Betty Mines found golf quickly. Growing up in Newport, her father put a golf club in her hand at the age of 4.

 

Her first taste of notoriety came as an 18-year-old when she nearly defeated Rhode Island Golf Hall of Famer and five-time Women’s Amateur champion Betty June Bobel Stapleton in the semifinals of the 1957 Rhode Island Women’s Amateur. That same year, she went on to win the Mixed Foursomes with Brad Oxnard.

 

Her first of three Women’s Amateur triumphs came in 1959 at Wannamoisett as a junior at the University of North Carolina and member of Wanumetonomy.

 

On her road to victory in the 50^th anniversary of the Rhode Island Women’s Amateur in 1964 at Crestwood, she took down 11-time champion Julie Greene, 6&5, in the quarterfinals.

 

The last of her three titles came in a 2&1 victory over Greene in 1969. Mines was also the stroke-play medalist.

 

“Betty played superbly and deserved to win,” said Greene to the Providence Journal following the 1969 final. “She is a fine person and an outstanding player.”

 

Her third and final title put her in an exclusive club of 14 women who’ve won at least three Women’s Amateur titles.

 

She competed in two U.S. Women’s Amateurs (1963-64), making match play in 1963. She also competed in four U.S. Women’s Opens (1960-62, 1966).