The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 19 Women's Golf prepares to host historic Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
10.13.2016 | Women's Golf
The Longhorns reflect on what it means to be playing in honor of Texas Ex Betsy Rawls.
Betsy Rawls is the most accomplished female golfer in University of Texas history, yet she attended UT before a women's golf team was established.
One of the longest-running tournaments in the country, the 43rd Annual Betsy Rawls Tournament honors Rawls and her legacy.
It will be held October 17th and 18th at the University of Texas Golf Club.
"We're happy to be hosting the Betsy Rawls," Head Coach Ryan Murphy said. "The woman is an icon in our sport. She is a Hall of Fame golfer and it's nice to have a person like that come out of your university, because the players can see her picture on the wall, see her story, and they can say, 'If she came through here and did what she did, so can I.' And I think that, to me, is the most important thing. That people can look at someone else who's come through here and say to themselves, 'If they did it, I can do it, too.' It's big."
Associate Head Coach Kate Golden, a personal friend of Rawls, grew up aspiring to be like Rawls and imitate her success as a fellow Longhorn and on the LPGA Tour.
"It was inspiring to come to Texas and have Betsy Rawls as a tour winner and a Texas Ex," said Golden. "She's one of the founding members of the LPGA. Had there been a golf team when she was at Texas, she would have been on it, obviously. She was a physics major and just brilliant. Played the tour, got it started, and has some McDonald's franchises now. She's a super lady."
Haley Mills, a senior from Tyler, Texas, will be playing in her second Betsy Rawls tournament this weekend.
"It's an honor to compete in the Betsy Rawls tournament because she is pretty much the definition of a champion. She won eight majors, 55 LPGA wins, and even though she didn't play golf at Texas because there wasn't a program yet, she is still a Longhorn and represents us."
The tournament is the program's only home event, so it presents a special opportunity for the team.
"As a UT golfer, it's great to compete in the Betsy Rawls because it's our home territory and we want to defend it," said Mills. "We also love having other teams come here and see the facilities that we have because we are very blessed."
The tournament will be played Monday and Tuesday and will include 15 teams from across the country.
LONGHORN WINNERS OF THE BETSY RAWLS
2011 Nicole Vandermede (214)
2003 Jessica Reese (212)
2002 Janice Olivencia (218)
1999 Kristin Dufour (218)
1989 Kate Golden (215)
1988 Michiko Hattori (219)
1979 Bari Brandwynne (225)
1975 Nancy Hager (151)
1974 Nancy Hager (153)
Players Mentioned
