Haynie, Sandra B. (1943—)

American woman golfer who won the LPGA championship and the U.S. Women's Open in the same season. Born Sandra Jane Haynie on June 4, 1943, in Fort Worth, Texas; daughter of Jim Haynie, also a golfer.

Entered first golf tournament at age 11 (1954), and in less than a year played first pro tourney; captured first of five consecutive Austin City Women's golf titles (1956); turned professional golfer (1961); struck by car while in South Africa but escaped serious injuries (1972); earned place on Golf Magazine 's All-America team (1974); elected to Ladies Professional Golf Association's Hall of Fame (1977) and Texas Golf Hall of Fame (November 1984); competed in the Sprint Titleholders Senior Challenge (1993–97), placing second (1997).

Won the Texas State Publinx (1957 and 1958); won the Texas Amateur (1958 and 1959); won the Austin Civitan Open and Cosmopolitan Open (1962); won the Phoenix Thunderbird Open (1963); won the Baton Rouge Open and Las Cruces Open (1964); won the Cosmopolitan Open and the LPGA championship (1965); won the Buckeye Savings Invitational, the Glass City Classic, the Alamo Open, and the Pensacola Invitational (1966); won the Amarillo Open and the Mickey Wright Invitational (1967); won the Pacific Open (1968); won the St. Louis Invitational, the Supertest Open, and the Shreveport Kiwanis Invitational (1969); won the Raleigh Invitational and the Shreveport Kiwanis Invitational (1970); won the Burdines Invitational, the Dallas Civitan Open, the San Antonio Alamo Open, and the Lem Immke Buick Open (1971); won the National Jewish Hospital Open, the Quality First Classic, and the Lincoln-Mercury Open (1972); won the Orange Blossom Classic, the Lincoln-Mercury Open, the Charity Golf Classic (1973); won the Lawson's Open, the George Washington Classic, the National Jewish Hospital Open, the Charity Golf Classic, the LPGA championship, and the U.S. Women's Open (1974); won the Naples-Lely Classic, the Charity Golf Classic, Jacksonville Open, and the Ft. Myers Classic (1975); won the Henredon Classic (1981); won the Rochester International and the Peter Jackson Classic (1982).

Born on June 4, 1943, in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of golfer Jim Haynie, Sandra Haynie was soon putting on the green. Often accompanying her father to courses at country clubs, she practiced her game under his strict tutelage. By the time she was 11, she had entered her initial tournament, the Women's West Texas and, though she did not win, played her first pro tourney, the Texas Open, within a year. Another two years passed, and she succeeded in capturing the first of five consecutive Austin City Women's titles. At age 14, she won the first of two Texas Women's Publinx trophies and the next year opened a three-year reign as Texas women's amateur champion.

In 1961, Haynie turned pro and hit the LPGA tour. A year later, she began an amazing string of golf victories; she won at least one major championship every year from 1962 to 1975. She had four victories in 1964, four in 1971 and 1975, and three in 1969, 1972, and 1973. In 1965, she won her first LPGA championship.

But 1974 was the year of Haynie. Adding her name to that of Mickey Wright , she became the second woman to win the LPGA and the USGA Women's Open in the same season. (This elite group would later include Se Ri Pak and Meg Mallon .) Haynie also finished as runner-up twice and was among the top ten in fifteen tourneys. Her six victories tied her with JoAnne Carner for the most wins on the women's 1974 tour. With her 1974 earnings, Haynie was the second highest moneymaker in women's golf at that time, second only to Kathy Whitworth . Haynie would be ranked second on the LPGA-season money list on five separate occasions, including 1982, and surpass the $1 million mark in career earnings. All this success earned her a place on Golf Magazine's 1974 All-America team.

In 1975, Haynie had the lowest per round scoring average, an even 72, and would tie her career low of 64 at the 1982 Henredon Classic. But due to injuries and business interests, she slowed down in 1977, rejoining the LPGA Tour full-time in 1981. Once again injuries forced her out of competition in 1985, when she underwent knee surgery as well as electrode treatment to deaden the sensitivity in her lower back. Haynie's last full season was in 1989. Though her earnings reached $50,000 that year, her best finish was a tie for 12th at the Sara Lee Classic. Sandra Haynie became an influential figure in the development of women's golf in America, having served on the LPGA Executive Committee. She was elected to the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1977.

Jo Anne Meginnes , freelance writer, Brookfield, Vermont