1963
Miss Mary Mills' first victory as a professional
occurred in the Open Championship, just as had Mrs. Murle Lindstrom's
one year earlier. Miss Mills, 23, scored 289 with rounds of 71-70-75-73
at the Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati. The winning total was three
under par. Her 36-hole score of 141 set a record.
Miss Mills had been the Mississippi Amateur
Champion eight consecutive years, 1954-61. She was a graduate of Millsaps
College, where she majored in philosophy. There was a tie for second at
292 between Miss Louise Suggs and Miss Sandra Haynie. Miss Suggs has been
runner-up four times, and she was returning to competition after a year's
absence. After a poor start, Mrs. Lindstrom finished with rounds of 74
and 71 for a 303 total and a tie for seventh place.
The prize money reached a USGA high of
$9,000. Part of the final round was televised locally for the first time.
Miss Mickey Wright, three times the Champion, did not start.
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