of them at the LPGA Championship. She won this event in 1978, 1985, and 1989.
She never won the U.S. Women's Open, but she came very close! She finished second four times. In 1997, she was the first player in the tournament's history to score under 70 in all four rounds, but still lost.
Nancy was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987. This is a huge honor for any golfer. She also played on the United States Solheim Cup team in 1990 and was the team captain in 2005. She officially retired from regular tournament play in 2002.
Nancy Lopez is the only woman to win LPGA Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, and the Vare Trophy all in the same year (1978). Today, her company, Nancy Lopez Golf, creates golf clubs and accessories for women. She also sometimes works as a television commentator for golf events.
Life Off the Course: Personal Life and Charity
Nancy Lopez has three daughters: Ashley, Erinn, and Torri. She was married to Tim Melton from 1979 to 1982. Later, she married former Major League Baseball player Ray Knight in 1982. They were married for 27 years. In 2017, Nancy married Ed Russell.
Nancy is very involved in charity work. Since 1986, she has hosted the Nancy Lopez Hospice Golf Classic. This event raises money for the Albany Community Hospice in Georgia. She also hosts an annual golf tournament in The Villages, Florida, where she lives. This tournament benefits AIM (Adventures in Movement), a charity that helps children and adults with special needs. She has supported AIM since 1981 and is a national ambassador for the organization.
Team Appearances for the U.S.
Nancy Lopez represented the United States in several team competitions, both as an amateur and a professional.
Amateur Teams
- Curtis Cup: 1976 (the U.S. team won!)
- Espirito Santo Trophy: 1976 (the U.S. team won!)
Professional Teams
- Solheim Cup: 1990 (the U.S. team won!), 2005 (she was the non-playing captain, and the U.S. team won!)
- Handa Cup: 2011 (the U.S. team won!), 2012 (tie, Cup retained), 2013
See also
In Spanish: Nancy Lopez para niños
- List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins
- List of golfers with most LPGA major championship wins
