Who's who: Kathy Cornelius

  • Padraig Harrington
  • Laura Davies
  • Annika Sörenstam
  • José María Olazábal
  • Michelle Wie
  • Edoardo Molinari
  • Lee Trevino
  • Natalie Gulbis

Who's who: Kathy Cornelius

  • Name:

    Kathy Cornelius (née McKinnon)
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    Oct 27, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer and teaching professional.
  • Turned Pro:

    1953

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US Women's Open (1956). Total LPGA Tour wins (6).

Did you know?

Former LPGA Tour player, who became a teaching professional after retiring from the Tour in 1985.

Top tournaments won by Kathy Cornelius

1973
America
217
$25,000
Faberge

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Cornelius, Kathy

Venue

Score

217

Prize money

$25,000

Title sponsor

Faberge

Played as the Sealy-Faberge Classic. Judy Rankin finished in second place behind Cornelius.

1972
America
211
$3,750
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Cornelius, Kathy

Venue

Score

211

Prize money

$3,750

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Bluegrass Invitational. Gloria Ehret finished in second place behind Cornelius.

1962
America
146
$1,075
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Cornelius, Kathy

Venue

Score

146

Prize money

$1,075

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Babe Zaharias Open. Betty Jameson, Ruth Jessen and Sandra Haynie finished in second place behind Betsy Rawls and Kathy Cornelius.

1961
America
204
$997
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Cornelius, Kathy

Venue

Score

204

Prize money

$997

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tippecanoe Open.

1959
America
214
$997
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Cornelius, Kathy

Venue

Score

214

Prize money

$997

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Cosmopolitan Open. Louise Suggs and Mary Lena Faulk finished in second place behind Cornelius.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Cornelius, Kathy

Venue

Score

276

Prize money

$725

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Hot Springs Four-Ball. Winning Team : Marilynn Smith & Fay Crocker. Second-placed team : Louise Suggs & Mickey Wright.

1956
Majors
Northland CC
302 (+6)
$1,500
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Cornelius, Kathy

Venue

Northland CC

Score

302 (+6)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Women's Open (11th) (July 26-29). Cornelius (USA) beat Barbara McIntire (USA, amateur) in an 18-hole playoff: Cornelius 75 (+1), McIntire 82 (+8). This was Cornelius's first and only major championship win. [Northland CC, Duluth, Minn.].

1956
America
Sunset G&CC, FL
287 (-9)
$900
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Cornelius, Kathy

Venue

Sunset G&CC, FL

Score

287 (-9)

Prize money

$900

Title sponsor

x

Played as the St Petersburg Open. Marilynn Smith (USA) finished in second place behind first-time LPGA Tour winner Cornelius (USA). [Sunset G&CC, St Petersburg, Florida; now called Vinoy GC].

Find a course

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Tournaments

Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.

Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.

Recently visited

Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.

The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.

The Dutch GC, The Netherlands

The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.

Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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