Lindstrom won surprise title at 1962 U.S. Women's Open tourney

Mickey Wright ruled women's golf in the late 1950s, winning three U.S. Women's Open championships in a four-year span from 1958 to 1961. She was favored for another U.S. Women's Open title in 1962 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

But 23-year-old Murle Lindstrom Breer of Cape Girardeau became one of the youngest U.S. Women's Open champions in its then 17-year history when she rallied from a six-stroke deficit after the first round.

She shot a 1-over par 73 on the final day June 30 and ended with a 13-over total of 301, one of the highest winning scores in tournament history.

Lindstrom won $1,800 for first place, more than she had won during the season to date. And she decided to continue her career instead of retiring.

The Southeast Missourian reported on July 2, 1962: "Mrs. Lindstrom had planned to quit the tour after this tournament because of lack of success and also to join her husband for the remainder of the summer at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. She conceded to reporters after the triumph that she might do more thinking about early retirement. She had gone five years without a major tournament first place trophy."

Lindstrom won the San Antonio Civitan Golf Tournament in November of 1962 and also captured titles at the Carlsbad Jaycee Golf Open in 1967 and the O'Sullivan Ladies Golf Open in 1969.