Kathy Ahern
Ahern in 1972
Personal information
Full nameKathy Ahern
Born(1949-05-07)May 7, 1949
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJuly 6, 1996(1996-07-06) (aged 47)
Fountain Hills, Arizona, U.S.
Sporting nationality United States
Career
Turned professional1967
Former tour(s)LPGA Tour
Professional wins3
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour3
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 1)
Western Open24th: 1967
Titleholders C'shipDNP
Chevron ChampionshipDNP
Women's PGA C'shipWon: 1972
U.S. Women's OpenT2: 1972
du Maurier ClassicDNP

Kathy Ahern (May 7, 1949 – July 6, 1996) was an American professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.[1][2][3]

Career

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ahern was raised in Dallas, Texas, and won the Texas women's public links title at age 15 in 1964.[1] She joined the LPGA Tour direct from high school in 1967 and won three events, including one major title, the LPGA Championship in 1972.[4]

Ahern's first win came at the Southgate Ladies Open in August 1970,[5] and the last at George Washington Classic in July 1972.[6] She was also a runner-up at the U.S. Women's Open in 1972, the week before her final win.[7] Ahern played little in the 1980s, but remained a presence around the tour and sometimes caddied for Sherri Turner.[1][8]

Death

After a five-year battle against breast cancer, Ahern died at age 47 at her mother's home in Fountain Hills, Arizona, northeast of Phoenix.[1][2][8] At the time of her death, she was a resident of Greenville, South Carolina.[2][8]

Professional wins

LPGA Tour wins (3)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (1)
Other LPGA Tour (2)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin
of victory		 Runner-up
1 Aug 23, 1970 Southgate Ladies Open 72-72-67=211 −5 3 strokes United States Judy Rankin
2 Jun 11, 1972 Eve-LPGA Championship 75-73-76-69=293 +1 6 strokes United States Jane Blalock
3 Jul 9, 1972 George Washington Classic 78-68-67=213 −6 1 stroke United States Sandra Haynie

Major championships

Wins (1)

Year Championship Winning score Margin Runner-up
1972 Eve-LPGA Championship +1 (75-73-76-69=293) 6 strokes United States Jane Blalock

References

  1. ^ a b c d Dorman, Larry (July 9, 1996). "Kathy Ahern, 47; Started L.P.G.A. career at 17". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Kathy Ahern: Former pro golfer; helped fellow players". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 9, 1996. p. B4.
  3. ^ "1972 LPGA champion Ahern loses battle with cancer at 47". Los Angeles Times. July 9, 1996. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  4. ^ "Kathy Ahern wins Eve LPGA by six strokes". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). UPI. June 12, 1972. p. 16.
  5. ^ "First win for Ahern; shoots 67". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 24, 1970. p. 13.
  6. ^ "Women's golf". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). July 10, 1972. p. 17.
  7. ^ "Finishing 71 brings victory to Susie Maxwell Berning". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 3, 1972. p. 10.
  8. ^ a b c "Former pro golfer Kathy Ahern dies at 47 of breast cancer". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. July 9, 1996. p. D4.

External links


Women's PGA Championship champions
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