To be a good teacher, Leta Lindley wanted to be a good player again. Mission accomplished
When Leta Lindley returned to golf as a teacher eight years ago, she didn’t intend to resume her playing career.
But she decided that rejuvenating her competitive spirit would make her a better teacher — and the other way around.
“I think if you want to teach you’ve got to do,” said Lindley, an 18-year LPGA veteran who fired a course-record 65 on Wednesday to win the Legends of the LPGA Plays for the Moore-Myers Children’s Fund, at the St. Johns Golf and Country Club by two shots over Nicole Jeray and three shots over Michelle McGann, Tammie Green and Christa Johnson. “I think you have to know what it feels like to be in competition to be able to relay that to your students.”
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Not every golf teacher is playing tournaments — let alone winning $10,000, the first-place check for the inaugural Legends of LPGA event on the First Coast.
But it’s working for Lindley, who has been teaching at the Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens and had an LPGA career that included one victory, 33 top-10 finishes and more than $3 million in earnings.
Lindley needed 295 LPGA starts before her first victory at the 2008 LPGA Corning Classic. The LPGA later awarded her the Heather Farr Award “for determination, perseverance and spirit in fulfilling goals as a player.”
However, it took its toll and she stepped away from the game after the 2012 season.
“I was burned out … 18 years of traveling with the LPGA, with a family,” said the four-time All-American at Arizona, who once held the NCAA tournament scoring record.
But with some coaxing from old Tour friends such as Rosie Jones, Lindley got back into the game through teaching, and then revived her playing career. She won the 2021 South Carolina Senior Women’s Open and last year finished second by one shot to Jill McGill in the U.S. Women’s Senior Open at the NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio.
Lindley had her iron game on point Wednesday. Her longest birdie putt was 17 feet at No. 10, kicking off a back-nine 31 during which she also birdied Nos. 11, 14 17 and 18.
Helping Lindley along was Beachside High senior Maddie Rathjen as her caddie. Rather is a member of the Golf Academy at St. Johns.
"She made so many great reads on the greens for me," Lindley said.
“Winning never gets old, whether it’s an 18-hole tournament, the state Open in South Carolina or the U.S. Women’s Open,” she said. “It’s fun to be able to feel that excitement again.”
Jeray shot 4-under on the back nine to get within striking distance of Lindley. The group tied for third at 3-under, McGann, Green and Johnston, combined for 23 LPGA titles during their careers.
Johnston posted the only bogey-free round of the day.
Laura Diaz of Ponte Vedra Beach finished alone in sixth with a 70. World Golf Hall of Fame member Hollis Stacy birdied the 18th hole for a 73.
LPGA Legends Tour
At St. Johns Golf and Country Club (par-72, 5,985 yards)
Leta Lindley 34-31--65
Nicole Jeray 35-32--67
Christa Johnson 35-34--69
Michelle McGann 34-35—69
Tammie Green 35-35--70
Laura Diaz 35-35--70
Moira Dunn-Bohles 37-34--71
Clarissa Childs 35-36--71
Michele Redman 38-33--71
Audra Brooks 36-36--72
Jackie Gallagher-Smith 37-35--72
Lisa DePaulo 34-38--72
Pat Shriver 35-38--73
Hollis Stacy 36-37--73
Anne Marie Palli 37-37--74
Laurie Rinker 37-37--74
Kris Tschetter 38-36--74
Heather Bowie-Young 38-37--75
Kim Williams 37-38--75
Cathy Johnston-Forbes 37-39--76
Susan Bond Philo 39-38--77
Barb Bunkowsky 38-39--77
Becky Iverson 39-40--79
Nancy Scranton 38=42--80
Nancy Sharff 42-40--82
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Leta Lindley uses sharp iron game to spark a victory in Legends of LPGA
