The Eastern Championship has been played 90 times and has been won by 58 different women.  Some of these winners were or are world famous competitors;  others enjoyed fame at a more modest level.  All were or are excellent players who surpassed their East Coast competition to capture this coveted title.

    The list which follows represents an initial attempt to pull together the golf biographies of all of the Eastern Champions and regrettably, in some cases, information was difficult to find.  Each of these players performed admirably to achieve this honor.  For purposes of simplicity, the previous winners are categorized here as either: Pioneers, Legends, Regional Stars (New England and elsewhere) and Professionals.

The Pioneers:    These ladies took up the game of golf when it was first introduced in the United States.  They were instrumental in the creation of the earliest competitive opportunities, including the Eastern Championship.  They formed the early golf associations and worked hard to promote the sport.

Fanny Osgood of The Country Club (Brookline) won the Eastern in 1906 (the first time it was played), in 1908 and in 1910.  Her 36 hole winning score at the first tournament was in 178, but remember, her equipment was not what we enjoy today and she played golf in a long skirt, a tight jacket and a big straw hat!  Fanny did pretty well in that garb - she also won five Massachusetts Women's Amateur Championships between 1903 and 1913.  In 1921, she donated the Osgood Shield to WEGA for medal team play, competed concurrently with the Eastern Championship.

Mary B. Adams of Wollaston  won the Eastern in 1907 and 1909.  "Molly" was Massachusetts Women's Amateur Champion in 1902 and 1909.  In 1905, she lost the final round of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship to Harriot Curtis at Brae Burn.

Nonna Barlow (Mrs. R. H.) of Philadelphia  won the Eastern five times:  1911-13, 1919-20.

Kate Harley Jackson of Fall River won the Eastern in 1914.  She was Massachusetts Women's Amateur Champion in 1917 and she also won the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship twice - in 1908 and 1914.

Florence H. Vanderbeck of Philadelphia won the Eastern in 1915 and 1921.  She won the National Amateur in 1921 and was a semi-finalist six other times.  She won many state and local tournaments as well.

Margaret Gavin of England won the Eastern in 1916.  In 1922, she lost the final round of the U.S. Women's Amateur to Glenna Collett.

The Legends:    Professional opportunities for women golfers did not exist until the 40's and 50's but women of professional caliber were making names for themselves long before that!  In more recent years, amateur "legends" have been those fine golfers who have chosen to resist the lure of the professional tour.

Glenna Collett Vare of Providence, RI won the Eastern six times, in 1922-24, 1927, 1932 and 1935.  Much have been written about Glenna;  she was clearly the greatest American Woman Amateur of the 20's and 30's.  She won the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship six times, and was runner-up twice.  She won the North/South six times, and the Canadian Women's Amateur twice.  She played on the Curtis Cup Team every year from the beginning of that competition in 1932 through 1948 and was non-playing Captain in 1950.  She is believed to have won forty-nine championships in her career.

Maureen Orcutt of New York holds the record for Eastern wins, having captured the title seven times, in 1925, 1928-29, 1934, 1938, 1947 and 1949.  She won the North/South three times and the Canadian Women's Amateur twice.  Maureen never won the U.S. Women's Amateur, but made it to the finals twice.  She became a golf writer in the 1920's and eventually wrote for the New York Times.  In 1962 and 1966 she won the U.S. Senior Women's Championship and was runner-up in 1963.  It is estimated that she won more that sixty championship events.

Pat O'Sullivan Lucey of Orange, CT won the Eastern in 1948 and 1951.  Pat was Connecticut Women's State Amateur Champion ten times between 1947 and 1968.  She won the North/South three times, the New England Women's Amateur three times and the Endicott Cup (tri-state) five times.  She played on the Curtis Cup Team in 1952.  In 1966, Pat lost the New England Championship to JoAnne Carner.

Helen Sigel Wilson of Philadelphia won the Eastern in 1952 and 1962.  Helen was Philadelphia City Champion nine times and Pennsylvania State Champion five times.  She won the Western in 1949 and was runner-up in the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in 1941 and 1948.  She played on the Curtis Cup Teams in 1950 and 1966 and was non-playing Captain in 1978.

Mae Murray Jones of Rutland, VT won the Eastern in 1954.  She was six times the Vermont Women's Amateur Champion and won the New England Women's Championship every year from 1959 through 1962.  She played on the 1952 Curtis Cup Team.

Joanne Goodwin of Haverhill, MA won the Eastern in 1957.  Joanne won the New England Women's Amateur Championship in 1957 and 1858.  She won the tri-state Endicott Cup twice, and the Massachusetts Women's Amateur four times.  In 1956 she won the Doherty.  She played on the Curtis Cup Team in 1960.  She was finalist in the North/South twice and was finalist in the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1959.

Carolyn Cudone of Caldwell, NJ won the Eastern in 1960.  She won the New England Women's Amateur Championship eleven times in sixteen years, and the Metropolitan five times between 1955 and 1965.  She reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1953, played on the 1956 Curtis Cup Team, and won the North/South in 1958.  She won the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship five times from 1968 through 1972, a record for any USGA National event.  She was runner-up in 1974 and 1975.

Phyllis "Tish" Preuss of Pompano Beach, FL won the Eastern in 1963 and 1967.  She won the Doherty in 1962 and the North/South in 1962 and 1967.  She played on every Curtis Cup Team between 1960 and 1970.  She lost the final match of the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1961 and was semi-finalist in 1962.  She was twice low amateur in the U.S. Women's Open (in 1963 and 1968).

Nancy Roth Syms of Plant City, FL won the Eastern in 1964, 1965 and 1966.  1966 was a big year for her - she won the North/South for the second time, the Southern for the second time, the Doherty Cup for the third time and played on the Curtis Cup Team (one of three times).  She won the Broadmoor Invitational in 1972 and 1975.  In 1971 she was Medalist in the the U.S. Women's Amateur and won the British Ladies' Amateur.

Delancy ("Lancy') Smith of Snyder, NY won the Eastern in 1970-71, 1973-74.  She won the South Atlantic Women's Championship four times and played on five Curtis Cup Teams.  She won the Doherty twice.  She was New York Women's Amateur Champion in 1970 and won the Women's Western Amateur.

Dorothy Porter of Riverton, NJ won the Eastern in 1969.  She had won the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in 1949.  Dorothy was New Jersey State Champion, Pennsylvania State Champion and played on the 1950 Curtis Cup Team.  She was Curtis Cup Team Captain in 1966.  She won the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship in 1977, 1980-81 and 1893.

Alice Dye won the Eastern in 1972.  Alice is a charter member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.  In 1990 she received the Lily of France Award, presented to the outstanding individual who has contributed the most to women's amateur golf.  Besides the Eastern, she won the Doherty Cup, played on the Curtis Cup Team, won the USGA Women's Senior Amateur Championship and the Western Senior Women's.

Regional Stars:    All of these Eastern Champions were excellent golfers, though they did not achieve the acclaim of the Legends.

New England:

Dorothy Beard of Charles River Country Club won the Eastern in 1939.  She began her golf career as Dorothy Hunter, with two consecutive triumphs in the first Junior Championships ever sponsored by the Women's Golf Association of Massachusetts.  Between 1935 and 1942 she was a dominant factor in the Massachusetts Women's Amateur, winning the championship four times, runner-up once and qualifying as medalist  in all but two years.  She won the Endicott Cup three times.  Dorothy lost the 1937 Eastern in a play-off but two years later she won it at her home course.

Laddie Irwin Homer of Brae Burn Country Club won the Eastern in 1946.  She was Massachusetts Women's Amateur Champion in 1951.  She was a close friend of Patty Berg's.

Toni Woolworth of Wee Burn in Connecticut won the Eastern in 1956.  Toni only took up golf about three years before winning the Eastern and it was her first important victory.

Gene O'Neil McAuliffe of Charles River Country Club won the Eastern in 1959.  She won the Endicott Cup in 1955 and 1956 and was Massachusetts Women's Amateur Champion in 1960.  "Gene-o" has won her share of local and regional tournaments, as well.

Noreen Friel Mohler of Andover, MA won the Eastern in 1977.  Noreen was Massachusetts Junior Champion in 1971, Massachusetts Women's Amateur Champion in 1973, 1980 and 1981 and played on the 1978 Curtis Cup Team.

Julie Greene of the Country Club of Rhode Island won the Eastern in 1978.  Julie was the 1971 New England Women's Amateur Champion, before Pat Bradley.  She was Rhode Island Women's Amateur Champion eight times.  Julie made it to the quarter-finals of the U.S. Women's Amateur two times and both times was eliminated by Beth Daniel, who went on to win the event.  She won the Women's Eastern Senior Championship in 1996 and 1997.

Regional Stars Elsewhere:

Mrs. G. Henri Stetson of Huntington Valley, PA won the Eastern in 1926. She also won the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship that year.

Mrs. Frances Williams of Pennsylvania won the Eastern in 1930.  She was Pennsylvania Women's Amateur Champion in 1933.

Charlotte Glutting of Newark, NJ won the Eastern in 1933 and 1937.  She won her state championship three times and played on the Curtis Cup teams in 1934-38 and 1940.  She got as far as the semi-finals of the U.S. Women's Amateur.

Edith Quier Flippen of Pennsylvania won the Eastern in 1936 and was Pennsylvania Women's Amateur Champion the same year.

Grace Amory Ryan won the Eastern in 1940.

Marion Turpie McNaughton of New York won the Eastern in 1941.

Mary Ann Downey of Baltimore won the Eastern in 1953 and 1955.  She was Maryland Women's Amateur Champion five times and played on the Curtis Cup team in 1956.

Mary Pat Janssen of Charlottesville, VA

Judy Oliver Johnson of Sewickley, PA won the Eastern in 1976.  She won the Harder-Hall in 1976 as well.  She was Pennsylvania Women's Amateur Champion in 1976 and 1987.  She won the Broadmoor and played on the Curtis Cup team in 1978, 1980 and 1982.

Nancy Porter Engeman of Haverford, PA won the Eastern in 1986.  Nancy is a Pennsylvania Women's Amateur Champion and daughter of Dorothy Porter who won the Eastern in 1969.

The Professionals

Helen Hicks Harb won the Eastern in 1931.  She won the Canadian Ladies' Open in 1929 and was runner-up in 1930.  In 1931 she won the U.S. Women's Amateur by defeating Glenna Collett Vare.  Helen won the Metropolitan twice (1931 and 1933), the North/South in 1932 and was a member of the first Curtis Cup team in 1932.  In 1934 she signed with Wilson Sporting Goods, becoming the first woman player of stature to turn professional.

Peggy Kirk Bell won the Eastern in 1950, the year she turned professional.  By then, she had won the Ohio Women's Amateur three times.  She had won the North/South in 1949 as well as the Titleholders' at Augusta with professionals in the field.  In 1947, she had won the International Four-Ball with Babe Zaharias as her partner.  She played on the 1950 Curtis Cup team.  Peggy was a charter member of the LPGA but she preferred teaching to competition and was named Teacher of the Year in 1961.

Marjorie Burns of Greensboro, NC won the Eastern in 1961.  She won the North/South and was six times the North Carolina Champion.  She won the Carolinas Championship five times.  She chose a career as a teaching professional.

JoAnne Carner won the Eastern in 1948.  JoAnne's amateur record is outstanding and well chronicled.  She won the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship in 1956 and the U.S. Women's Amateur five times (1957, 1960, 1962, 1966 and 1968).  She won the Western in 1959, the Trans-Mississippi in 1961, the Pacific Northwest in 1967 and the Doherty in 1969.  She played on four Curtis Cup teams (1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964).  JoAnne turned professional in 1970 and was named LPGA Rookie of the Year.  She won the U.S. Women's Open twice (1971 and 1976) and many, many regular tour events.  An LPGA Hall-of-Famer, she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1985.  In 1981 she won the Bob Jones Award, the USGA's highest honor, for contributions to the game of golf.

Debbie Massey won the Eastern in 1975.  As an amateur, Debbie won the Canadian Women's Amateur three times (1974-76), the Western Amateur twice (1972 and 1975), played on two Curtis Cup teams and two World Cup teams and was Low Amateur in the 1974 U.S. Women's Open.  She joined the pro tour in 1977 and was named Rookie of the Year after her victory at the Mizuno Japan Classic.  She won the Wheeling Classic in 1979 and the British Women's Open in 1980 and 1981.  In 1990, Debbie played in 23 tour events and fired a career low round of 64 to win the Mazda Japan Classic.  Her 1990 earnings put her over the $1 million mark, the 22nd LPGA player to reach that milestone.

Kathy Baker Guadignino won the Eastern in 1979 and 1982.  Her first Eastern win came only six weeks after she graduated from high school.  She was NCAA Champion in 1982 and was a two-time NCAA All-American.  She won the Western in 1980 and was the 1979 National PGA Champion.  She was low amateur in the 1981 and 1982 U.S. Women's Open.  Since joining the tour in 1983, Kathy has won the 1985 U.S. Women's Open and the 1988 Konica San Jose Classic.  She played a limited schedule of eleven events in 1990 due to the birth of her daughter.

Patti Rizzo won the Eastern in 1980.  Her win at the Eastern was part of a remarkable year for Patti.  She was runner-up to Julie Inkster in the U.S. Women's Amateur, played on the winning U.S. World Team, won the World Amateur, the Transnational, the Mexican Amateur, was runner-up in the AIAW Championship and was ranked as the top U.S. Amateur.  In 1981, she was ranked as the top Collegiate Player and shot a record low round for an amateur in the Florida Ladies' Citrus, eventually losing a five-way play-off.  She turned professional in 1982, had five top ten finishes and was named LPGA Rookie of theYear.  In 1983 she won the Boston Five and has had three other tour wins since.  In 1990 she played in 26 tour events and had seven top ten (four top five) finishes.  For the third consecutive season, she won over $100,000.00

Mary Hafeman of Jacksonville, FL won the Eastern in 1981.  She won the 1979 Women's Western and played on the 1980 Curtis Cup team.

Mary Ann Widman of Elmira, NY won the Eastern in 1983.  She was New York Women's Amateur Champion in 1982 and won several collegiate titles.  She set a course record at Duke, a seven under 67.  She played on the 1984 Curtis Cup Team.

Tina Tombs of Bedford, NH won the Eastern in 1984.  As an amateur, Tina was New Hampshire State Women's Champion in 1981 and New England Amateur Champion in 1983.  As a collegiate player, she was a two-time All-American.  She joined the tour in 1987 and had her first career win in 1990 at the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, shooting a career low round of 66.

Kimberly Williams of Bethesda, MD won the Eastern in 1985.  In 1984, Kimberly won the D.C. Women's Championship, the Maryland State Championship, the Canadian Women's Amateur and was runner-up in the U.S. Amateur Championship.  In 1985 she won the Southern.  She played on the 1986 Curtis Cup team.

Christina ("Tina") Barrett won the Eastern in 1987.  She was the Maryland Women's Amateur Champion in 1988.  As a collegiate player, she captured  the 1986 and 1987 Small College National Championship and was a four time Division II All-American.  Tina joined the LPGA Tour in 1988 and in 1989 she won the Mitsubishi Motors Ocean State Classic in Rhode Island.  In 1990, Tina played in 27 events and her best finish was a tie for 11th in the Oldsmobile LPGA Classic.

Katie Peterson won the Eastern in 1988 and 1989.  As a junior, Katie won the 1983 and 1984 Southern Juniors, the 1985 AJGA Tournament of Champions and the 1985 AJGA Hudson Invitational.  She played on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill golf team where she was the winner of the North-South, the Memphis Invitational, and twice was the winner of the Duke Invitational.  She was named All-American in 1989, the year in which she won both the Eastern and the Western Championships.  In 1990, she won the South Atlantic, the Doherty and played on the winning Curtis Cup team.  She finished first at the 1991 LPGA Qualifying School.

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Every effort has been made to insure the accuracy of the information contained in these biographies.  Please contact webmaster@womenseastern.org if any information is found to be incorrect.  Also, if you have any additional information on any past winners (especially late 1980's through current year), please forward it along to the email address listed above!  Thank You!