Nancy Lopez

Nancy Lopez

Born: January 6, 1957
Age: 67
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Biography

Nancy Marie Lopez (born January 6, 1957) is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events, including three major championships.

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Amateur career

Lopez won the New Mexico Women's Amateur at age 12 in 1969, and the U.S. Girls' Junior in 1972 and 1974, at ages 15 and 17, respectively. Shortly after graduation from Goddard High School in Roswell, she played in the U.S. Women's Open as an amateur in 1975 and tied for second.

As a collegiate freshman in 1976, Lopez was named All-American and Female Athlete of the Year for her play at the University of Tulsa. She won the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Championship and was a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup and World Amateur teams. Lopez left college after her sophomore year and turned pro in 1977, and again was the runner-up at the U.S. Women's Open.

Professional career

During her first full season on the LPGA Tour in 1978, Lopez won nine tournaments, including five consecutive. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in July, won the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average, LPGA Rookie of the Year, LPGA Player of the Year and was named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. She won another eight times in 1979, and won multiple times in each year from 1980 to 1984, although she played only half-seasons in 1983 and 1984 due to the birth of her first child.

Playing full-time again in 1985, Lopez posted five wins, five seconds and five thirds, won the money title, the scoring title and the Player of the Year Award and was named Associate Press Female Athlete of the Year for a second time. She played only four tournaments in 1986, when her second daughter was born, but came back to win multiple times in 1987-89 - three times each in 1988 and 1989 - and once again won Player of the Year honors in 1988. Lopez' schedule was curtailed again in the early 1990s when her third daughter was born. In 1992 she won twice. Lopez continued to play short schedules - from 11 to 18 tournaments - through 2002, then in 2003 cut back to just a half dozen or fewer events a year.

Although considered one of the greats in the history of women's golf, and the best player from the late 1970s to late 1980s, Lopez did not win many majors and never won the U.S. Women's Open. She finished second at the U.S. Women's Open four times, the last coming in 1997 when she became the first golfer to score in the 60s for all four rounds, yet lost to Alison Nicholas. Her three major championships all came at the LPGA Championship, in 1978, 1985, and 1989.

Lopez was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987. She was a member of the United States Solheim Cup team in 1990 and was captain of the team in 2005. Lopez retired from regular tournament play in 2002 and attempted a return in 2007 and 2008. In her return season, she played six tournaments, failed to make the cut in any of the tournaments and only broke 80 in three of the 12 rounds. In 2008 she played in three events, with a low score of 76, never making the cut.

Lopez is the only woman to win LPGA Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, and the Vare Trophy in the same season (1978). Her company, Nancy Lopez Golf, makes a full line of women's clubs and accessories. She also does occasional television commentary.

Personal

Lopez was married to Houston sportscaster Tim Melton from 1979 to 1982. Shortly after her divorce, she married Major League All-Star baseball player Ray Knight, then a member of the Houston Astros, in October 1982 in Pelham, Georgia. They were married for 27 years and have three daughters. While married, Lopez and Knight lived in Georgia in his hometown of Albany. Since 1986, she has hosted the Nancy Lopez Hospice Golf Classic at the Doublegate Country Club to raise money for Albany Community Hospice, returning yearly even after her divorce from Knight in 2009. She currently resides in The Villages, Florida where she hosts an annual golf tournament to benefit the charity AIM (Adventures in Movement), an organization that helps mentally challenged, visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically handicapped and other children and adults with special needs. She has hosted the tournament since 1981 and also serves as a National Ambassador with AIM, along with Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan.

Amateur wins

this list may be incomplete

  • 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

Professional wins

LPGA Tour wins (48)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (3)
Other LPGA Tour (45)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Feb 26, 1978 Bent Tree Classic +1 (71-72-73-73=289) 1 stroke Jo Ann Washam
2 Mar 12, 1978 Sunstar Classic −3 (72-72-70-71=285) 1 stroke Debbie Austin
Debbie Massey
3 May 14, 1978 Greater Baltimore Classic −7 (67-73-72=212) 3 strokes Donna Caponi
4 May 21, 1978 Coca-Cola Classic −3 (69-71-70=210) Playoff JoAnne Carner
5 May 29, 1978 Golden Lights Championship −11 (67-72-73-65=277) 1 stroke Jane Blalock
6 Jun 11, 1978 LPGA Championship −13 (71-65-69-70=275) 6 strokes Amy Alcott
7 Jun 18, 1978 Bankers Trust Classic −5 (72-73-69=214) 2 strokes Jane Blalock
Debbie Massey
8 Aug 6, 1978 Colgate European Open −7 (73-71-72-73=289) 3 strokes JoAnne Carner
Mary Dwyer
Sally Little
9 Nov 12, 1978 Colgate Far East Open E (75-69-72=216) 2 strokes Silvia Bertolaccini
Kathy Whitworth
10 Mar 11, 1979 Sunstar Classic −8 (70-71-70-69=280) 1 stroke Hollis Stacy
11 Mar 25, 1979 Sahara National Pro-Am −16 (72-67-66-69=274) 2 strokes Donna Caponi
12 May 6, 1979 Women's International −6 (72-71-71-68=282) 3 strokes Donna White
13 May 20, 1979 Coca-Cola Classic −3 (73-70-73=216) Playoff Bonnie Bryant
Hollis Stacy
Jo Ann Washam
Mickey Wright
14 Jun 3, 1979 Golden Lights Championship −8 (67-70-73-70=280) 4 strokes Pat Bradley
15 Jun 24, 1979 Lady Keystone Open −4 (72-68-72=212) 2 strokes Sally Little
Kathy Whitworth
16 Aug 5, 1979 Colgate European Open −6 (68-69-70-75=282) 4 strokes Joyce Kazmierski
17 Sep 30, 1979 Mary Kay Classic −14 (71-66-67-70=274) 2 strokes Sandra Post
18 Mar 30, 1980 Women's Kemper Open E (72-66-77-69=284) 2 strokes Debbie Massey
Jo Ann Washam
19 Jun 29, 1980 The Sarah Coventry −9 (73-67-72-71=283) 1 stroke Pat Bradley
20 Sep 1, 1980 Rail Charity Golf Classic −13 (65-71-71-68=275) 1 stroke JoAnne Carner
21 Mar 8, 1981 Arizona Copper Classic −14 (70-72-68-68=278) 4 strokes Pat Bradley
22 Apr 5, 1981 Colgate-Dinah Shore −11 (71-73-69-64=277) 2 strokes Carolyn Hill
23 Jun 28, 1981 The Sarah Coventry −3 (74-69-71-71=285) 2 strokes Pat Bradley
24 Mar 21, 1982 J&B Scotch Pro-Am −5 (70-67-69-73=279) 5 strokes Sandra Haynie
25 Nov 7, 1982 Mazda Japan Classic −9 (66-70-71=207) 6 strokes Amy Alcott
26 Feb 6, 1983 Elizabeth Arden Classic −3 (71-71-70-73=285) 1 stroke Pat Bradley
JoAnne Carner
Stephanie Farwig
Betsy King
27 Apr 10, 1983 J&B Scotch Pro-Am −6 (71-69-69-74=283) 1 stroke Laura Baugh
28 Mar 4, 1984 Uniden LPGA Invitational E (70-74-66-74=284) 3 strokes Pat Bradley
29 Aug 19, 1984 Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf −7 (69-74-65-73=281) 1 stroke JoAnne Carner
30 May 19, 1985 Chrysler-Plymouth Classic −9 (69-69-72=210) 3 strokes Pat Bradley
31 Jun 7, 1985 LPGA Championship −15 (65-71-72-65=273) 8 strokes Alice Miller
32 Jul 7, 1985 Mazda Hall of Fame Championship −7 (71-70-72-68=281) 3 strokes JoAnne Carner
Allison Finney
33 Aug 11, 1985 Henredon Classic −20 (66-67-69-66=268) 10 strokes Val Skinner
34 Sep 8, 1985 Portland Ping Championship −1 (69-76-70=215) Playoff Lori Garbacz
35 Feb 8, 1987 Sarasota Classic −7 (73-66-68-74=281) 3 strokes Kathy Guadagnino
Anne Marie Palli
36 Sep 13, 1987 Cellular One-Ping Golf Championship −6 (72-67-71=210) 1 stroke Kelly Leadbetter
Muffin Spencer-Devlin
Jan Stephenson
37 Feb 7, 1988 Mazda Classic −5 (69-68-71-75=283) 2 strokes Marta Figueras-Dotti
38 Apr 17, 1988 AI Star/Centinela Hospital Classic −6 (71-72-67=210) Playoff Marta Figueras-Dotti
39 May 15, 1988 Chrysler-Plymouth Classic −12 (68-70-66=204) 8 strokes Jan Stephenson
40 May 21, 1989 Mazda LPGA Championship −14 (71-69-68-66=274) 3 strokes Ayako Okamoto
41 Jul 30, 1989 Atlantic City Classic −10 (67-70-69=206) 1 stroke Christa Johnson
Vicki Fergon
42 Sep 24, 1989 Nippon Travel-MBS Classic −11 (73-69-65-70=277) 2 strokes Alice Ritzman
Pamela Wright
43 Sep 23, 1990 MBS LPGA Classic −7 (69-70-74-68=281) Playoff Cathy Gerring
44 May 5, 1991 Sara Lee Classic −10 (65-70-71=206) 2 strokes Kris Monaghan
45 Sep 7, 1992 Rail Charity Golf Classic −17 (67-68-64=199) Playoff Laura Davies
46 Sep 13, 1992 Ping-Cellular One LPGA Golf Championship −7 (70-70-69=209) Playoff Jane Crafter
47 Jul 11, 1993 Youngstown-Warren LPGA Classic −13 (68-68-67=203) Playoff Deb Richard
48 Apr 27, 1997 Chick-fil-A Charity Championship −7 (71-66=137) 2 strokes Tina Barrett
Deb Richard
Karrie Webb

Note: Lopez won the Colgate-Dinah Shore (now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship) before it became a major championship.

LPGA Tour playoff record (8-7)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1978 Kathryn Crosby/Honda Civic Classic Sally Little Lost to par on first extra hole
2 1978 Coca-Cola Classic JoAnne Carner Won with par on first extra hole
3 1978 Mizuno-Japan Classic Michiko Okada
Ai-Yu Tu
Okada won with birdie on fifth extra hole
Tu eliminated with birdie on second hole
4 1979 Women's Kemper Open Donna Caponi
JoAnne Carner
Chako Higuchi
Jan Stephenson
Carner won with par on second extra hole
Caponi, Lopez, and Stephenson eliminated with par on first hole
5 1979 Coca-Cola Classic Bonnie Bryant
Hollis Stacy
Jo Ann Washam
Mickey Wright
Won with birdie on second extra hole
Bryant, Stacy, and Washam eliminated with birdie on first hole
6 1980 Mary Kay Classic Jerilyn Britz Lost to birdie on second extra hole
7 1985 Portland Ping Championship Lori Garbacz Won with birdie on third extra hole
8 1988 AI Star/Centinela Hospital Classic Marta Figueras-Dotti Won with par on second extra hole
9 1988 Crestar Classic Juli Inkster
Rosie Jones
Betsy King
Inkster won with eagle on first extra hole
10 1988 Rochester International Mei-Chi Cheng
Patty Sheehan
Cheng won with birdie on second extra hole
Sheehan eliminated with par on first hole
11 1990 MBS LPGA Classic Cathy Gerring Won with birdie on first extra hole
12 1992 Rail Charity Classic Laura Davies Won with par on first extra hole
13 1992 Ping-Cellular One LPGA Golf Championship Jane Crafter Won with par on second extra hole
14 1993 Youngstown-Warren LPGA Classic Deb Richard Won with birdie on first extra hole
15 1998 Sara Lee Classic Donna Andrews
Jenny Lidback
Barb Mucha
Mucha won with birdie on second extra hole

Other wins

  • 1979 Portland Ping Team Championship (with Jo Ann Washam)
  • 1980 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (with Curtis Strange)
  • 1987 Mazda Champions (with Miller Barber)
  • 1992 Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (with Dottie Mochrie and Patty Sheehan)

Major championships

Wins (3)

Year Championship Winning score Margin Runner-up
1978 LPGA Championship −13 (71-65-69-70=275) 6 strokes Amy Alcott
1985 LPGA Championship −15 (65-71-72-65=273) 8 strokes Alice Miller
1989 Mazda LPGA Championship −14 (71-69-68-66=274) 3 strokes Ayako Okamoto

Results timeline

Tournament 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980
LPGA Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 T10 T19
U.S. Women's Open T18 T2LA CUT 2 T9 T11 T7
du Maurier Classic ... ... ... ... ... 2 T6
Tournament 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Kraft Nabisco Championship ... ... T6 T16 T11 DNP T33 T5 T18 CUT
LPGA Championship T5 T35 T21 T14 1 DNP T28 T24 1 T14
U.S. Women's Open WD T7 DNP T35 T4 DNP T21 T12 2 T14
du Maurier Classic T2 T9 WD T8 DNP DNP T21 T45 9 DNP
Tournament 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Kraft Nabisco Championship T30 CUT T8 T9 T3 T15 T23 T13 T21 T43
LPGA Championship DNP T18 T25 WD T18 T18 T37 T44 WD T65
U.S. Women's Open DNP T16 T7 T35 T28 CUT 2 CUT CUT T46
du Maurier Classic DNP DNP DNP T22 DNP T2 DNP T27 DNP DNP
Tournament 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Kraft Nabisco Championship T63 CUT CUT WD CUT DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
LPGA Championship CUT CUT CUT CUT DNP DNP CUT DNP DNP CUT
U.S. Women's Open CUT CUT DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Women's British Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP

^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = did not play.
CUT = missed the half=way cut.
"T" = tied
WD = withdrew
Green background for a win. Yellow background for a top-10 finish.

Team appearances

Amateur

  • Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 1976 (winners)
  • Espirito Santo Trophy (representing the United States): 1976 (winners)

Professional

  • Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 1990 (winners)
  • Handa Cup (representing the United States): 2011 (winners), 2012 (tie, Cup retained), 2013

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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