JoAnne Gunderson Carner

"The Great Gundy," as she was called in her youth, has been a champion at every level. As an amateur, she was second only to Glenna Collett Vare in number of national titles won. She remains to this day the only woman ever to win the USGA national championships in Junior, Amateur and Open competition. Carner, who grew up in Washington, moved to Rhode Island while she was at the top of her game. She won five U.S. Women’s amateur titles, two while she was living in Rhode Island and playing out of Rhode Island Country Club. She captured the RIWGA championship three years in a row, beginning in 1966. After turning professional, she went on to earn LPGA Hall of Fame honors as she won 43 tournaments on tour. Those titles included the 1971 and 1976 U.S. Opens. Her first LPGA championship came while she was still an amateur, winning the 1969 Burdine’s Invitational. No amateur since has won an LPGA event. The long-hitting "Big Mama", as she is now affectionately called, won the LPGA Vare Trophy five times and was the LPGA Player of the Year three times.