Suzy Whaley

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Suzy Whaley is a professional golfer, from Connecticut, who, in 2003, became the first woman in 58 years to qualify for a PGA Tour event when she qualified for the 2003 Greater Hartford Open, after winning the 2002 Connecticut Section PGA Championship. She was also the first woman to win a PGA individual professional tournament. She is currently recognized by Golf for Women as a top 50 female instructor and is a Board Member and Advisor for numerous organizations including Golfer Girl Magazine. She is an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) member who played on the LPGA Tour in 1990 and 1993.

Whaley's achievement is questioned by some because the regional qualifying tournament she won, the 2002 Connecticut Section PGA Championship, which gained her a place in the Greater Hartford Open, was aided by her being allowed to play the course off tees 699 yards shorter than the men she competed against in that regional qualifying: she played 6,239 yards, while the men had to play 6,938 yard (10% shorter course).^[1]

This anomaly was addressed later by the PGA, under the unofficial "Whaley rule", which required all entrants at qualifying tournaments, whether male or female, to play off the same tees.^[1]