Colleen Walker

Colleen Walker (August 16, 1956 – December 11, 2012 ) was an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.

Amateur career Walker was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1956. She started playing golf at the age of 14. At the age of 18, she was named the 1974 Palm Beach Post Athlete and Player of the Year. She won the Florida All-State Golf Award in 1976.

Walker then attended Florida State University. She won most valuable player honors from 1977–1978.

Professional career In 1981, Walker turned professional. She played on the Tampa Bay Mini-Tour briefly.

Walker joined the LPGA Tour in 1982 after earning medalist honors at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. She won nine tour titles, the first of which was in 1987. Her final victory was in 1997. That year she won her only major championship, the 1997 du Maurier Classic.

In 1988, she won the LPGA Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average, was named Most Improved Player by Golf Digest, and finished a career high fifth on the money list, one of four times she finished in the top ten.

Illness and death In 2001, Walker joined the Legends Tour. She won her first tournament that year. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2003, she underwent chemotherapy and radiation. She would rejoin the tour in September. She finished in a tie for 10th at a senior event, essentially an attempt to see if she could still play. She retired from the Legends Tour in 2004.

Walker died on December 11, 2012, in Valrico, Florida, of a cancer recurrence that was diagnosed in late 2011. She was 56-years-old.

Awards and honors In 1974, Walker earned the Palm Beach Post Athlete and Player of the Year. In 1976, she won the Florida All-State Golf Award. In 1988, Walker won the LPGA Vare Trophy, bestowed to the player with the lowest scoring average on the LPGA. In 1988, she earned the Most Improved Player award by Golf Digest. In 1991, she was inducted into the Florida State University Hall of Fame. In 2003, Walker was inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame. In 2003, she earned the LPGA's Heather Farr Player Award.

Professional wins (12) LPGA Tour (9) LegendLPGA Tour major championships (1)Other LPGA Tour (8)

LPGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

LPGA of Japan Tour (1) 1989 Nichirei International

Legends Tour (1) 2001 Hy-Vee Classic

Other (1) 1988 Mazda Champions (with Dave Hill)

Major championships

Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1997 du Maurier Classic −14 (68-72-73-65=278)2 strokes Liselotte Neumann

Team appearances Professional Handa Cup (representing the United States): 2009 (winners)