Golfer marlene hagge biography

Marlene Hagge (née Bauer; February 16, 1934 – May 16, 2023) was an American professional golfer.
In 1950, began her LPGA career as an LPGA founder when she was only 16 years old and today remains the youngest player ever to have joined the LPGA Tour.
South Dakota native Marlene Bauer Hagge was one of the original 13 LPGA Tour Founders along with her sister, Alice Bauer.

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Hagge, Marlene Bauer (1934—)

American golfer and winner of seven LPGA titles who finished among the top ten in earnings for eight seasons. Name variations: Marlene Bauer. Born Marlene Bauer in Eureka, South Dakota, on February 16, 1934; younger sister of golfer Alice Bauer who was the first woman to win the L.A. Open; married.

Professional women's golf was a growing sport when Marlene Bauer, and her older sister Alice Bauer , began playing. In 1944, the ten-year-old Marlene won the Long Beach Boys' Junior championship at a time when few young women were playing golf. In 1949, at age 15, Bauer won the first USGA Junior Girls' championship, the Western Junior Girls' championship, and the Helms Award; she was also named Associated Press Athlete of the Year. Bauer and her 18-year-old sister chose to turn pro that year. The Bauer sisters, considered by the press to be the first "glamour girls" of the Tour, were also the youngest. In 1952, Marlene won her first LPGA tournament, the Sarasota Open, in what was to be the beginning of her 25 official career victories. Married by 19

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Marlene Bauer Hagge - Inducted 1973

First woman named to South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. Born Feb. 16, 1934, in Eureka. Was just 3 years old when she had her first set of golf clubs. Her dad, Dave Bauer, leased the municipal golf course in Aberdeen (then called Hyde Park, now Lee Park) and moved his family to living quarters in the clubhouse in 1938. Marlene was literally raised on a golf course. Dave saw great potential in Marlene and her older sister, Alice, so he moved the family to the Los Angeles area in 1944. In 1949 at the age of 15, Hagge so dominated the California amateur circuit that she became the youngest athlete ever to be named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, Golfer of the Year and Teenager of the Year. Marlene was one of the founders and, with sister Alice, one of the 11 charter members of the LPGA in 1950. In 1952 at age 18 she got her first Tour victory, in the Sarasota Open. She remains the youngest player to ever join the LPGA Tour and the youngest winner of an LPGA event. In 1956 Hagge became the first woman on the Tour to top $20,000 in a

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Played as Burdine's Invitational. Second-placed Sandra Palmer (USA) and Kathy Ahren (USA) finished 4 shots behind Hagge (USA, née Bauer), who recorded the last of her 26 LPGA Tour wins. [Red course, Trump Natl Doral Resort, Miami, FL].

Winner (holder)

Hagge, Marlene

Venue

Northwood Hills

Score

214 (-2)

Prize money

$3,000

Title sponsor

Stroh's

Played as Stroh's WBLY Open. Carol Mann (USA) finished 4 shots behind Hagge (USA). [Northwood Hills, Springfield, Ohio].

Played as the LPGA Tall City Open. Kathy Whitworth finished in second place behind Hagge.

Played as the Phoenix Thunderbirds Ladies Open. Judy Torluemke finished in second place behind Hagge.

Played as the Alamo Ladies Open. Carol Mann (USA) and defending champion Kathy Whitworth (USA) finished in second place behind Hagge (USA). [Pecan Valley GC, San Antonio, Texas. This course is now closed].

Played as the Milwaukee Open. Judy Torluemke finished in second place behind Hagge.

Played as the Babe Zaharias Open. Clifford Ann Creed and Carol Mann finished in second place behind Hagge