Carol Sorenson Flenniken Explained

Carol Sorenson Flenniken (born November 15, 1942) is an American amateur golfer. In 1962, Sorenson won the Women's Western Amateur and Women's Collegiate Golf Championship. She won her sixth Wisconsin State Golf Association event the following year. Sorenson won the 1964 British Ladies Amateur. That same year, her American team won the Curtis Cup and won the silve medal at the Espirito Santo Trophy.

Following her wedding, Carol Flenniken won the 1966 Curtis Cup with the Americans. She had 25 Colorado Women's Golf Association event wins between 1968 to 1999. Her "record for career CGA women's/CWGA championships" was surpassed during 2022.[1] Flennkiken became a member of the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Women's Golf Coaches Association Players Hall of Fame during 1989.

Early life and education

Sorenson' was born in Janesville, Wisconsin on November 15, 1942.[2] During her childhood, she became a golfer.[3] Sorensen went to Arizona State University in 1961 for her post-secondary education.[4] The following year, she was the Women's Collegiate Golf Championship winner.[5] She completed a Bachelor of Science in 1966.[6]

Career

1956 to 1965

As a Wisconsin State Golf Association player, Soresnon won the Junior Girls Match Play Championship in 1956 and 1958.[7] She had victories at their Women's State Amateur Championship four times between 1959 to 1963.[8] During this time period, Soresnon was first at the 1959 Women's Western Junior and second during the 1965 edition.[9] Her wins also include the 1960 U.S. Girls' Junior and 1962 Women's Western Amateur.[10] [11]

At the 1963 U.S. Women's Amateur, she reached the semi-finals.[12] Throughout 1964, Soresnon finished first at the Women's Trans-Mississippi and the British Ladies Amateur.[13] [14] Her American team were that year's winners at the Curtis Cup and second during the Espirito Santo Trophy.[15] [16]

1966 – present

Following her 1966 wedding, Carol Flenniken moved to Denver.[17] [18] Flenniken won 25 events held by the Colorado Women's Golf Association between 1968 to 1999. These included the Stroke Play Championship eight times and four times at the Match Play Championship.[19] Her "record for career CGA women's/CWGA championships" was surpassed by Kim Eaton in 2022.[1]

Throughout these years, Flenniken won the 1966 Curtis Cup with the Americans.[15] At LPGA Tour events, she had a 16th place tie at the 1974 National Jewish Hospital Open.[20] Flenniken lived in Eugene, Oregon between 1978 to 1980.[21] [22] During 1979, she had top four finishes at the Oregon Amateur and the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Championship.[23] [24]

She was an accountant at Eugene Country Club in 1978.[21] Flenniken continued to work in finance at golf clubs in Colorado leading up to the early 2000s.[25] Starting in 2019, "[she] barely played golf ... because of a bad back".[26] By 2020, Flenniken underwent back surgery while remaining as a golfer.[25]

Honors and personal life

In 1964, the Associated Press gave Sorenson the Wisconsin Athlete of the Year award. She was "the first female to win the honor."[27] Flenniken joined the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 1975.[28] She entered the Sun Devil Hall of Fame the following year for Arizona State.[29]

Flenniken also became a member of the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame during 1983 and the Women's Golf Coaches Association Players Hall of Fame in 1989.[30] [31] She was named Player of the Year by the CGWA in 1995.[19] Flenniken was married until 2013.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baines . Gary . Record Breaker . Colorado Golf Association . July 21, 2022 . September 8, 2024.
  2. Encyclopedia: Sorenson, Carol (1942–) . Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages . 2007 . Yorkin Publications . Waterford, Connecticut . Commire . Anne . Klezmer . Deborah . 2 . 1762 . 0787676772.
  3. Bigford . Andy . Still the Most Fantastic Flenniken . Colorado AvidGolfer . June 2020 . 19 . 3 . 30 . November 4, 2024 . Issuu.
  4. News: O'Brien . Peg . Travel Log . Janesville Daily Gazette . September 20, 1961 . 5.
  5. News: Sorenson Wins Golf Title, 5-4 . The Arizona Republic . Associated Press . June 24, 1962 . sec. C p. 1.
  6. News: Travelog . Janesviile Daily Gazette . January 28, 1966 . 5.
  7. Web site: Wisconsin State Golf Association Official Record Book . BlueGolf . September 8, 2024 . December 2023 . 80-81.
  8. Wisconsin State Golf Association 2023, pp. 67–69
  9. Web site: Women's Western Junior History . Women's Western Junior . September 10, 2024.
  10. Web site: U.S. Girls' Junior Champions . United States Golf Association . September 19, 2024 . September 18, 2023.
  11. Web site: Women's Western Amateur History . Women's Western Amateur . September 19, 2024.
  12. News: JoAnne Gunderson Upset In Women's National Golf . Bennington Banner . Associated Press . August 24, 1963 . 12.
  13. News: Workman . Jay . Carol Sorenson Wins Women's Trans-Miss . The Arizona Republic . May 3, 1964 . 2-C.
  14. News: Carol Sorenson Wins British Golf Tourney . Bluefield Daily Telegraph . Associated Press . September 26, 1964 . 7.
  15. Web site: Curtis Cup Results (1932-Present) . United States Golf Association . September 19, 2024 . November 6, 2023.
  16. News: Frances Nip U.S. Gals by a Stroke . Omaha World-Herald . Reuters Agency, Ltd. . October 5, 1964 . 10.
  17. News: Carol Sorenson, Golfer, Married . Wausau Daily Record-Herald . February 8, 1966 . 19.
  18. News: Carol (Sorenson) Flenniken To Play in 3 Tourneys; Pairings Made in Handicap Event for Muny Men . Janesville Daily Gazette . June 25, 1966 . 13.
  19. Web site: CWGA Tournament Archives . Colorado Women's Golf Association . September 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171006125223/http://coloradowomensgolf.org/tournament-archives/ . October 6, 2017.
  20. News: Haynie Captures Fifth Golf Title . The Blade-Tribune . United Press International . August 26, 1974 . 13.
  21. News: Eggers . Kerry . Flenniken: A 'social' game now . Oregon Journal . May 31, 1978 . 29.
  22. News: Flenniken ousted . The Oregonian . August 14, 1980 . E8.
  23. News: Robinson . Bob . Peccia slips into Oregon Amateur finale . The Oregonian . June 23, 1979 . C2.
  24. News: Brandon . Steve . Peck upset 'idol' Budke . Oregon Journal . June 14, 1979 . 11.
  25. Bigford 2020, p. 31
  26. Web site: D'Amato . Gary . From child prodigy in Janesville to player of the century in Colorado, Carol Sorenson Flenniken's 'Winning Golf' spanned decades . Wisconsin Golf . November 29, 2024 . November 25, 2021.
  27. News: O'Hara . Dave . Carol Sorenson Seleceted As State's Top Athlete . La Crosse Tribune . Associated Press . February 5, 1965 . 7.
  28. Web site: Carol Flenniken . Colorado Golf Hall of Fame . September 8, 2024.
  29. Web site: Sun Devil Hall of Fame (Women's Golf) . Arizona State University Athletics . September 19, 2024 . August 16, 2000.
  30. Web site: Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame . Wisconsin State Golf Association . September 9, 2024.
  31. Web site: Players Hall of Fame . Women's Golf Coaches Association . September 8, 2024.

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