Ann Gregory rose to golf greatness during the PGA's Caucasian-only clause. She dug in her heels, slung her clubs on her shoulder and forged on.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Ann Gregory was walking one morning inside a swanky hotel next to a golf club where, hours later, she would take the course by storm.
Out on the course later that day in 1963, the woman who had asked for the hangers saw Gregory competing in the tournament. She quickly realized her mistake. "She loved the game of golf," Overstreet said."And she didn't care about the fact the color of her skin should matter. And she lived by that." The newspapers in 1956 got Gregory's age wrong. One said she was 28. Another said 38. When Gregory became the first Black woman to play in a USGA Championship, she was 44.
But no United States Women's Amateur had ever had a Black woman playing in its midst. Gregory had qualified for the USGA tournament with a required low handicap. Neither Meridian Hills nor USGA stopped her from playing. "That is historic. That is really cool," Markey remembers thinking when he heard of Gregory's feat."I mean, I was just pleased that we were part of that history."Gregory's early life was marked by grief, devastation and hard work. Her parents, Henry and Myra Moore, died when she was a young girl.
Gregory had never played golf, but Percy did. He was in a golf club called the Par-Makers, for Black men. Gregory took what Ingram said and dug in her heels. She was determined to take the talent she had and make something of it. And that meant practice. The USGA has been building a collection to honor and commemorate Gregory, and recently purchased her contestant badge from the 1956 tournament at Meridian Hills. They bought it from a friend of Gregory's, who was an avid collector.
Because Black golfers weren't playing in mainstream circuits in the early part of the 20th century, many have been overlooked. The museum wants to tell the stories of those players.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ask Amy: She wants me out of our house so she can see this other guyWe’re great together and we still have sex, and I’m confused by what’s happening.
Read more »
Pregnant Rihanna glowing as she frames baby bump with leather crop topThe Umbrella singer recently revealed that she was on a mission to 'push the idea of sexy' for pregnant women and did exactly that on an outing at Milan Fashion Week
Read more »
Ask Amy: Mother mourns the grandchildren she won't haveDear Amy: My 40-year-old son, “James,” has had many bright, beautiful and intelligent girlfriends. He has been engaged and ended various relationships throughout his adult years.
Read more »
CPAC Welcomes Marjorie Taylor Greene Hours After She Appears at White Nationalist ConferenceOn Friday, she shared the stage with an overt white nationalist who giggled about praising Hitler. On Saturday, she’s welcome at CPAC, and an early speaker in a lineup that features Donald Tr…
Read more »
Kendall Jenner shows off newly-dyed red locks as she steps out in ParisKendall Jenner took to the streets of Paris and showed off her newly-dyed red hair just days after she appears on the catwalk in Milan
Read more »