My apologizes to Suzy Wickham for not publishing this story in sequence. I am most proud of the role that Suzy and her teammates played in competitive golf for young women before Title IX.
Suzy's Story:
I played for
OSU from 1972-75, graduating in the spring of 1975. Joyce Seward was
the first coach at OSU, but the University of Tulsa also had a team. We
did not have Title IX enacted during the years I attended OSU. We
traveled in a 9-passenger station wagon to all the tournaments. It was
pretty crowded with the team and golf bags, but we found space wherever
we could. The school issued us an orange carry golf bag and a black
windbreaker and we wore jeans to play in most of the time. We practiced
at Lakeside Golf Course in Stillwater and hit our own shag balls in an
open space that was a practice area for both the men’s and women’s
teams.
 |
Suzy Wickham on the right.
|
1973 OSU Yearbook states:
Oklahoma State’s women golfers
displayed a lot of enthusiasm and are providing the leadership and impetus for
the Big Eight Conference as well as the state of Oklahoma. OSU’s lady linksters
split two matches with Southwest Missouri State and took a second and a third
in a tournament at Texas Women’s Golf Tourney held in Ames, Iowa.
 |
Suzy Wickham back row second from the right.
|
Oklahoma State’s women’s golf team made a fine showing in
its 1973 fall competition. In a triangular match with Southwestern Missouri and
Stephens, the team won with Patty Livingston as medalist. In October, the team
competed in the Stephens Invitational Tournament where Karen Edwards was the
medalist.
Spring competition included a ten school meet at Texas Women’s
University in April. Although the two seniors of the team, Diane Sumpter and
Karen Gravley, are outstanding, the upcoming freshman should make OSU’s future
great in women’s golf.
Suzy's Story: My senior year I was selected to go to the national
collegiate competition (called the AIAW). It was held in Albuquerque,
New Mexico at the University of New Mexico Golf Course. I was the only
team member to go and represent OSU, as we did not have money to send
the team, so the University of Texas coach looked after me. It was an
honor to be the first woman from OSU to play in the national
championship.
1974 October 3 Miami News Record “Oklahoma State Favored
in Women’s Golf Event” (Stillwater special)
Karen Edwards, Bartlesville Sooner and Patty Livingston Oklahoma City
John Marshall, will anchor O-State’s entry. Both consistently shoot in the high
70’s and are “unhappy when they shoot over 80,” said Coach Joyce Seward. Lisa
Stone, Tulsa, Memorial, Suzy Wickham, Miami, Janie McKee, Shidler, round out the
O-State squad. Only the top four finishers will score in the event.
1975 “Pretty Swingers” by Sherri Blackwell for the 1975 OSU Yearbook
The OSU Yearbook began the page with “Pretty Swingers” and
this picture with Suzy Wickham putting.
 |
Suzy Wickham is standing next to Coach Seward on the right.
|
Suzy's Story:
After graduating in the spring of 1975, I
decided I wanted to be in the golf business. My first job was as an
Assistant Pro at La Fortune Park Golf Course in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I started on
January 1, 1976, under Jerry Jones who was the Head Golf Professional.
There was one other woman in the state of Oklahoma who was in the golf
business in Oklahoma City. Her name was Jackie Riggs and she worked at
Lake Hefner Golf Course. I worked at La Fortune Park for three years and
gave group lessons to women from several companies in the Tulsa area.
In 1979 I moved to Omaha, Nebraska and taught at Omaha Country Club.
During the winter months I traveled on the Asian Golf Tour as a travel
consultant to the American golfers who were playing there for twelve
weeks. I got visas for 40 players and organized the hotel and
transportation arrangements for aspiring young golfers, many who went on
to play on the PGA Tour. I would go with the group that missed the cut
to the next tournament to prepare for that country’s national open. I
traveled to Asia for five years and loved every minute of it.
I
married and lived in Omaha for 18 years and played amateur golf in
Nebraska and competed in several USGA Mid-Amateur tournaments and eventually the USGA Senior
Amateur tournaments.
I now spend summers in the
Denver area at Castle Pines Golf Club and winters in Indian Wells,
California at The Vintage Club. I still enjoy golf and playing in club
competitions and member guest tournaments and love the camaraderie and
friendships that golf brings to my life.
It
all started at Miami Golf and Country Club, playing with my family and
anyone else I could get a game with. I loved growing up there and
fondly remember playing junior golf with Jonya, Tammy, Rebecca and many
adults who loved the game. Many thanks to Johnny Stapp who taught me
how to play and treat the golf course and other players with respect.
Also, thanks to Helen Stapp who drove us to tournaments and pro-am events so
that Jonya and I could chase around and get autographs from the pros and
celebrities. Those were fun days!
Suzy Wickham Leprino
