5’2”...Lists U.C. Ferguson, Jim Flick and Ed Jones from Reno, Nev., as instructors... Inducted into the OCU Sports Hall of Fame and Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 1973 and National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986...Inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1991...Joined the Nicklaus/Flick Golf School Division in January 1998...Recognized during the LPGA’s 50th Anniversary in 2000 as one of the LPGA’s top-50 players and teachers...Maiden name is Maxwell...Competed as Susie Maxwell from 1964-68...Has two daughters, Robin and Cindy...Daughter Robin played on The Ohio State University women’s golf team.
Career
- Won the U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the USGA three times, making her one of only four women to lay claim to winning three or more U.S. Women’s Open titles (Hollis Stacy, 3; Mickey Wright and Betsy Rawls, 4).
- Of her 11 professional victories, four were major championships.
- In 1997, won the Sprint Senior Challenge with a closing round of 64.
- In 1993, finished as runner-up to Sandra Palmer at the Sprint Senior Challenge; recorded the second holein- one of her LPGA career at the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.
- In 1989, won the Marilynn Smith Founders Classic, an unofficial event; at the Konica San Jose Classic, Berning and her daughter Robin became the first mother and daughter to compete in the same LPGA event; tied her career-low 65 during the first round of the Women’s Kemper Open.
- In 1987, recorded her first LPGA career hole-in-one during the LPGA National Pro-Am.
- In 1976, won the Lady Keystone Open, her last official Tour win.
- In 1973, successfully defended her U.S. Women’s Open title, earning her third U.S. Women’s Open trophy; also won the Heritage Open.
- In 1972, won the U.S. Women’s Open for the second time in her career.
- In 1969, won two tournaments, the Lady Carling and the Pabst Classic.
- In 1968, won the U.S. Women’s Open.
- In 1967, won the Louise Suggs Invitational and the Milwaukee Open; tied for second at U.S. Women’s Open; named the Most Improved Player and, shortly thereafter, began limiting her playing schedule for family commitments.
- In 1966, carded a career-low 65 during the final round of The Success Open, where she tied for second.
- In 1965, won the Muskogee Civitan and the Western Open, her first major title.
- In 1964, was the LPGA Rookie of the Year.
Amateur
After taking up golf at the age of 15, Berning immediately won three-straight Oklahoma State High School Championships. She also won the Oklahoma City Women’s Amateur from 1959-61. In 1963, she won the Oklahoma Women’s Amateur. She was the first woman to receive a golf scholarship from Oklahoma City University (OCU), where she competed on the men’s team.
