Mary Mills (golfer)

Mary Mills
Mary Mills
Personal information
Full name	Mary Mills
Born	January 19, 1940 (age 84); Laurel, Mississippi, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Sporting nationality	United States
Residence	Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Career
College	Millsaps College; Florida International University
Turned professional	1962
Former tour(s)	LPGA Tour (1962–81)
Professional wins	9
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour	9
Best results in LPGA major championships; (wins: 3)
Western Open	4th: 1965
Titleholders C'ship	T2: 1966
Women's PGA C'ship	Won: 1964, 1973
U.S. Women's Open	Won: 1963
du Maurier Classic	DNP
Achievements and awards
LPGA Rookie of the Year
LPGA Rookie of the Year	1962

Mary Mills (born January 19, 1940) is a retired American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1962 and won three major championships and nine LPGA Tour victories in all.

Amateur career

Mills was born in Laurel, Mississippi. She began playing golf at age 11 and her instructor was Johnny Revolta, an 18-time PGA Tour winner and PGA Championship victor. She won the Mississippi State Amateur eight consecutive years starting in 1954, and won the Gulf Coast Amateur twice. She was also medalist in the U.S. Girls' Junior, Western Junior, and the National Collegiate Championship. She attended Millsaps College where she was the No. 1 golfer – on the men's team – all four years.

Professional career

Mills turned pro and joined the LPGA Tour in 1962, and earned LPGA Rookie of the Year honors. She posted multiple wins in three different seasons on tour, and was in the top-10 on the money list five times, with a high finish of sixth in 1973. She won the U.S. Women's Open in 1963 and the LPGA Championship in 1964 and 1973. She finished in the top ten on the money list four times, with her best finish being sixth place in 1973. She continued playing a full LPGA Tour schedule into the 1980s. She also continued her education. A philosophy major at Millsaps, she returned to school in the 1990s to earn a master's degree in landscape architecture from Florida International University. She puts that degree to use these days designing golf courses. She is also a well-regarded golf instructor.

Professional wins

LPGA Tour wins (9)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (3)
Other LPGA Tour (6)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Jul 20, 1963	U.S. Women's Open	−3 (71-70-75-73=289)	3 strokes	Sandra Haynie Louise Suggs
2	Sep 13, 1964	Eugene Ladies' Open	+1 (70-68-75-76=289)	3 strokes	Sandra Haynie
3	Oct 4, 1964	LPGA Championship	−6 (68-69-72-69=278)	2 strokes	Mickey Wright
4	Aug 15, 1965	St. Louis Open	−3 (73-71-72=216)	2 strokes	Marlene Hagge Carol Mann
5	Sep 12, 1965	Eugene Open	+6 (75-74-73-72=294)	1 stroke	Jo Ann Prentice
6	Oct 19, 1969	Quality Chek'd Classic	−3 (70-73-70=213)	1 stroke	Carol Mann
7	Jun 28, 1970	Len Immke Buick Open	E (73-74-69=216)	Playoff	Althea Gibson Sandra Haynie
8	Jun 10, 1973	LPGA Championship	−4 (73-73-72-70=288)	1 stroke	Betty Burfeindt
9	Jul 1, 1973	Lady Tara Classic	−2 (77-70-70=217)	1 stroke	Laura Baugh Sandra Haynie Sharon Miller Judy Rankin

LPGA Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1970	Len Immke Buick Open	Althea Gibson Sandra Haynie	Won with par on second extra hole Haynie eliminated by birdie on first hole
2	1973	Dallas Civitan Open	Kathy Whitworth	Lost to par on second extra hole

Major championships

Wins (3)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1963	U.S. Women's Open	−3 (71-70-75-73=289)	3 strokes	Sandra Haynie, Louise Suggs
1964	LPGA Championship	−6 (68-69-72-69=278)	2 strokes	Mickey Wright
1973	LPGA Championship	−4 (73-73-72-70=288)	1 stroke	Betty Burfeindt

External links

Mary Mills at the LPGA Tour official site
Mary Mills bio at golfcompendium.com