Gerda Boykin

Gerda Boykin (née Schleeh) is Germany's first female professional golfer. She competed full time on the LPGA Tour from 1968 to 1977, where she was runner-up three times and finished 3rd at the 1968 LPGA Championship.[1]

Gerda Boykin
Personal information
Full nameGerda Whalen Boykin
BornBaden-Baden, Germany
Height5 in 2 ft
Sporting nationality West Germany
ResidenceAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Career
StatusProfessional
Current tour(s)LPGA Tour (joined 1968)
Best results in LPGA major championships
Women's PGA C'ship3rd: 1968
U.S. Women's Open8th: 1968
Achievements and awards
Golf Digest Most Improved
Female Professional Golfer		1968

Early life

Boykin grew up in Baden-Baden in the aftermath of World War II. After becoming interested in the sport while caddying for American military personnel, she started practicing golf at age 10 under Paul Henkel.[2]

At 19, she became the first female German professional golfer. She worked as a golf instructor assisting Henkel, and at 21 she became head pro.[2] Forced to enter men's tournaments, she finished fourth in the German PGA Championship.[1] She also captained the German amateur teams in European competition.[2]

In 1961, she married American golf instructor Dan Whalen and moved to Illinois.[2]

LPGA Tour

Boykin started playing on the LPGA Tour in 1961 but played a very limited schedule until 1968. Encouraged by her solo third finish at the 1968 LPGA Championship, one stroke away from joining the playoff between Sandra Post and Kathy Whitworth, she joined the tour full time. Later that year, she finished 8th at the 1968 U.S. Women's Open. At the 1969 U.S. Women's Open she aced the 165-yard 7th hole with a five-wood, a shot that five weeks earlier would have earned her the Janet Olson Hole-in-One Award and $1,000, instead the check went to a foundation for the blind.[3] It was only the third ace in the tournament's history.[4] She was named "most improved" golfer in 1968 by Golf Digest, alongside Bob Lunn.[5]

In 1970, she tied for 8th place at the 1970 LPGA Championship, and in 1972 was one of the 40 players in the inaugural Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle, now the Chevron Championship.[6] At the 1976 LPGA Championship, she shared the lead at the halfway point.[7]

Boykin lost a playoff to Judy Rankin at the 1973 GAC Classic in Tucson. She posted three-second place finishes during her LPGA career, including at the 1973 and 1975 Southgate Ladies Open in Prairie Village, Kansas, both times behind Kathy Whitworth. 1977 was her last season of full-time competition, and she started cutting back her schedule again. A fourth place tie in the 1984 Potamkin Cadillac Classic marked her best showing after 1977.[1]

Personal life

Boykin was born Gerda Schleeh and competed as Gerda Whalen until she married Bill Boykin in 1970.[1]

Playoff record

LPGA Tour playoff record (0–1)
No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 1973 GAC Classic United States Judy Rankin
United States Sandra Palmer		 Boykin eliminated by par on first hole
Rankin won with par on third extra hole

References
  1. "Gerda Boykin Bio". LPGA Tour. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  2. "Gerda Boykin – Golfcup" (PDF). Golfclub Baden Baden. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  3. Kirkpatrick, Curry (7 July 1969). "A cool one turned the heat on". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  4. "Every Hole-in-One In U.S. Women's Open History". Golf Compendium. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  5. "Lunn, Mrs. Whalen Honored". The New York Times. 10 December 1968. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. "Pairings list for 1972 edition of Dinah Shore event offers fascinating look at LPGA history". Desert Sun. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  7. "3 Share Women's Golf Lead". The New York Times. 29 May 1976. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
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