Suzanne Maxwell Berning (July 22, 1941 – October 2, 2024) was an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1964 and won four major championships and eleven LPGA Tour victories in all. She also competed under her maiden name Susie Maxwell from 1964 to 1968. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022.
Early life and amateur career Suzanne Maxwell was born in Pasadena, California. Her family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, when she was 13. After taking up golf at the age of 15, she immediately won three-straight Oklahoma State High School Championships. She also won the Oklahoma City Women's Amateur from 1959 to 1961. In 1963, she won the Oklahoma Women's Amateur.
She was the first woman to receive a golf scholarship from Oklahoma City University, where she competed on the men's team.
Professional career In 1964, Maxwell turned pro and joined the LPGA Tour that year. She earned LPGA Rookie of the Year honors. She won her first tournament in 1965 at the Muskogee Civitan Open.
She won 11 times on the Tour, a high proportion of her wins coming in major championships, the 1965 Women's Western Open and the U.S. Women's Open in 1968, 1972 and 1973.
However, her form was inconsistent from her late 20s on, with the last of her three top-10 finishes on the money list coming in 1969. She stayed on the Tour for many years, though she did not always play full-time, and played 13 events as late as 1995. She made her final appearance on the Tour in 1996.
After retiring from tour play, Berning became a well-respected teaching professional, spending time at the Nicholas-Flick Golf Academy and dividing her time between The Reserve Club in Palm Springs, California and Maroon Creek Country Club in Aspen, Colorado.
Personal life She had two daughters, Robin Doctor and Cindy Molchany, from her marriage to Dale Berning, which ended in divorce in 1997. At the 1989 Konica San Jose Classic, she and Robin became the first mother-daughter pair to play in the same LPGA Tour event.
Berning died from lung cancer at her home in Indio, California, on October 2, 2024, at the age of 83.
Awards and honors In 1964, she earned the LPGA Rookie of the Year award. In 1967, she was named the LPGA's Most Improved Player. In 2020, she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
Professional wins (13) LPGA Tour wins (11) LegendLPGA Tour major championships (4)Other LPGA Tour (7)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of victoryRunner(s)-up1May 16, 1965Muskogee Civitan Open−3 (71-72-70=213)5 strokes Kathy Cornelius Judy Kimball Mickey Wright2Jun 13, 1965Women's Western Open−2 (73-72-76-69=290)3 strokes Marlene Hagge3Apr 2, 1967Louise Suggs Invitational +8 (75-72-77=224)Playoff Sandra Haynie4Jun 18, 1967Milwaukee Jaycee OpenE (68-73-75=216)5 strokes Barbara Romack Judy Kimball Judy Rankin Peggy Wilson5Jul 7, 1968U.S. Women's Open +5 (69-73-76-71=289)3 strokes Mickey Wright6Jun 8, 1969Lady Carling Open−6 (69-74-70=213)1 stroke Donna Caponi7Jun 22, 1969Pabst Ladies Classic−5 (69-71-71=211)1 stroke Donna Caponi Clifford Ann Creed Shirley Englehorn8Jul 2, 1972U.S. Women's Open +11 (79-76-73-71=299)1 stroke Kathy Ahern Pam Barnett Judy Rankin9Jun 24, 1973Heritage Village Open−12 (68-70-69=207)4 strokes Sandra Haynie10Jul 22, 1973U.S. Women's Open−3 (73-77-69-72=290)5 strokes Gloria Ehret Shelley Hamlin11Jul 25, 1976Lady Keystone Open−1 (72-71-72=215)3 strokes Pat Bradley Sandra Haynie
LPGA Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11966Lady Carling Open Clifford Ann CreedLost to birdie on first extra hole21967Louise Suggs Invitational Sandra HaynieWon with birdie on second extra hole
Sources:
Other wins (2) 1975 Lady Keystone Open 1997 Sprint Senior Challenge
Major championships Wins (4) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up 1965 Women's Western Open −2 (73-72-76-69=290) 3 strokes Marlene Hagge 1968 U.S. Women's Open +5 (69-73-76-71=289) 3 strokes Mickey Wright 1972 U.S. Women's Open +11 (79-73-76-71=299) 1 stroke Kathy Ahern, Pam Barnett, Judy Rankin 1973 U.S. Women's Open +2 (72-77-69-72=290) 5 strokes Gloria Ehret, Shelley Hamlin Source:
See also List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins List of golfers with most LPGA major championship wins
References
External links
Susie Maxwell Berning bio at GolfCompendium.com Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Berning, Susie Maxwell