Sandra Palmer

Palmer was born in Fort Worth, Texas, but grew up (and first played golf at the age of 13) in Bangor, Maine. Sandra would often caddy at the local country club just to be around golf. By the time she moved back to Fort Worth, Texas, she was competing in amateur championships and nurturing her passion for the game. She attended North Texas State University where she was a cheerleader and Homecoming Queen. Palmer was runner-up in the 1961 National Collegiate Championship. She was a four-time winner of the West Texas Amateur and won the Texas State Amateur in 1963.
After graduating from North Texas State University and turning pro in 1964, Sandra met legendary golf professional, Harvey Penick. He was Sandra's coach and mentor until his death in 1995. Under Harvey's watchful eye and guidance, Sandra won 30 professional golf tournaments worldwide, including 19 LPGA Tour events.
She graduated from North Texas State University in 1963, with a degree in physical education. She turned pro in 1964 and joined the LPGA Tour were she played full-time for 32 years till 1996. She played in 795 LPGA events (LPGA records incomplete, but with records going back to 1963 Palmer has played in the most events on the LPGA Tour), making 690 cuts with 232 top-ten finishes (29% of her starts). She won the LPGA Tour money title in 1975 with $76,374 in earnings. She won twice, at the U.S. Women's Open and Colgate Dinah Shore. At the time the Women's Open was an official major, but the Dinah Shore was not. In 1975, Sandra was named Golf Writer's Association Player of the Year , LPGA Player of the Year, and she led the LPGA money winner's list.
Many feel that 1973 was better as she won 4 times (Pompano Beach Classic, St. Paul Open, National Jewish Hospital Open & Cameron Park Open). Palmer had 2 runner-ups that year, three 3rd place finishes and a total of 22 top-ten finishes. She won $54,680 and finished 3rd on the money list behind Kathy Whitworth and Judy Rankin. Palmer's best Financial year was in 1986 when she won $148,872 to finish 14th on the money list.
Retiring from the LPGA Tour in 1998, Sandra was focused on sharing her considerable skills and knowledge as an instructor. Sandra is a Class A member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (TC&P) Division. At first Palmer was affiliated with Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington but in 2005 she switched and has been at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California.
Palmer has played in over 30 Legends Tour events, she played in the 2018 Suquamish Clearwater Legends Cup in Washington and finished T-26th.