Sandra Post, CM (born June 4, 1948) is a Canadian professional golfer. She was the first Canadian to play on the LPGA Tour.
Biography
Early years, junior and amateur golf
Born in Oakville, Ontario, Post was a youthful prodigy who learned her golf at the nearby Trafalgar Golf Club. She was competing in Ontario provincial events by age 13. She compiled an outstanding junior and amateur career that included winning the Ontario and Canadian Junior Girls Championships three times each.
Wins pro major, LPGA Rookie of the Year
Bypassing college, Post turned professional in the spring of 1968, at age 19, joining the LPGA Tour. In her debut season on the LPGA Tour, Post became the then-youngest player to win an LPGA major championship, by capturing the LPGA Championship. Her 18-hole playoff victory over defending champion Kathy Whitworth, by 68 to 75, also marked the first victory in the Championship by a non-U.S. player. For her performance on the professional circuit, Post was voted the Tour's Rookie of the Year award. Post did not return to the winner's circle on the Tour until 1978; however, she challenged to win on many occasions during that ten-year period. In 1974, she won a non-Tour event in Asia.
Second on 1979 money list
Post hit her peak form from 1978 to 1981, winning seven of her eight career titles, and became one of the world's top players. She captured back-to-back wins at the 1978 and 1979 Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle. For the 1979 season, she finished second on the LPGA money list, and won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's "Athlete of the Year." During her 16 years on the pro tour, Post also had 20 second-place tournament finishes, including at the U.S. Women's Open.
Honors
Several nagging injuries led Post to retire from most LPGA competition by the mid-1980s, but she competed occasionally after that. In 1988, she was elected to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Royal Canadian Golf Association Hall of Fame. In 1999, she was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. In 2003 she was honored by her country with membership in the Order of Canada. She was voted No. 8 of the females chosen as Canada's Athletes of the 20th Century.
Post has captained Canada's Nations Cup team, serves as a commentator on televised golf events in Canada, and writes golf instructional articles for several Canadian magazines. She is involved in a number of charitable causes, and runs the Sandra Post School of Golf near Toronto. Post has her own golf apparel firm, and has designed a set of women's golf clubs for the Jazz Golf company.
Professional wins
LPGA Tour wins (8)
Legend |
LPGA Tour major championships (1) |
Other LPGA Tour (7) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jun 23, 1968 | LPGA Championship | +2 (72-75-74-73=294) | Playoff | Kathy Whitworth |
2 | Apr 2, 1978 | Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle | −5 (65-74-72-72=283) | Playoff | Penny Pulz |
3 | Aug 20, 1978 | Lady Stroh's Open | −2 (69-71-71-75=286) | Playoff | Pat Meyers Kathy Whitworth |
4 | Apr 8, 1979 | Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle | −12 (68-70-68-70=276) | 1 stroke | Nancy Lopez |
5 | May 13, 1979 | Lady Michelob | −9 (72-69-69=210) | 2 strokes | Pat Bradley |
6 | Sep 23, 1979 | ERA Real Estate Classic | −8 (71-73-70-70=284) | 2 strokes | Donna Caponi |
7 | Aug 3, 1980 | West Virginia LPGA Classic | −5 (69-69-73=211) | Playoff | Donna Caponi |
8 | Jun 7, 1981 | McDonald's Kids Classic | −6 (69-69-73-71=282) | 2 strokes | Amy Alcott |
Note: Post won the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle (now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship) before it became a major championship.
LPGA Tour playoff record (4-2)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1968 | LPGA Championship | Kathy Whitworth | Won 18-hole playoff (Post:68, Whitworth:75) |
2 | 1976 | Girl Talk Classic | Pat Bradley Bonnie Lauer Judy Rankin |
Bradley won with par on second extra hole Lauer and Post eliminated with birdie on first hole |
3 | 1978 | Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle | Penny Pulz | Won with par on second extra hole |
4 | 1978 | Lady Stroh's Open | Pat Meyers Kathy Whitworth |
Won with birdie on second extra hole |
5 | 1979 | Elizabeth Arden Classic | Amy Alcott | Lost to eagle on third extra hole |
6 | 1980 | West Virginia LPGA Classic | Donna Caponi | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
Other wins (1)
- 1974 Colgate Far East Open
Major championships
Wins (1)
Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | LPGA Championship | +2 (72-75-74-73=294) | Playoff1 | Kathy Whitworth |
1Won in a playoff (68 Post, 75 Whitworth).