Ruth Jessen
Roosevelt High School 1955
Golf
SPS High School Athletic Hall of Fame • Seattle WA
High School
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Participated in 1st PNGA Women’s Amateur Championship as an 8th grader
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Three-time Seattle City Championship winner
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Won Washington State Women’s Golf Association Championship, Pacific Northwest Championship
and US Girls’ Junior Championship in 1954
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Repeated win at Pacific Northwest Championship as a senior
College
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Received varsity letter from Seattle University’s men’s golf team before pursuing professional career
Professional
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Pioneer for women’s sports, becoming both the Pacific Northwest and Seattle’s first LPGA golfer and
first woman to win $10K (Sears Classic)
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Earned 11 wins on the LPGA tour between 1959-1971
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Served as an ambassador for LPGA program and later elected as 1966
LPGA President
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Won 1971 Ben Hogan Award
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Four-time runner up in major championships
Other
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Inducted into Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame