Dorothy Porter dies at the age of 88
Dorothy Germain Porter died on July 20 at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. The cause of the death is given as the complications due to pneumonia.
Dot Porter, as she as affectionately known, was 88 years old at the time of death. She was well known for her five USGA titles. She was the winner of 1949 Women’s Amateur Champion.
This was the most memorable win of her career. She went on to win the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur four times, in 1977, 1980, 1981 and 1983.
Porter was an all-round athlete with interest in many sports. While graduating from the Beaver College, she took up field hockey and excelled in it. Golf was the least of her priorities then.
She used to call golf a “silly game”. However, she soon developed an interest in the game, which proved to be a lifelong passion for her.
She started playing in various amateur events in Philadelphia and quickly rose up the amateur rankings. Her introduction to top level golf came in 1941. That year, Porter competed for the first time in the USGA Women’s Amateur. She lost out to fellow Philadelphian,
Helen Sigel in the third round.
The greatest moment of her life came in 1949, when she competed in that year’s Women’s Amateur. This was a historic moment for women golf in the US. A new corps of players was poised to take over from the previous generation of champions.
Porter won the final round against Dorothy Kielty with a score of 3 and 1 in her favour. This win established porter as an international star and started her on a brilliant golf career.
In 1950, when she a part of the US Curtis Cup team. She played memorable game in that event and was instrumental in the US win with a final team score of 7 ½ to 1 ½.
Her next moment of glory came in 1966, when she was appointed the captain of the US Curtis Cup team. This is the highest honour for a US player and Porter was determined to win the event. Team US won the event under her watch with a score of 13 to 5.
In 1977, Dorothy Porter won the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur. This was the first time a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion has won the title.
Dorothy Porter remained an avid supporter of golf throughout her life. She became a member of USGA Women’s Committee and worked to promote golf in young women. Her demand as a public speaker grew because of her charming and engaging personality.
Four-time winner of the U.S. Women’s Open champion Mickey Wright was one her fans. Talking about Porter she said, “Dot was an outstanding human being who had a warmth of personality and generosity of spirit unlike anyone else I ever met in golf. I'll miss
her”.
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