5’7”...Started playing golf at the age of 9...Credits Roger and Barbara Burton as the individuals most influencing her career...Named the 1993 Female Player of the Year by Golf World...In 2007, became the first person inducted into the Rialto (Calif.) Hall of Fame…In 2008, was inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame...Hobbies include NHRA drag racing, fishing and bowling...Qualified for the Tour on her first attempt.
Career
- In 2009, best finish was 13th at the McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola.
- In 2008, best finish was a tie for 17th at the MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta Presented by Nextel.
- In 2007, recorded a season-best tie for 22nd at the SemGroup Championship Presented by John Q. Hammons; competed in only 11 events due to a fractured ankle.
- In 2006, best finish was third place at the LPGA Corning Classic.
- In 2005, best finish was a tie for 14th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
- In 2004, best finish was fourth place at the Wegmans Rochester LPGA Presented by Lincoln Mercury; crossed the $4 million mark at the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi.
- In 2003, best finish was a tie for fourth at the Wegmans Rochester LPGA.
- In 2002, posted her season-best finish at the Aerus Electrolux USA Championship Hosted by Vince Gill and Amy Grant, where she placed fifth.
- In 2001, recorded her season-best finish at the Wegmans Rochester International, where she finished fourth; once again underwent shoulder surgery for her right shoulder after re-injuring it at the Weetabix Women’s British Open, where she tied for 15th, and missed the remainder of the season.
- In 2000, recorded two runner-up finishes: the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open and the Longs Drugs Challenge; on the strength of eight top-10 finishes, crossed the $3 million mark in career earnings; was a captain’s pick for the U.S. Solheim Cup Team; winner of the Heather Farr Player Award.
- In 1999, did not compete due to shoulder surgery.
- In 1998, recorded her fifth career victory and second major championship win at the du Maurier Classic; recorded the second hole-in-one of her LPGA career during the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open; was a member of the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
- In 1997, had her third jaw surgery but still played in 25 events; best finish was third place at the Friendly’s Classic; crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings after finishing tied for 11th at the du Maurier Classic; recorded her first LPGA career hole-in-one at the Safeway LPGA Golf Championship.
- In 1996, finished second at both the Friendly’s Classic and the First Bank Presents the Edina Realty LPGA Classic, where she lost in a sudden-death playoff to Liselotte Neumann; was a member of the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
- In 1995, despite suffering a rib injury, recorded back-to-back ties for third at the Nabisco Dinah Shore and Pinewild Women’s Championship.
- In 1994, best finish was a tie for second at the PING Welch’s Championship; was a member of the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
- In 1993, won three titles, including her first du Maurier Classic, where she defeated Betsy King in a sudden-death playoff; led the Rolex Player of the Year standings going into the final official event of the season, but King’s victory and Burton’s tie for sixth place at the Mizuno Classic left King in the top spot for that honor; became the youngest player ever to cross the $1 million mark in career earnings (a record that has since been broken numerous times).
- In 1992, became one of eight Rolex First-Time Winners when she captured the PING Welch’s Championship title; finished second four times, including a playoff loss to Maggie Will at the Sara Lee Classic; posted a career-low 63 during the second round of the McDonald’s Championship, where she also tied for second; a wrist injury in July forced her to take nine weeks off; was a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
- In 1991, during her rookie season, placed in the top 10 eight times, including a tie for second at the Rochester International; won LPGA Rookie of the Year honors.
- In 1990, originally qualified for the Tour at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, where she tied for 27th to earn exempt status for the 1991 LPGA season.
Amateur
Burton won the 1987 and 1989 San Diego Junior World Championships, the 1988 PGA National and the 1989 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Burton played collegiate golf for one season at Arizona State University. During that year, she played in seven tournaments and was the medalist in six. Following that performance, she was ranked as the nation’s top women’s collegiate golfer. In 1989, she placed second at both the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the Trans-National Championship. Burton played in three U.S. Women’s Opens as an amateur and was a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup Team in 1990. That same year, she won the North and South Women’s Amateur Championship and the Broadmoor Championship.
