The 1963 U.S. Women's Open was the 18th U.S. Women's Open, held July 18–20 at Kenwood Country Club, northeast of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mary Mills, age 23, won her only U.S. Women's Open title, three strokes ahead of runners-up Louise Suggs and Sandra Haynie. It was the first of nine victories on the LPGA Tour for Mills and the first of her three major titles.
Retired tennis pro Althea Gibson, age 35, became the first African American to play in a U.S. Women's Open. She shot 78 and 82 for 160 (+14) and missed the cut by a stroke. Three-time champion Mickey Wright did not play, opting for dental work, which she had originally planned to have done the previous week. Wright returned in 1964 to win her fourth title. Defending champion Murle Lindstrom tied for seventh.
The championship was played the same week as the PGA Championship, which concluded on Sunday.
Final leaderboard Saturday, July 20, 1963 Place Player Score To par Money ($)1 Mary Mills71-70-75-73=289−32,000 T2 Louise Suggs72-72-75-73=292E 1,000 Sandra Haynie75-72-73-72=292 4 Clifford Ann Creed71-75-78-74=298+6650 T5 Kathy Whitworth75-74-80-73=302+10450 Ruth Jessen72-78-77-75=302 T7 Kathy Cornelius76-75-77-75=303+11313 Mary Lena Faulk75-73-76-79=303 Murle Lindstrom83-75-74-71=303 Patsy Hahn74-73-78-78=303 Source:
References
External links Golf Observer final leaderboard U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship U.S. Women's Open – past champions – 1963 Kenwood Country Club