Ruth Barker Memorial Trophy

2011 Champion Gillian Curley

1972 Champion Bunny McAlpine

Beginning in the 1960s, ladies competitions were held at most events. As participation increased, an official Ladies Championship was established in 1972 when the first Ruth Barker Memorial Trophy was awarded by her husband Richard B. Barker. Since then the Annual Ladies Match Play Championship has been held at the same time as the year-ending men’s championship.

The first Lady Champion was Bunny McAlpine of Summit, NJ. Mrs. McAlpine successfully defended her title, winning again in 1973. Since then there have been three other two-time champions, Louise Hightower of Duluth, GA in 1977-1978, Laverta Cassady of Vero Beach, FL in 1984-1985, and Sally Anderson of Houston, TX in 1999 and 2002. Mrs. Cassady won again in 1986 making her the only three time winner.

Eve Biron of St. Lambert, QC Canada who won in 1990 was the first international champion. Buff and Cliff Perry of Winston-Salem NC share the distinction of being the only wife and husband champions, Buff winning in 2003 while Cliff was the 2000 Champion.

The 2011 Ruth Barker Memorial Trophy winner is Gillian Curley of Leicestershire England. Mrs. Curley was also 2010 Champion playing in her first Southern Seniors tournament. The Championship Flight played at scratch over the Seaside, Plantation and Retreat Courses of the Sea Island Golf Club. The runner-up was 2008 Champion Mary Ann Soldo of Hilton Head Island, SC. Eighteen golfers from eight states, Canada and Great Britain participated in the the 2011 Championship.

Winners of the Ruth Barker Memorial Trophy

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991

Bunny MacAlpine
Bunny MacAlpine
Betty Brady
Virginia LaCour
Shirley Selman
Louise Hightower
Louise Hightower
Goody Manzone
Anne Coupe
Harriet Null
Marjorie Keenoy
Blosson McBrier
Laverta Cassady
Laverta Cassady
Debbie Leeming
Laverta Cassady
Pat Bingham
Ginny Estes
Eve Biron
Patty Moore

Summit, NJ
Summit, NJ
Hilton Head Island SC
Daytona Beach, FL
Whispering Pines, NC
Duluth, GA
Duluth, GA
Ocala, FL
Rochester, NY
Corpus Christi, TX
Fort Myers, FL
Sea Island, GA
Vero Beach, FL
Vero Beach, FL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Vero Veach, FL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Stuart, FL
St. Lambert, QC Canada
Charlotte, NC

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011

Margarite Conover
Bobbie Forrest
Judy Hankey
Sue Riggins
Joanne Moses
Dottie Dace
Diane Biggers
Sally Anderson
Holly Richey
Nancy Lamb
Sally Anderson
Buff Perry
Joanie Jordan
Kathie Lesesne
Karen Sides
Tracey Gregory
Mary Ann Soldo
Kathie Lesesne
Gillian Curley
Gillian Curley

Houston, TX
Greensboro, NC
Tequesta, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Dataw Island, SC
Gainesville, FL
Highlands, NC
Houston, TX
Fairfax, VA
Williamsburg, VA
Houston, TX
Winston-Salem, NC
Dataw Island, SC
Atlanta, GA
McCormick, SC
Hilton Head Island, SC
Hilton Head Island, SC
Atlanta, GA
Leicestershire England
Leicestershire, England

Annual Championship
1967

(L to R) 2009 Champion Kathy Lesesne, Libby Kronenwetter,
2009 Runner-Up Jean Thomas

Dorado Beach Golf Club
1966