Jenny Lee Smith
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Constance "Jenny" Lee Smith (born 2 December 1948) is an English
golfer, known for winning the inaugural Women's British Open
in 1976 and later winning the Order of Merit on the Women's Professional Golf Association tour (now Ladies European Tour
) in 1981 and 1982.
Lee-Smith was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne
and started playing golf at a relatively young age. After some success in regional tournaments in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she began to play in international tournaments. She was a member of the Great Britain Curtis Cup
team in both 1974 and 1976, represented England in the 1975 European Team Championships, and played for Great Britain & Ireland in the 1976 Espirito Santo Trophy
.
In 1976, while still an amateur, Lee-Smith won the inaugural Ladies' British Open (now the Women's British Open
). There were only a handful of professional women golfers in the United Kingdom at the time, and the field was mostly made up of amateurs. At the end of the year, she was voted Daks Woman Golfer of the Year along with Tegwen Perkins.
Lee-Smith turned professional in 1977, and qualified for the LPGA Tour that year. The Women's Professional Golf Association was formed in 1978, and Lee-Smith joined the tour for its first year in 1979. She finished 8th on the money list that year, third in 1980, and won the Order of Merit as the leading money winner in both 1981 and 1982. She was voted the 1982 North East Sports Personality Of The Year.
Jenny now resides in Kent
, England
, with her family. She has three children (Katie, Josh, and Ben) and is married to Sheridan Lucas.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
golfer, known for winning the inaugural Women's British Open
Women's British Open
The Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
in 1976 and later winning the Order of Merit on the Women's Professional Golf Association tour (now Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
) in 1981 and 1982.
Lee-Smith was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and started playing golf at a relatively young age. After some success in regional tournaments in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she began to play in international tournaments. She was a member of the Great Britain Curtis Cup
Curtis Cup
The Curtis Cup is the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers, awarded in the biennial Curtis Cup Match . It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and the Ladies Golf Union and is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland"...
team in both 1974 and 1976, represented England in the 1975 European Team Championships, and played for Great Britain & Ireland in the 1976 Espirito Santo Trophy
Espirito Santo Trophy
The Espirito Santo Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for women organised by the International Golf Federation. The inaugural event was held in 1964 and recent tournaments have featured teams from around forty countries. It is a strokeplay event, in which the best two...
.
In 1976, while still an amateur, Lee-Smith won the inaugural Ladies' British Open (now the Women's British Open
Women's British Open
The Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
). There were only a handful of professional women golfers in the United Kingdom at the time, and the field was mostly made up of amateurs. At the end of the year, she was voted Daks Woman Golfer of the Year along with Tegwen Perkins.
Lee-Smith turned professional in 1977, and qualified for the LPGA Tour that year. The Women's Professional Golf Association was formed in 1978, and Lee-Smith joined the tour for its first year in 1979. She finished 8th on the money list that year, third in 1980, and won the Order of Merit as the leading money winner in both 1981 and 1982. She was voted the 1982 North East Sports Personality Of The Year.
Jenny now resides in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with her family. She has three children (Katie, Josh, and Ben) and is married to Sheridan Lucas.
Ladies European Tour wins
- 1979 Carlsberg (Arcot Hall)
- 1980 Carlsberg (Shifnal), Robert Winsor Productions Championship, Manchester Evening News Pro-Am Classic, Volvo International Tournament
- 1981 Sposts Space Championship, McEwans Lager Welsh Classic, Lambert & Butler Matchplay
- 1982 Ford Ladies' Classic
- 1984 British Olivetti Tournament
Other wins
- 1974 Wills International Matchplay Tournament
- 1976 Ladies' British OpenWomen's British OpenThe Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
(as an amateur)