Fay Crocker
Encyclopedia
Fay Crocker was the first non-American golf
er to win one of the LPGA major golf championships. Her first major was the 1955 U.S. Women's Open
and her second was the 1960 Titleholders Championship
, where she set a record for the oldest LPGA major champion of 45 years, 7 months and 1 day.
Crocker was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. She began golfing at age six in her native Uruguay, where her American expatriate
father ran an import business. Her father won the Uruguayan men's golf championship 27 times, and her mother won both the Uruguayan women's golf and tennis championships.
Crocker followed in those footsteps, herself winning the women's national championship of Uruguay 20 times. She also won the Argentine
national women's title 14 times.
Crocker first played the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1939, but never had much success in the tournament. She did, however, impress spectators with her length off the tee. A 1939 Time magazine article said of Crocker, "... (her) long drives fascinated the galleries, convinced them that she is the Sam Snead of women golfers."
Crocker worked for a while as a visa clerk in the American embassy in Buenos Aires
, Argentina, but eventually decided to pursue a professional golf career full-time. From the time she turned pro in 1954 up through at least 1958 (and possibly through 1960), Crocker played in every single LPGA event held.
In her very first round as a pro, at a 1954 tournament in Sea Island, Georgia
, Crocker set a course record.
Crocker was 39 years old at the time she turned pro, and when she won the 1955 Serbin Open
, she set a record as the LPGA's oldest first-time winner. She was 40 years, 6 months, 18 days, and that record still stands.
Crocker won three times in 1955, including the U.S. Women's Open, where she outdueled Louise Suggs
and Mary Lena Faulk
down the stretch.
Crocker won twice each in 1956, 1957, and 1958. At the 1958 U.S. Women's Open, her second-round 68 made her the first golfer to break 70 in that event.
Crocker won twice more in 1960, including her second major at the Titleholders Championship
. She was 45 years, 7 months and 11 days old at the time of that win, also a record that still stands as oldest winner of an LPGA major.
But her days of winning on the LPGA Tour were over. Crocker was third on the LPGA money list in 1955, fourth in 1956 and second in 1957.
Crocker died in 1983. She was buried in The British Cemetery.
The Fay Crocker Cup, a South American event pitting national teams of junior golfers, is played yearly in Argentina.
LPGA majors
are shown in bold.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er to win one of the LPGA major golf championships. Her first major was the 1955 U.S. Women's Open
United States Women's Open Championship (golf)
The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship...
and her second was the 1960 Titleholders Championship
Titleholders Championship
The Titleholders Championship was a women's golf tournament played from in 1937 to 1966 and again in 1972. It was later designated a major championship by the LPGA Tour.It should not be confused with two other LPGA events with similar names:...
, where she set a record for the oldest LPGA major champion of 45 years, 7 months and 1 day.
Crocker was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. She began golfing at age six in her native Uruguay, where her American expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
father ran an import business. Her father won the Uruguayan men's golf championship 27 times, and her mother won both the Uruguayan women's golf and tennis championships.
Crocker followed in those footsteps, herself winning the women's national championship of Uruguay 20 times. She also won the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
national women's title 14 times.
Crocker first played the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1939, but never had much success in the tournament. She did, however, impress spectators with her length off the tee. A 1939 Time magazine article said of Crocker, "... (her) long drives fascinated the galleries, convinced them that she is the Sam Snead of women golfers."
Crocker worked for a while as a visa clerk in the American embassy in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina, but eventually decided to pursue a professional golf career full-time. From the time she turned pro in 1954 up through at least 1958 (and possibly through 1960), Crocker played in every single LPGA event held.
In her very first round as a pro, at a 1954 tournament in Sea Island, Georgia
Sea Island, Georgia
Sea Island is an affluent resort island located in the barrier islands just off the Atlantic coast of southern Georgia in the United States. The resort complex is located in an unincorporated Glynn County....
, Crocker set a course record.
Crocker was 39 years old at the time she turned pro, and when she won the 1955 Serbin Open
Serbin Open
The Serbin Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1953 to 1957. It was played at the Bayshore Golf Club in Miami Beach, Florida.-Winners:Serbin Open*1957 Fay Crocker*1956 Fay Crocker*1955 Fay Crocker*1954 Babe ZahariasSerbin Miami Beach Open...
, she set a record as the LPGA's oldest first-time winner. She was 40 years, 6 months, 18 days, and that record still stands.
Crocker won three times in 1955, including the U.S. Women's Open, where she outdueled Louise Suggs
Louise Suggs
Mae Louise Suggs is a retired professional golfer, one of the founders of the LPGA Tour and thus modern ladies' golf.-Amateur career:Born in Atlanta, Suggs had a very successful amateur career, beginning as a teenager...
and Mary Lena Faulk
Mary Lena Faulk
Mary Lena Faulk was an American professional golfer.Faulk was born in Chipley, Florida but at the age of 14 moved to Thomasville, Georgia where she won three consecutive Georgia Women's Amateur Matchplay Championships from 1946 to 1948.In 1953, Faulk won the U.S. Women's Amateur. In 1954 she was...
down the stretch.
Crocker won twice each in 1956, 1957, and 1958. At the 1958 U.S. Women's Open, her second-round 68 made her the first golfer to break 70 in that event.
Crocker won twice more in 1960, including her second major at the Titleholders Championship
Titleholders Championship
The Titleholders Championship was a women's golf tournament played from in 1937 to 1966 and again in 1972. It was later designated a major championship by the LPGA Tour.It should not be confused with two other LPGA events with similar names:...
. She was 45 years, 7 months and 11 days old at the time of that win, also a record that still stands as oldest winner of an LPGA major.
But her days of winning on the LPGA Tour were over. Crocker was third on the LPGA money list in 1955, fourth in 1956 and second in 1957.
Crocker died in 1983. She was buried in The British Cemetery.
The Fay Crocker Cup, a South American event pitting national teams of junior golfers, is played yearly in Argentina.
LPGA Tour wins (11)
- 19551955 LPGA TourThe 1955 LPGA Tour was the sixth season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 6 to October 9. The season consisted of 27 official money events. Patty Berg won the most tournaments, six. She also led the money list with earnings of $16,492.The season saw the first...
(3) Serbin OpenSerbin OpenThe Serbin Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1953 to 1957. It was played at the Bayshore Golf Club in Miami Beach, Florida.-Winners:Serbin Open*1957 Fay Crocker*1956 Fay Crocker*1955 Fay Crocker*1954 Babe ZahariasSerbin Miami Beach Open...
, Wolverine OpenWolverine OpenThe Wolverine Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour, played intermittently from 1955 to 1963. It was played at three courses in the Detroit, Michigan area: Forest Lake Country Club in Bloomfield Hills in 1955, Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods in 1957, and Hillcrest Golf & Country Club in...
, U.S. Women's Open - 19561956 LPGA TourThe 1956 LPGA Tour was the seventh season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 14 to October 21. The season consisted of 25 official money events. Marlene Hagge won the most tournaments, eight. She also led the money list with earnings of $20,235.The season saw...
(2) Serbin OpenSerbin OpenThe Serbin Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1953 to 1957. It was played at the Bayshore Golf Club in Miami Beach, Florida.-Winners:Serbin Open*1957 Fay Crocker*1956 Fay Crocker*1955 Fay Crocker*1954 Babe ZahariasSerbin Miami Beach Open...
, St. Louis Open - 19571957 LPGA TourThe 1957 LPGA Tour was the eighth season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 11 to October 21. The season consisted of 25 official money events. Patty Berg and Betsy Rawls won the most tournaments, five each...
(2) Serbin OpenSerbin OpenThe Serbin Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1953 to 1957. It was played at the Bayshore Golf Club in Miami Beach, Florida.-Winners:Serbin Open*1957 Fay Crocker*1956 Fay Crocker*1955 Fay Crocker*1954 Babe ZahariasSerbin Miami Beach Open...
, Triangle Round RobinTriangle Round RobinThe Triangle Round Robin was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1953 to 1962. It was played at several different courses on the East Coast of the United States.... - 19581958 LPGA TourThe 1958 LPGA Tour was the ninth season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 10 to September 14. The season consisted of 24 official money events. Mickey Wright won the most tournaments, five...
(2) Havana Biltmore Open, Waterloo OpenWaterloo Women's Open InvitationalThe Waterloo Women's Open Invitational was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1958 to 1966. It was played at the Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo, Iowa.-Winners:*1966 Carol Mann*1965 Betsy Rawls*1964 Shirley Englehorn*1963 Mickey Wright... - 19601960 LPGA TourThe 1960 LPGA Tour was the 11th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 15 to September 25. The season consisted of 23 official money events. Mickey Wright won the most tournaments, six...
(2) Lake Worth OpenLake Worth OpenThe Lake Worth Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1957 to 1960. It was played at the Lake Worth Golf Course in Lake Worth, Florida.-Winners:*1960 Fay Crocker*1959 Betsy Rawls*1958 Marlene Hagge*1957 Betsy Rawls...
, Titleholders ChampionshipTitleholders ChampionshipThe Titleholders Championship was a women's golf tournament played from in 1937 to 1966 and again in 1972. It was later designated a major championship by the LPGA Tour.It should not be confused with two other LPGA events with similar names:...
LPGA majors
Women's major golf championships
Women's golf has a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, but the women's system is younger and has been less stable than the men's. Many professional stroke play events for women are played over three rounds , but the majors are played over four rounds , which is the...
are shown in bold.
Wins (2)
| Year | Championship | Winning Score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 1955 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship The 1955 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from June 30 to July 3 at Wichita Country Club. It was the 10th edition of the U.S. Women's Open.This event was won by Fay Crocker.-Final leaderboard:-External links:***... |
U.S. Women's Open | 4 strokes |  Mary Lena FaulkMary Lena Faulk Mary Lena Faulk was an American professional golfer.Faulk was born in Chipley, Florida but at the age of 14 moved to Thomasville, Georgia where she won three consecutive Georgia Women's Amateur Matchplay Championships from 1946 to 1948.In 1953, Faulk won the U.S. Women's Amateur. In 1954 she was... , Louise SuggsLouise Suggs Mae Louise Suggs is a retired professional golfer, one of the founders of the LPGA Tour and thus modern ladies' golf.-Amateur career:Born in Atlanta, Suggs had a very successful amateur career, beginning as a teenager... |
| 1960 1960 Titleholders Championship The 1960 Titleholders Championship was contested from March 10-13 at Augusta Country Club. It was the 21st edition of the Titleholders Championship.This event was won by Fay Crocker.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*... |
Titleholders Championship Titleholders Championship The Titleholders Championship was a women's golf tournament played from in 1937 to 1966 and again in 1972. It was later designated a major championship by the LPGA Tour.It should not be confused with two other LPGA events with similar names:... |
7 strokes | Kathy Cornelius Kathy Cornelius Kathy Cornelius is an American golfer.Cornelius was born in Boston, Massachusetts and attended Florida Southern College, where she played on the men's golf team, as the school did not have a women's team at the time. She turned pro in 1953 and married golf pro Bill Cornelius the same year... |