The best golfer from every U.S. state

North Dakota: Beverly Hanson

Hailing from Fargo, Beverly Hanson could have easily been known for playing for the bassoon had it not been for her prowess on the golf course. Not only was she born in North Dakota — a state that admittedly has not produced a plethora of golf talent throughout the years — but she also spent time studying at the University of North Dakota. Her golfing career, however, began a bit after in terms of her success on the LPGA Tour.

As an amateur, Hanson enjoyed plenty of success as she was able to win the Texas Open for her first LPGA Tour victory — albeit while she maintained amateur status — in 1949. Meanwhile, she went on to play with the U.S. Curtis Cup team the next year, a year in which she also won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. As you might expect, that amount of success signaled for her that it was time to turn pro in 1951.

After registering a win in the Eastern Open in her rookie season, Hanson would then have to wait four years before earning her major championship. That victory, though, made her a trivia answer as she became the winner of the inaugural LPGA Championship in 1955. The next year, she captured her second major as she won the Women’s Western Open. Her third and final major title of her career came in 1958 with a victory at the Titleholders Championship. For good measure, her best finish at the U.S. Women’s Open came at 1952.