The best golfer from every U.S. state

New Mexico: Nancy Lopez

Nancy Lopez was one of the first great prodigies of women’s golf, making her mark on the sport at an exceptionally young age. While she was born in California, Lopez’s family moved to New Mexico when she was a young child and that’s where her golfing roots were laid. That laying of roots came at just 12 years old when she was able to win the New Mexico Women’s Amateur Championship in 1969.

While still a teenager fresh out of high school, Lopez continued to find success as an amateur as she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open in both 1974 and 1975. In the latter tournament, Lopez almost shocked the world as an 18-year old as she tied for second in the tournament, though she was four strokes off of the eventual winner, Sandra Palmer.

Lopez would again finish second at the U.S. Women’s Open in 1977, right after she turned professional following a brief stint at the University of Tulsa to play golf. Her first full year on the LPGA Tour then came in 1978 and she was exceptionally dominant as a rookie as she was able to win nine times during that first season. Even more incredible, she won five-straight tournaments during that run.

Though she earned 48 victories overall on the LPGA Tour throughout her career, majors somewhat eluded Lopez. Overall she finished second four times at the U.S. Open and three times at the du Maurier Classic. She also tied for third at the 1995 ANA Inspiration. However, she did win the LPGA Championship three times (1978, 1985, 1989) to give her a trio of major wins to her credit.