Estelle Lawson Page

1981

Amateur Golfer

Born in East Orange, NJ, March 22, 1907, Mrs. Page made Chapel Hill, NC home since early childhood.  She was taught the game of golf by her father, Dr. Robert Lawson, a University of North Carolina Faculty member.

One of the nation’s leading women amateurs for over two decades, from the early 1930's to the mid 1950's, she won the qualifying medal in the USGA Women’s Amateur in 1937 and 1938.  The former year she won the national title played at the Memphis Country Club beating Patty Berg in the finals 7 and 6.  The following year, 1938, at the Westmoreland Country Club, Wilmette, Ill., she lost to Miss Berg, again in the finals, by 6 and 5. Competing in the Women’s North and South Amateur at Pinehurst in 1950, she played the last two days of the event with acute appendicitis, and after losing in the finals by 3 and 2 to Pat O’Sullivan, drove home to Chapel Hill and was later that day admitted to the hospital for an emergency operation.

She was founding member of the North Carolina Women’s Golf Association and served as an officer for many years, including the presidency.  She has been inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in two states: New Jersey and North Carolina.  Though her competitive career spanned a period of over 20 years, never once did her domestic or social life suffer thereby.

Mrs. Page’s Record:

USGA Women’s Amateur Championship

Winner, 1937

Runner-up, 1938

Semi-Finalist, 1941,1947, 1951

Curtis Cup Team,

1938, 1948

Women’s North and South Amateur Championship

Winner, 1935,1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945

Runner-up, 1942, 1946, 1950

Semi-Finalist, 1947, 1949

Women’s Southern Amateur Championship

Winner, 1946

North Carolina Women’s Amateur Championship

Winner, 10 times, Runner-up twice

Estelle Lawson Page was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, June 1981