Bio

5’4", brown hair, brown eyes...Graduated in 1978 from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in agriculture and agronomy...Minored in pre-pharmacy and worked as a pharmacy technician prior to turning pro...Played under her maiden name Van Hoose from 1980 to 1984...Married to Worth Blackwelder...Son Myles Stuart was born January 24, 1985, and daughter Mallory Elizabeth was born on June 19, 1987...Inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1991...Appointed Executive Director of the Lexington Future Champions Golf Association in 1991...Enjoys music, landscaping, gardening, teaching golf and studying world history.

Career Highlights

• LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1980.
• Recorded her career-best finish, a solo second place, at the 1980 LPGA Corning Classic.
• In 1987, she played in just 16 events due to the birth of her second child, Mallory Elizabeth.
• She was seven months pregnant when she placed 16th at the 1987 S&H Golf Classic.
• When she returned to the Tour after her pregnancy, she recorded her season-best finish of a tie for sixth at the 1987 Rail Charity Golf Classic.
• Had her career-best season in 1988 when she earned $93,819 and finished in the top-10 three times.
• Recorded her third career hole-in-one during the second round of the 1990 Desert Inn LPGA International.
• Had three top-10 finishes in 1990 and earned $72,195.
• Did not compete for several years because she had school age children at home.

Amateur
As a 14-year-old, Blackwelder began her string of amateur accomplishments in Kentucky. She won the Kentucky PGA Junior title three consecutive years (1969-1971) and captured the Kentucky High School Championship in four straight seasons (1970-1973). She also won the Kentucky Women’s Amateur in 1975 and 1976. In addition, Blackwelder was medalist at both the 1970 and 1971 Women’s Western Amateur.