Some of the competitors probably had no idea who she was, but after more than an hour of checking scorecards at the recent U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifying tournament at Valley Country Club, Hollis Stacy was approached by one of the players.
“Can I have your autograph?” the girl asked.
And with that, Stacy gave the youngster a little pep talk as she personalized a few written words for the girl.
Stacy, a Colorado resident for the last 16 years, doesn’t get as readily recognized as Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus or Annika Sorenstam, but her record in USGA championships ranks among the best in golf history. And that’s particularly relevant at this time of year, when the national championships where Stacy made her name are contested.
Especially this year, with the U.S. Women’s Open coming to the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs July 7-10, Stacy draws some attention given her history in the event. That’s what three U.S. Women’s Open titles — and Colorado residency — will do.
Officially, Stacy will be an observer in a landing area at the Broadmoor during the Women’s Open. Unofficially, she’ll be a Colorado-based USGA ambassador.
Stacy not only built her USGA reputation with three U.S. Women’s Open wins — a total surpassed by only Mickey Wright and Betsy Rawls, who won four each — but she also captured three U.S. Girls’ Junior titles. No one else has won that event as many times.
Combine her victories at the U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Girls’ Junior, and only a half-dozen players in history have won more USGA championships: Woods (9), Bobby Jones (9), Nicklaus (8), JoAnne Carner (8), Carol Semple Thompson (7) and Anne Quast Sander (7).
USGA events “have been a huge part of my life,” Stacy said last week while officiating the U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifier in Aurora. “Back in Georgia in the ’60s, the only golf tournaments a little girl could play were events on a national level. There were four tournaments I could play in every year, and one of them was the U.S. (Girls’) Junior.
“Those tournaments have always been a part of my life. I was never intimidated by the USGA because I grew up with them. I think that’s why I did so well in USGA championships.”
Stacy had an outstanding career on the LPGA Tour, winning 18 times from 1977 to 1991, but it was her USGA record — particularly her three victories in the U.S. Women’s Open — that really made her stand out.
The Savannah, Ga., native won three consecutive U.S. Girls’ Junior titles, with the first coming in 1969 in Dallas at age 15. Stacy prevailed 1 up in the finals all three years, with the third coming in 19 holes against an opponent that would make some noise in the women’s golf ranks over the years — LPGA Hall of Famer Amy Alcott. Stacy was 4 under par in the championship match.
In her U.S. Women’s Open victories — 1977, ’78 and ’84 — Stacy likewise outdueled some of the biggest names in women’s golf. Nancy Lopez finished second to her in ’77, and Carner was a runner-up in ’78.
“The first (win) in both the Juniors and the Open was probably the highlight,” Stacy said. “I had worked so hard as a junior and played against so many of my now-friends. My first win in Dallas stands out and my win at Hazeltine (in 1977) does too. You always dream about winning a U.S. Open, and when you do that “¦”
In addition to her three U.S. Women’s Open victories, Stacy placed second to Alcott in 1980 — albeit by nine strokes. And then there was the general LPGA success, which included at least one victory per year from 1977 through ’85. Stacy’s last tour win came in 1991, and four years later, after meeting a woman in California who lived in Colorado, she moved to the Centennial State in 1995.
These days, Stacy resides in Colorado for six or seven months per year, and in Florida the rest of the time. “The lack of humidity makes it so beautiful here,” she noted.
And Stacy, 57, still keeps her hand in the game competitively, albeit at a scaled-down level, playing in a handful of tournaments each year on the women’s Legends Tour.
“I don’t play that much, but my expectations are still the same,” she said.
And, of course, she still has a link to the USGA, having served on the USGA Girls Junior Committee for nine years. As far as the U.S. Women’s Open goes, it doesn’t hurt that this year’s tournament will mark the second Open held in Colorado since 2005.
“The fact we’ve had two Opens here in six years keeps me kind of in the game,” Stacy said. “I love being around.”
U.S. Women’s Open: All the Essentials
What: The 66th annual U.S. Women’s Open.
When: July 7-10 championship rounds. July 4-6 practice rounds.
Where: Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course) in Colorado Springs. The East Course will be played at up to 7,047 yards (a record for the event) and to a par-71. Greens will run 10½-11 on Stimpmeter.
Format: 72 holes of stroke play, with the field cut to the low 60 players and ties — and anyone within 10 strokes of the lead — after two rounds.
Purse: $3.25 million (the largest in women’s golf), with $585,000 going to the champion.
Field: 156 players. For the most recent list of competitors, CLICK HERE.
Former champions in field: Paula Creamer (2010), Eun-Hee Ji (2009), Inbee Park (2008), Cristie Kerr (2007), Birdie Kim (2005), Juli Inkster (1999, 2002), Karrie Webb (2001, 2002), Se Ri Pak (1998), Betsy King (1989, 1990), Laura Davies (1987). Notable: King, a 55-year-old LPGA Hall of Famer who went through Open qualifying, hasn’t played in an LPGA Tour event since 2005. “¦ Inkster won the 1982 U.S. Women’s Amateur at the Broadmoor”˜s South Course. “¦ Kim won the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills just south of Denver.
Winners of 2010/2011 Major Championships: Yani Tseng (2010 Kraft Nabisco, 2010 Women’s British Open and 2011 LPGA Championship); Cristie Kerr (2010 LPGA Championship); Paula Creamer (2010 U.S. Women’s Open); Stacy Lewis (2011 Kraft Nabisco).
Other Top-Name Entrants: Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis, Morgan Pressel.
Youngest Player in Field: Mariel Galdiano, a 13-year-old from Hawaii.
Total tournament entrants: 1,295.
Tickets: Available at 2011uswomensopen.com, at 877-281-OPEN, or at participating King Soopers stores. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE. Note: The Broadmoor gates open at 7 a.m. each day.
Kids-get-in-free policy: Youngsters 17 and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult. The front row of all grandstands will be reserved exclusively for kids.
Military discounts: Military personnel (active and retired) with I.D. and their families will be admitted free on July 4 and will receive 50 percent off normal ticket prices the remainder of the week.
TV coverage: Thursday and Friday (July 7-8) beginning at 3 p.m. on ESPN2. Saturday and Sunday (July 9-10) beginning at 1 p.m. on NBC.
Creamer clinic: Defending champion Paula Creamer will conduct a junior exhibition on July 5 (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. on the driving range.
Previous USGA championships at the Broadmoor: 1959 U.S. Amateur (winner: Jack Nicklaus); 1962 Curtis Cup Matches (winner: U.S.); 1967 U.S. Amateur (winner: Robert Dickson); 1982 U.S. Women’s Amateur (winner: Juli Simpson (Inkster)); 1995 U.S. Women’s Open (winner: Annika Sorenstam); 2008 U.S. Senior Open (winner: Eduardo Romero).
