The Women’s British Open Championship is in St Andrews this week!

speccoll
Wednesday 31 July 2013
Alison Nicholas on the tee (left) and celebrating her win (right) at the 1987 Women's British Open Championship. Photographs by Lawrence Levy, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection.
Alison Nicholas on the tee (left) and celebrating her win (right) at the 1987 Women’s British Open Championship. Photographs by Lawrence Levy, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection.

The Women’s British Open is the leading Major Golf Championship recognised by both the Ladies European Tour and the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Begun in 1976, this is only the second time this prestigious event has come to St Andrews and we wanted to share some of our golf photographic images in celebration.

Jane Geddes wins the Women's British Open Championship at Ferndown, 1989
Jane Geddes wins the Women’s British Open Championship at Ferndown, 1989. Photograph by Lawrence Levy, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection.
Laurette Maritz lines up her putt with her caddie at the Women'’s British Open, Ferndown, 1989.
Laurette Maritz lines up her putt with her caddie at the Women’’s British Open at Ferndown, 1989. Photograph by Lawrence Levy, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection.
Muffin Spencer-Devlin on the tee at the 1989 Women's British Open Championship at Ferndown.
Muffin Spencer-Devlin on the tee at the 1989 Women’s British Open Championship at Ferndown. Photograph by Lawrence Levy, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection.

Currently, we have the Lawrence Levy Golf Photography exhibition entitled ‘Making the Cut’ on view in the University’s Main Library, taken from the extensive collection of some 250,000 images of his work. It will be on show through this weekend ending on Monday, 5 August, after having been exhibited since 22 June. So far there have been over 3,000 visits to this marvellous display of all aspects of the sport.

Laura Davies plays her shot from the rough at the 1987 Ladies British Open Championship at St Mellion.
Laura Davies plays her shot from the rough at the 1987 Ladies British Open Championship at St Mellion. Photograph by Lawrence Levy, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection.
Patti Rizzo on the tee at the 1989 Women's British Open Championship at Ferndown.
Patti Rizzo on the tee at the 1989 Women’s British Open Championship at Ferndown. Photograph by Lawrence Levy, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection.
Jan Stephenson plays from the fairway at the 1984 Women's British Open Championship at Woburn
Jan Stephenson plays from the fairway at the 1984 Women’s British Open Championship at Woburn. Photograph by Lawrence Levy, from the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection.
Corinne Dibnah celebrates her victory at the 1988 WomenÂ’s British Open Championship at Lindrick Golf Club
Corinne Dibnah celebrates her victory at the 1988 Women’’s British Open Championship at Lindrick Golf Club

Lawrence Levy travelled the world from 1978 to 1993 taking photographs of golfing events and covering the Women’s British Open throughout the 1980s, capturing key moments of celebration and concentration. He was there when Australian golfer Corinne Dibnah took the crown at the Lindrick Golf Club in 1988. Levy was on hand to photograph Laura Davies, Alison Nicholas, Jan Stephenson and multitudes of others as they took on the tough challenges of the testing courses of the Women’s Open Championship.

Portrait of the competitors at the Ladies' Home Internationals Royal Portrush Golf Club 12-13 May 1911 (from the University of St Andrews Manuscript Collection)
Portrait of the competitors at the Ladies’ Home Internationals Royal Portrush Golf Club 12-13 May 1911 (from the University of St Andrews Library Manuscript Collection)
Cover and title page from Robert Clark's Golf : a royal and ancient game (Edinburgh : R. & R. Clark, 1875 -- St Andrews copy at Golf GV963.C6 1875)
Cover and title page from Robert Clark’s Golf : a royal and ancient game (Edinburgh : R. & R. Clark, 1875 — St Andrews copy at Golf GV963.C6 1875)

Lawrence Levy’s golf photography is part of the University of St Andrews Library Photographic Collection of over 800,000 images beginning from 1839 through to present. The Special Collections Division of the University of St Andrews Library is also home to a developing Golf Collection of rare books and manuscripts, designed to support further research and interest in the town’s special relationship with this ancient sport.

Anthony Parker

Curator of Golf Collections

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1 thoughts on "The Women’s British Open Championship is in St Andrews this week!"

  • Duncan Mackenzie
    Duncan Mackenzie
    Monday 5 August 2013, 12.15pm

    I saw some play on the BBC yesterday. The sight of dear St. Andrews left me feeling wistful, while my constant pointing out the sights on screen bored my house-mates.

    Reply

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