Hagge, Marlene Bauer (1934—)

American golfer and winner of seven LPGA titles who finished among the top ten in earnings for eight seasons. Name variations: Marlene Bauer. Born Marlene Bauer in Eureka, South Dakota, on February 16, 1934; younger sister of golfer Alice Bauer who was the first woman to win the L.A. Open; married.

Professional women's golf was a growing sport when Marlene Bauer, and her older sister Alice Bauer , began playing. In 1944, the ten-year-old Marlene won the Long Beach Boys' Junior championship at a time when few young women were playing golf. In 1949, at age 15, Bauer won the first USGA Junior Girls' championship, the Western Junior Girls' championship, and the Helms Award; she was also named Associated Press Athlete of the Year. Bauer and her 18-year-old sister chose to turn pro that year. The Bauer sisters, considered by the press to be the first "glamour girls" of the Tour, were also the youngest. In 1952, Marlene won her first LPGA tournament, the Sarasota Open, in what was to be the beginning of her 25 official career victories. Married by 1956 and now appearing as Marlene Bauer Hagge, she won the LPGA championship in a sudden-death playoff with Patty Berg . Hagge's powerful swing was exceptionally compact and had a great deal to do with her success on the course. There have been few 29-stroke scores for nine holes in LPGA history. Hagge shot a 29 in Columbus, Ohio, in 1971.

Karin Loewen Haag , Athens, Georgia