The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2022
- Class:
- 1989
One of the most accomplished golfers in University of Texas history and an 18-year LPGA veteran, Kate Golden was a four-year member of the women’s golf team under former Hall of Fame head coach Pat Weis. She earned second-team All-America honors in 1989 and was a three-time All-Southwest Conference first-team selection (1987-89). Golden was named to the Southwest Conference All-Decade Team for the 1980s and won three collegiate events during her career. The 1987 Southwest Conference individual champion, Golden is the daughter of Texas Ex Joe Bob Golden, the 1954 Southwest Conference men’s golf individual champion. The Goldens were the only father-daughter tandem in the history of the Southwest Conference to win individual conference titles in the same sport. Joe Bob Golden played at Texas for Harvey Penick from 1952-54 and served as his assistant while attending law school at UT. Golden competed on the LPGA Tour from 1992-2010 and her professional career included a victory at the 2001 State Farm Classic, appearances in more than 30 major championships and nearly $1.5 million in career earnings. En route to the State Farm Classic title, Golden set a then-tournament record of 21-under-par during the 72-hole event. She totaled eight top-five finishes and 14 top-10 showings. She’s had great success in coaching after her playing career and is in her 12th season on the women’s golf staff at UT, currently serving as associate head coach. Golden has helped return the Longhorns to among the nation’s elite programs. Together with head coach Ryan Murphy over the past eight seasons, Golden helped the Longhorns win four of the past five Big 12 Conference Championships, including three straight from 2017-19, and advance to each of the last six NCAA Championships. Texas advanced to match play at the NCAA Championships and posted back-to-back top-five finishes in 2019 and 2021. A fall 1989 University of Texas graduate with a degree in sociology, she’s a former member of the LPGA Board of Directors and the LPGA Player Committee. Golden is currently on the Board of Directors for the charitable organization Golfers Against Cancer.
