Frances Stephens

Frances "Bunty" – 23 July 1978 ) was an English amateur golfer.

Early life In 1924, Stephens was born in Lancashire. Her father Fred was club professional at Bootie Golf Club.

Golf career During the 1940s and 1950s, she was, according to The Bolton News, "Britain's No. 1 woman golfer." In 1948, she won the English Women's Amateur Championship. She was also victorious in 1954 and 1955. In 1959, she finished runner-up. She also won the British Ladies Amateur in 1949 and 1954 and earned runner-up honors in 1951 and 1952. Her home club was Royal Birkdale.

She played in all six Curtis Cups from 1950 to 1960, and was non-playing captain of the Great Britain and Ireland team in 1962 and 1972. Her final-hole victories over Polly Riley in the 1956 and 1958 tournaments secured a win and a draw, respectively, for the British and Irish team, the first time it retained the cup. She did manage to tie for 6th place at the 1949 U.S. Women's Open though. She was also a non-playing captain of the British team in the Vagliano Trophy. Her swing had a pronounced hiatus at the top, which Wind called "most unimpressive,"

In the 1960s, Stephens curtailed her playing career to raise her daughter but subsequently was active in golf administration and developing junior golf. They had one daughter.

Team appearances Curtis Cup (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1950, 1952 (winners), 1954, 1956 (winners), 1958 (tied), 1960, 1962 (non-playing captain), 1972 (non-playing captain) Vagliano Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1947 (winners), 1948 (winners), 1949 (winners), 1953 (winners), 1955 (winners), 1959 (winners), 1971 (non-playing captain, winners) Commonwealth Trophy (representing Great Britain): 1959 (winners), 1963 (winners)