Originally founded as the Outland Club in 1949 by Dick, Skipper and Odd Williams, the Williams Education Fund (WEF) is the official fundraising department for Kansas Athletics.
Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational Tournament Central
Learn about the field, the course and keep up with the results
Sept. 20, 2012
At age 73, Marilynn Smith remains an influential figure in the world of women's golf. Smith, who resides in Richardson, Texas, continues to actively teach at the Firewheel Golf Club in Dallas. A native of Kansas, Smith was one of the original 13 founders of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in 1950. She is a charter member of the organization and remains active today in a variety of areas related to the LPGA.
Smith won 22 times on the LPGA tour, including the 1963 Titleholders, one of the major women's events at the time, in an 18-hole playoff over Mickey Wright. Before creating the LPGA tour, Smith won the Kansas Women's Amateur Championship from 1946 to 1948. She arrived on the Kansas golf scene from Wichita. Her two-year career at Kansas was highlighted by a 1949 National Collegiate Individual title. Following the title, Smith accepted an offer from Spaulding to turn pro at $5,000 a year. From 1954-72, she won at least one tour event in 14 of 19 years.
Smith's contributions and honors include serving as the two-year president of the organization she helped found. She was the first ever female television commentator for a men's professional golf tournament in 1973. In 1979, Smith received the inaugural Patty Berg Award for distinguished service to women's golf. Golf Digest presented her the LPGA Founders Cup for charitable service off the course in 1983. She was selected as one of the Distinguished Champions of the Vincent T. Lombardi Tournament in 1987. The award recognized leadership in sports and demonstration of high ideals of public good. Smith was inducted into the Women's Sports Foundation International Hall of Fame in 1991.
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Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans | Head Coach: Bridgett Norwood
Sofia Berglund
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Varberg, Sweden (Peder Skrivares Skola)
Brynn Donovan
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Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS)
Matilda Lignell
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Torslanda, Sweden (Elitidrottsgymnasiet Katrinelund)
Located in scenic Lawrence, Kansas, Alvamar features two acclaimed golf courses. The private Members Course consists of the Hidden Valley and Sunflower nines; the public Championship Course consists of the Jayhawk and Quail Creek nines.
The Championship Course was named one of America’s top 75 public courses by Golf Digest and the Members Course was included in the “Best in State” ranking by the Kansas Golf Association. Both are considered among the most popular courses - public or private - in the greater Topeka and Kansas City area.
Kansas student-athletes enjoy first-class facilities in all sports.
Traditions like the Jayhawk, Waving the Wheat, and the Rock Chalk Chant make KU one-of-a-kind.
Lawrence is a vibrant college town where the comforts of home intersect with a unique culture.
Kansas student-athletes have the full attention of a highly-skilled sports medicine staff.
Kansas athletic events are an experience all to themselves, but gameday promotions add extra flair.
Join Kansas Athletics in its fight against cancer at one of its many Jayhawks for a Cure events.
