Jacqueline Nolte Liwai Pung (December 13, 1921 – March 15, 2017) was an American professional golfer. She played on the LPGA Tour.

Jackie Pung
Personal information
Full nameJacqueline Nolte Liwai Pung
Born(1921-12-13)December 13, 1921
Honolulu, Hawaii
DiedMarch 15, 2017(2017-03-15) (aged 95)
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Sporting nationality United States
Career
StatusProfessional
Former tour(s)LPGA Tour
Professional wins5
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour5
Best results in LPGA major championships
Titleholders C'ship5th: 1953
Women's PGA C'shipT3: 1958
U.S. Women's Open2nd: 1953

Early life and amateur career

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Pung was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her mother was Jacqueline Nolte. Her father was Jack Liwai, who was originally trained as a musician, but worked as a nurse for the grandson of shipping magnate Samuel Gardner Wilder.[1] She won the Hawaiian Women's Amateur four times between 1937 and 1948.[2] She won the 1952 U.S. Women's Amateur.[3]

Professional career

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Pung won five times[4] on the LPGA Tour between 1953 and 1958.[5]

Pung is best known for the tournament she did not win. In the 1957 U.S. Women's Open, she appeared to have beaten Betsy Rawls by one stroke when it was discovered that she had signed an incorrect scorecard and was disqualified.[6] Both she and her playing partner, Betty Jameson, had recorded 5s on the fourth hole when in fact both had made 6s. Although both players had signed for the correct total score, they were both disqualified.[6] The fans, officials, and members of Winged Foot Golf Club, where the tournament was held, took up a collection for Pung and presented her with over $3,000 (the winner's share was only $1,800).[2][7][8][9]

Personal life

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She died March 15, 2017, at Life Care Center of Kona on Hawaii's Big Island, according to family members. She was 95.[10]

Awards and honors

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Pung was inducted into the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.[11]

Amateur wins

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  • 1937 Hawaiian Women's Amateur
  • 1938 Hawaiian Women's Amateur
  • 1939 Hawaiian Women's Amateur
  • 1948 Hawaiian Women's Amateur
  • 1952 U.S. Women's Amateur

Professional wins (5)

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LPGA Tour wins (5)

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References

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  1. ^ Betty Dunn (February 2005). Jackie Pung: Women's Golf Legend. iUniverse. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-595-34091-0.
  2. ^ a b Elliott, Len; Kelly, Barbara (1976). Who's Who in Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. pp. 153–4. ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
  3. ^ 1952 U.S. Women's Amateur
  4. ^ LPGA All-Time Winners List Archived December 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ LPGA Tournament Chronology 1950-59 Archived January 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b Ward, Andrew (1999). Golf's Strangest Rounds. London: Robson Books. pp. 170–172. ISBN 1861051840.
  7. ^ 1957 U.S. Women's Open
  8. ^ The Tragic Fourth
  9. ^ Return to Winged Foot
  10. ^ Burnett, John (March 22, 2017). "Jackie Pung dies at 95: 'Hawaii's First Lady of Golf' an LPGA pioneer". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  11. ^ "Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame Inductee Listing". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2010.