Legend

Ethel Funches

Seven UGA national titles — the winningest woman in UGA history.

Hometown

Washington, D.C.

The Story

Ethel Funches moved to Washington, D.C. in 1932, joined the Wake-Robin Golf Club in 1943, and became the winningest champion in UGA women's history: seven National Women's Open titles between 1959 and 1973, fourteen Wake-Robin club championships, and more than 100 local and regional wins. The Boston Globe reported she won more UGA championships than anyone before or since. Golf historian M. Mikell Johnson wrote that "between 1950 and 1980, Ethel Funches was the best of the best." Her home course was Langston — the historic D.C. course built after her club petitioned the federal government.

Achievements

◆Seven UGA National Women's Open titles (1959, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973)
◆Won more UGA championships than anyone before or since (Boston Globe)
◆Fourteen Wake-Robin Golf Club championships (1952–1978)
◆More than 100 local and regional titles
◆Defeated Althea Gibson in the quarterfinals of the 1961 Black women's national championship
◆National Afro-American Golfers Hall of Fame (1969)

Connections

Affiliated withWake-Robin Golf Club

Affiliated withUnited Golfers Association

home courseLangston Golf Course

resides inWashington, D.C.