Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Amy Olson
View on Wikipedia
Amy Olson née Anderson (born July 10, 1992)[2] is an American former professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour from 2013 to 2023. She turned professional in 2013 after her collegiate career at North Dakota State University where she won an NCAA record 20 collegiate events.[3]
Key Information
Amateur career
[edit]Anderson started playing golf at age 2 and won numerous local, state, and regional competitions with her most notable win coming in 2009 at the U.S. Girl's Junior at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.[4] In 2011 she was the first woman to compete in the KX Bank of the West Amateur Tournament.[5]
College career
[edit]Anderson competed at North Dakota State University, where she led the women's golf program in scoring each of her four years.[6] She qualified for the 2011 U.S. Women's Open while in college and held the first-round lead at The Broadmoor. She won 20 collegiate events, which beat Juli Inkster's NCAA record of 17 events.[3] In addition to her performance on the golf course, Anderson held a 3.97 GPA in accounting and won the Elite 89 Award as a sophomore, being the student-athlete with the highest GPA (4.0) at the national championship.[6]
Professional career
[edit]After completing her senior season at NDSU, Anderson turned professional and won Stage II of LPGA Qualifying school.[7] She gained her LPGA Tour card in June 2013 to be part of the rookie class in 2014.[8] Her best finish of the year came at the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii, where she finished tied for 7th.[2]
In 2018, Olson made the final pairing at the ANA Inspiration, and picked up her first top-10 in a major there as she tied for 9th.[9][10] At The Evian Championship, Olson came close to making her first LPGA victory a major championship, but after at least sharing the lead for most of the final day, she lost to Angela Stanford on the 18th hole with a double bogey.[9][11] By the end of 2018, she posted a career-best four top-10 finishes in 24 starts, and passed the $1 million mark in career earnings with her T10 finish at the CME Group Tour Championship.[12]
Olson started her 2019 season sharing a five-way tie for tenth in the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open,[13] and a tie for fifth in the HSBC Women's World Championship.[14]
Olson announced her professional golf retirement on her X account on April 24, 2024.[15]
Personal life
[edit]She was born in Oxbow, North Dakota to Mark and Twyla Anderson. She has one sibling, Nathan Anderson, who competed on North Dakota State University's men's golf team. She was home schooled through high school before attending North Dakota State University herself at the age of 17.[16] As of 2017[update] she competes under her married name, Amy Olson.[5]
Olson is married to Grant Olson, the NDSU defensive coordinator. She is a Christian.[17] She found out on January 13, 2023, she is expecting their first child. She played the 2023 U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 6–9 at 7 months pregnant, before a planned maternity leave at 30 weeks.[1] That would be her last tournament before officially retiring in 2024. She gave birth to her daughter Carly Gray Olson in 2023.[15]
Results in LPGA majors
[edit]Results not in chronological order before 2019.
| Tournament | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron Championship | T67 | T9 | T52 | T51 | T40 | CUT | |||||||
| Women's PGA Championship | CUT | 70 | CUT | CUT | T18 | CUT | T37 | CUT | CUT | ||||
| U.S. Women's Open | 63 | T52 | CUT | T2 | T12 | T60 | CUT | ||||||
| The Evian Championship ^ | CUT | 63 | T70 | T2 | T30 | NT | T60 | CUT | |||||
| Women's British Open | CUT | T28 | CUT | T45 | CUT | CUT | |||||||
^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013.
LA = low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
NT = no tournament
"T" = tied
Summary
[edit]| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Women's PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 |
| U.S. Women's Open | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
| The Evian Championship | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Women's British Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Totals | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 20 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (2017 Evian – 2019 ANA)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (three times)
Team appearances
[edit]Amateur
- Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 2012
References
[edit]- ^ a b Sarah Kellam (June 29, 2023). "Soon-To-Be #LPGAMOM Amy Olson Hopes to Inspire While Playing Pregnant at U.S. Women's Open". LPGA. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ a b "Amy Anderson". LPGA. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ a b "NDSU, Anderson sweep titles in Summit League". Golfweek. April 25, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ "Anderson defeats Kim to win USGA Junior Girls". Amateurgolf.com. July 25, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ a b "Par for the course, NDSU golfer follows in Amy Anderson's footsteps". Valley News Live. Fargo, North Dakota. June 14, 2017.
- ^ a b "Amy Anderson". North Dakota State athletics. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ "Anderson medalist at 2nd stage of LPGA Q-School". Golfweek. October 11, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ "New Kids on the Block: Amy Anderson" (video). LPGA. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ a b Mell, Randall (September 16, 2018). "Olson keeps positive attitude despite tough loss". Golf Channel.
- ^ "ANA Inspiration Leaderboard 2018". Golf Channel. April 1, 2018.
- ^ "Stanford wins Evian after Olson 3-putts". Golf Channel. September 16, 2018.
- ^ "Amy Olson – Bio". LPGA. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^ "Nelly Korda wins Women's Australian Open 2019: Final results, leaderboard". Cleveland.com. February 17, 2019.
- ^ "HSBC Women's World Championship". Golf Channel. March 3, 2019.
- ^ a b Nichols, Beth Ann (April 24, 2024). "Photos: LPGA's Amy Olson announces retirement". Golfweek. USA Today. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Klongerbo, Troy (October 2, 2012). "Amy Anderson – Chasing the Dream and the Record Books". US Golf TV. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ Ackerman, Jon (December 15, 2020). "Golfer Amy Olson relies on Lord's strength, finishes runner-up at U.S. Open after father-in-law's death". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Amy Olson at the LPGA Tour official site
- Amy Olson at the Women's World Golf Rankings official site
- Amy Anderson at the official North Dakota State University athletics site
Amy Olson
View on GrokipediaEarly life and amateur career
Early life
Amy Olson was born on July 10, 1992, in the small rural town of Oxbow, North Dakota.[15] She grew up in a close-knit family with her parents, Mark and Twyla Anderson, and older brother Nathan, in a home built adjacent to the par-3 first hole at Oxbow Country Club, which facilitated easy access to the course.[16] Her mother homeschooled her and Nathan through high school, providing a flexible educational environment that allowed ample time for extracurricular pursuits like golf.[17] Olson was introduced to golf at the age of two by her father, who taught her and her brother the basics as a casual family activity during summers in North Dakota's rural landscape.[18] Initially tagging along with Nathan, who began competing in local junior tournaments at age eight, she developed a passion for the sport through sibling rivalry and mutual encouragement, often practicing putting on the green near their home.[18] Her family's emphasis on hard work, faith, and perseverance—instilled by her parents' guidance to "trust and obey"—motivated her early dedication, leading her to wake early for solitary practice sessions at the local club despite the isolation of the rural setting.[19] By around age nine, Olson entered her first local competition, the 2001 Ironman Junior Classic in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, where she won after intensive preparation, marking the beginning of her skill development in North Dakota's limited but supportive golf community.[19] This foundation in a tight family unit and rural environment shaped her resilience and love for the game.Amateur achievements
Olson began her competitive junior career with notable success in regional events, winning the Minnesota Players Cup in the 13-15 division in 2006 and securing victory in the women's all-city golf tournament at Moorhead Country Club that same year.[20] In 2008, she claimed her third consecutive Fargo-Moorhead Women’s All-City title in North Dakota and triumphed at the Birchmont Tournament in Bemidji, Minnesota, while also capturing the Minnesota State Girls Junior PGA title.[20][21] The following year, she defended her Minnesota State Girls Junior PGA title.[21] Her standout achievement came in 2009 when, at age 17, she won the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, earning medalist honors in the stroke-play qualifying with a score of 141 and defeating Kimberly Kim 6-and-5 in the 36-hole final match.[22][21][23] That summer, she also led after the first round of the U.S. Women's Amateur, won the PGA Junior Series in the 16-18 division by 16 strokes, and became the first female to advance to the championship flight of the Pine to Palm Tournament in North Dakota.[20] These accomplishments established Olson as one of the top amateur prospects in the country, leading to her early recruitment and enrollment at North Dakota State University in the fall of 2009 at just 16 years old.[21][20]College career
Academic and athletic record
Amy Olson enrolled at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, North Dakota, in 2009, where she majored in accounting and graduated in 2013 with a 3.97 GPA.[21] Her recruitment to NDSU followed a distinguished amateur career that showcased her golfing talent.[22] As a member of the NDSU women's golf team competing in NCAA Division I, Olson played a pivotal role in the program's success, helping secure multiple Summit League championships during her tenure from 2009 to 2013.[24] She was a four-time Summit League Golfer of the Year and earned three-time Championship MVP honors, underscoring her contributions to team victories.[6] Olson demonstrated exceptional balance between her academic and athletic commitments, maintaining her near-perfect GPA while achieving athletic excellence. In her sophomore year, she received the NCAA Elite 89 Award, recognizing her as the student-athlete with the highest GPA among participants at the NCAA Championships.[25] This honor highlighted her ability to excel in both arenas throughout her college career.[17]Notable college wins
During her four seasons at North Dakota State University (NDSU) from 2009 to 2013, Amy Olson amassed an NCAA-record 20 individual tournament victories in women's golf, surpassing the previous mark of 17 set by Juli Inkster at San Jose State University.[2][22] This achievement established her as one of the most dominant college golfers in history, with her wins spanning regular-season events, conference championships, and regional competitions.[24] Olson's standout performances included three individual titles at the Summit League Championship, earning her MVP honors each time in 2011, 2012, and 2013, making her the first player in conference history to achieve this feat.[6][26] Her 2013 victory at the event not only clinched her fourth consecutive Summit League Golfer of the Year award but also marked her 20th career win, breaking Inkster's record during NDSU's team sweep of the championship.[27] She also secured early-career streaks, winning her first three tournaments as a freshman and closing her college tenure with three consecutive victories, including regional events that bolstered her reputation.[27] These successes significantly elevated NDSU's women's golf program, contributing to multiple team conference titles and NCAA regional appearances, while earning Olson two All-American selections and widespread recognition as a top amateur talent.[24][28] Her dominance inspired teammates and enhanced the program's recruiting profile, solidifying her legacy as a pivotal figure in college golf.[20]Professional career
LPGA Tour entry and early years
Olson turned professional in June 2013 following her graduation from North Dakota State University, where her record 20 collegiate victories provided a strong foundation for her transition to the pro ranks.[2] That fall, she competed in the LPGA Qualifying School, finishing fourth at the final stage to secure her LPGA Tour card and Priority List Category 12 status for the 2014 season, granting her conditional membership with limited access to full-field events.[2] In her 2014 rookie season, Olson faced the challenges typical of conditional status, relying on sponsor exemptions and Monday qualifiers to gain entry into tournaments; she made just four starts, advancing to only one weekend with a T61 finish at the Marathon Classic and earning $4,804 in official prize money.[29] This limited schedule highlighted the adjustment from college golf's structured opportunities to the professional circuit's competitive and financial demands, where securing consistent playing time required strong performances amid travel and sponsorship uncertainties. Her earnings that year, though modest, positioned her to regain full exempt status for 2015 through the LPGA's performance-based priority system.[30] Olson's 2015 season marked a significant step forward, with 21 starts, 14 cuts made (a 67% success rate), and official earnings of $131,282, ranking her 81st on the money list.[2] She recorded her first LPGA top-10 finish, a T8 at the Meijer LPGA Classic, demonstrating growing consistency despite no victories on the main tour or developmental circuits during these initial years. Initial sponsorships, including support from regional brands tied to her North Dakota roots, helped offset early career expenses as she built her professional profile.[2]Career highlights and major results
Olson's most notable performances in major championships came in the form of two runner-up finishes. At the 2018 The Evian Championship, she seized the lead after a third-round 65, posting a bogey-free effort to reach 14-under par, but a final-round double bogey on the 18th hole left her tied for second at 11-under, one stroke behind winner Angela Stanford.[31][32] In the 2020 U.S. Women's Open, Olson carded a first-round 67 highlighted by a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th hole from 139 yards, taking the solo lead at 4-under; she finished tied for second at 2-under, one stroke shy of champion A Lim Kim, in her fourth appearance in the event.[33][8] Throughout her professional career, Olson secured 13 top-10 finishes across 191 LPGA Tour starts but did not record a victory, accumulating $2.7 million in official earnings.[4] Her play remained steady from 2016 to 2023, with standout seasons including 2018 (four top-10s in 24 starts, 19 cuts made) and 2020 (three top-10s in 16 starts, 13 cuts made).[2] She made the cut in 20 of 35 major championship appearances during this period, underscoring her reliability in high-stakes events.[20] Among her personal bests, Olson posted a career-low round of 67 as a rookie in 2014, while her 65 in the third round of the 2018 Evian Championship stands as her lowest in a major.[2]| Year | Tournament | Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Evian Championship | T2 | Led after 54 holes; 65 in Round 3 |
| 2020 | U.S. Women's Open | T2 | Hole-in-one in Round 1; led after 18 holes |