Marilyn Palmer O’Connor

Category: Player – Amateur

Marilyn Palmer O’Connor

Inducted: 1999

Born: December 17, 1946 in Vancouver, BC

Marilyn Palmer was born to be a golfer. The daughter of a golf professional, Marilyn grew up in British Columbia where she proceeded to win her first tournaments. After years as a provincial champion, Marilyn was also selected for no less than 12 national teams and competed as one of the members of the winning Commonwealth Games team in 1979. Marilyn relocated to Alberta in 1978 after marrying Don O’Connor. In her own opinion, her win of the 1986 Canadian Ladies’ Amateur was the most exciting victory, coming as it did, later in her career.

International:

  • 1971 New Zealand Foursome Champion (with Jocelyne Bourassa)
  • 1972 International 4-Ball Champion (with Dale Shaw)
  • 1973 Pacific Northwest Ladies Golf Champion
  • 1973 Australia Invitational Team Champion (Team Canada)

National:

  • 1966 Canadian Ladies’ Close Champion
  • 1976 Canadian Ladies’ Foursome Champion
  • 1986 Canadian Ladies’ Amateur Champion
  • 2001 Canadian Ladies’ Senior Champion (runner-up 1997, 1999, 2000)

Teams:

  • World Amateur Team – 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1986 
  • Commonwealth Team 1967, 1971, 1975, 1979 (Placed 1st in 1979)

Provincial:

  • 1963-1965 British Columbia Junior Champion
  • 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971-1974, 1076, 1989 British Columbia Women’s Amateur Champion
  • 1977, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996 Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion
  • 1979 Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur Champion

Teams:

  • British Columbia Junior Team Member 1 time
  • British Columbia Interprovincial Team member 16 times
  • Alberta Interprovincial Team member 14 times
  • Alberta Senior Team member 9 times
  • Alberta Western Canadian team member 7 times

Other items of note:

  • LPGA Bluegrass Invitational – Low Amateur
  • LPGA Titleholders Championship – Low Amateur
  • South Atlantic Championship – Medalist 
  • Doherty Challenge Cup – Medalist & Finalist
  • US Amateur – qualified 1972, 1973, 1975 & 1976
  • Qualified for British Amateur in 1975

 

Awards:

1981 SCORE Award Canadian Female Amateur

Inducted to Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame 1992

Inducted to British Columbia Golf Hall of Fame 2001

Inducted to Alberta Golf Hall of Fame 2005

Inducted to Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame 2005

Inducted to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame 2016

Resources:

Images of Marilyn from the collection.