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Pat Lesser Harbottle

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Patricia Ann Lesser Harbottle (born August 13, 1933) is an American amateur golfer. As Pat Lesser, her wins include the 1953 Women's National Intercollegiate Golf Tournament and 1955 Women's Western Amateur. At major championships held by the LPGA, she had top four finishes at the 1951 U.S. Women's Open and 1953 Women's Western Open. Lesser was also tied for seventh at the 1955 Titleholders Championship. In United States Golf Association events, she was the winner of the 1950 U.S. Girls' Junior and 1955 U.S. Women's Amateur. Her team won the 1954 Curtis Cup and lost the 1956 Curtis Cup.

Following her marriage, Harbottle re-won the PNGA Women’s Amateur in 1965. She was tied for eighth at the 1984 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur. By 2016, Harbottle had 23 wins in Tacoma Country and Golf Club events. She joined the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Washington Sports Hall of Fame during 1999. The Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational was created in 2014 by Tacoma Country.

Early life and education

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Lesser's was born in Fort Totten, New York on August 13, 1933.[1] She lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Fort Ethan Allen and Hawaii during the 1930s.[2] Lesser was in Honolulu during the early 1940s when she began playing golf.[3] She experienced the attack on Pearl Harbor with her sibling during 1941.[4][5] That year, the Lessers left Schofield Barracks.[6] She began her golf career in Seattle during the mid-1940s.[7]

Lesser was on the men's golf team while attending Seattle University during 1952.[8] She remained with them until 1955.[9] During this time period, Lesser won the 1953 Women's National Intercollegiate Golf Tournament.[10] She was second at that event the following year.[11] In 1956, she ended her post-secondary education.[12]

Career

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1950–1956

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During 1952, Lesser won the Washington State Women's Golf Association Championship and Oregon Amateur Championship.[13][14] With the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, she was the Women's Amateur winner during 1952 and 1953.[15] At Western Golf Association events, Lesser won the 1950 Women's Western Junior.[16] She was first at the 1955 Women's Western Amateur and second the following year.[17] At the North and South Women's Amateur Golf Championship, Lesser was second during the 1955 event.[18] She reached the quarterfinals at the British Ladies Amateur in 1956 and championship game at that year's Canadian Women's Amateur.[19][20]

During the 1950s, the Women's Western Open, Titleholders Championship and U.S. Women's Open were played as majors on the LPGA.[21] Lesser tied for fourth place during the 1951 U.S. Women's Open.[22] Following a top four finish at the 1953 Women's Western Open, she was tied for seventh at the 1955 Titleholders Championship.[23][24] At United States Golf Association events, Lesser won the 1950 U.S. Girls' Junior and the 1955 U.S. Women's Amateur.[25][26] She won the 1954 Curtis Cup with the United States.[27] They also lost the 1956 Curtis Cup.[28]

1957–present

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Lesser continued her golf career in 1957 as an United Airlines employee.[29] As Pat Harbottle, she stopped playing golf that year.[30] Due to pregnancy, she did not enter the 1958 Curtis Cup.[31] Harbottle returned to golf the following year.[30]

Harbottle won the 1965 PNGA Women's Amateur.[15] She was also first at the 1974 WSWGA Championship.[13] At the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur, Harbottle was tied for eighth place during 1984.[32] With the Tacoma Country and Golf Club, she was a member from 1960 to the mid-2020s.[33][3] She accumulated 23 wins there by 2016.[34]

Honors and personal life

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The Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational was created in 2014 by Tacoma Country and Golf Club.[35] Harbottle joined the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.[36][37] She is also a member of the Seattle University Athletics Hall of Fame.[38] Harbottle had five children during her marriage.[39]

References

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  1. ^ Commire, Anne; Klezmer, Deborah, eds. (2007). "Lesser, Patricia (1933–)". Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. Vol. 1. Waterford, Connecticut: Yorkin Publications. p. 1121. ISBN 0787676764.
  2. ^ Thomas, Buddy (October 10, 2013). "Patricia Lesser's tennis success started in New Bedford". The Standard-Times. New Bedford, Massachusetts. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Hand, Patrick (February 8, 2024). "No regrets". Global Golf Post Women. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Raley, Dan (July 24, 2007). "Where Are They Now: Pat Harbottle, who defeated Mickey Wright". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  5. ^ DeLetter, Emily (December 6, 2023) [December 4, 2023]. "What is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day? What to know about 1941 attack that sent US into WWII". USA Today. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Cahill, Ed (July 3, 1954). "Babe Still Leads Way in Salem Open". Daily Evening Item. Lynn, Massachusetts. p. Six para. Tee To Cup.
  7. ^ "Teen-Age Seattle Lass Breaks 80 On Golf Links". The Knoxville Journal. Associated Press. April 16, 1947. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Teen-aged Girl is No. 1 Golfer for Seattle U.". Spokane Chronicle. United Press. April 8, 1952. p. 21.
  9. ^ Raley, Dan (August 6, 2012). "33-Day Countdown to New Division I Era - Story #22". Seattle University Athletics. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Pat Lesser Takes College Tee Title". Chattanooga Daily Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1953. p. 48.
  11. ^ "Nancy Reed Crowned College Golf Queen". The Commercial Appeal. The Associated Press. June 27, 1954. p. sec. III p. 3.
  12. ^ "Patricia Lesser Announced Plans To Wed Tacoman". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. October 30, 1956. p. 27.
  13. ^ a b "Past Champions". Washington State Women's Golf Association. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "Oregon Amateur Championship". Oregon Golf Association. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "PNGA Women's Amateur". Pacific Northwest Golf Association. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  16. ^ "Women's Western Junior History". Women's Western Junior. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  17. ^ "Women's Western Amateur History". Women's Western Amateur. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "Wiffi Smith Beats Pat Lesser In Final". Atlantic City Press. United Press. March 22, 1955. p. 14.
  19. ^ "3 Americans Into British Amateur Semi-Final Round". Columbia Daily Tribune. International News Service. June 28, 1956. p. 13.
  20. ^ "Lesser, Marlene in Canada Final". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. August 18, 1956. p. sec. Sports p. 10.
  21. ^ "Titleists at LPGA Major Championships" (PDF). LPGA. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2004. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  22. ^ "Rawls' 293 Wins Women's Open". The Philadelphia Inquirer. United Press. September 17, 1951. p. 28.
  23. ^ "Suggs, Berg In Western Finals". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. June 20, 1953. p. 18. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  24. ^ "Top Scorers in Women's Titleholders Golf". The Kansas City Times. Associated Press. March 14, 1955. p. 21.
  25. ^ "U.S. Girls' Junior Champions". United States Golf Association. September 18, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  26. ^ "U.S. Women's Amateur Champions". United States Golf Association. September 18, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  27. ^ Glenn, Rhonda (March 25, 2013). "Looking Back...1954 Curtis Cup At Merion". United States Golf Association. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  28. ^ Glenn, Rhonda (March 25, 2010). "Museum Moment: The 1956 Curtis Cup Match". United States Golf Association (published February 14, 2015). Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  29. ^ Strite, Dick (April 7, 1957). "Highclimber". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 1B.
  30. ^ a b "Tacoma Woman Golf Favorite". Longview Daily News. Associated Press. July 6, 1959. p. 11.
  31. ^ "Riley, Romack Named On Curtis Cup Team". The Tampa Tribune. Associated Press. July 2, 1958. p. 1-B.
  32. ^ "Senior women". The Akron Beacon Journal. Associated Press. September 29, 1984. p. B2.
  33. ^ Williams, Bea (May 24, 1960). "Pat Harbottle Leads Sweeps". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. C-6.
  34. ^ Smith, Craig (November 7, 2016). "Harbottles of Tacoma continue to rack up amazing golf achievements". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  35. ^ "Hosted Tournaments". Tacoma County & Golf Club. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  36. ^ "PNGA Hall of Fame". Pacific Northwest Golf Association. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  37. ^ "1999 inductees". Washington Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  38. ^ "Hall of Fame: Pat Lesser (Harbottle)". Seattle University Athletics. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  39. ^ Alliss, Peter (1983). "Lesser, Patricia Ann (later Harbottle) USA". The Who's Who of Golf. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. p. 107. ISBN 0139584978.
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