Barbara Romack

Barbara Romack
Personal information
Full name	Barbara Gaile Romack
Born	(1932-11-16)November 16, 1932 Sacramento, California
Died	October 15, 2016(2016-10-15) (aged 83) The Villages, Florida
Height	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Sporting nationality	United States
Career
Turned professional	1958
Former tour(s)	LPGA Tour (1958–1977)
Professional wins	2
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour	1
Other	1
Best results in LPGA major championships
Western Open	2nd: 1960
Titleholders C'ship	3rd: 1962
Women's PGA C'ship	T6: 1961
U.S. Women's Open	T7: 1961

Barbara Gaile Romack (November 16, 1932 – October 15, 2016) was an American professional golfer.

Romack was born in Sacramento, California.^[1] She won the North and South Women's Amateur at Pinehurst in 1952, the Canadian Women's Amateur in 1953, and then in 1954, she defeated Mickey Wright in the finals to win the U.S. Women's Amateur. Her playing brought an invitation to the White House and President Dwight Eisenhower became a great friend.^[2]

In 1955, Romack finished second to Jessie Valentine in the British Ladies Amateur played at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.^[3] Her golfing performances earned her the cover of Sports Illustrated on April 16, 1956.^[4] In May 1957, she married Edward Wayne "Bud" Porter, an associate golf professional at course in her native Sacramento.

Romack was the runner-up to Anne Quast in the 1958 U.S. Women's Amateur. A member of the U.S. Curtis Cup team in 1954, 1956, and 1958, Romack joined the LPGA Tour in 1958. Her only official tour win was the 1963 Rock City Ladies Open.^[1] She won on the senior tour^{[citation needed]} and remained involved with the game of golf throughout her life. She worked for the USGA as a volunteer. At one time she served as vice-president of the LPGA.

On February 21, 1968, Romack was on a Delta Air Lines flight when it was hijacked by Lawrence Rhodes. After three hours, Romack and the rest of the passengers were released.

Romack died in October 2016, aged 83.^[5][6]

Amateur wins

• 1952 North and South Women's Amateur, California State Women's Amateur
• 1953 Canadian Women's Amateur
• 1954 U.S. Women's Amateur, California State Women's Amateur
• 1956 California State Women's Amateur
• 1958 California State Women's Amateur
• South Atlantic Amateur (three times)^[1]

Professional wins

LPGA Tour wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Jun 9, 1963	Rock City Ladies Open	−1 (72-71-69=212)	Playoff	Shirley Englehorn

LPGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1963	Rock City Ladies Open	Shirley Englehorn	Won with par on third extra hole

Other wins

• 1960 Leesburg Pro-Am

Team appearances

Amateur

• Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 1954 (winners), 1956, 1958 (tie)

References

1. LPGA Tour profile Archived January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
2. Tao, Anthony (October 31, 2005). "Barbara Romack, Golfer". Sports Illustrated.
3. "Barbara Romack Loses Golf Final; Mrs. Valentine Beats U. S. Champion, 7 and 6, for British Open Title". The New York Times. UP. May 20, 1955. p. 29.
4. "Barbara Romack, Curtis Cup Star". Sports Illustrated. April 16, 1956.
5. Shefter, David (October 17, 2016). "1954 U.S. Women's Amateur Champion Romack Dies at 83". USGA.
6. Pajak, Steve (October 18, 2016). "Romack was accomplished golfer, Sports Illustrated trailblazer". Sacramento Bee.

External links

• Barbara Romack at the LPGA Tour official site
• Golfer has helped mold next generation