Alison Nicholas

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Alison Nicholas
{{small|MBE}}

| image = 2009 Solheim Cup - Alison Nicholas (1).jpg

| imagesize = 225px

| caption = Nicholas at the official announcement of the 2009 Solheim Cup team

| fullname = Alison Nicholas

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|3|6}}

| birth_place = Gibraltar

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.52|precision=0}}

| weight =

| nationality = {{ENG}}

| residence =

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college =

| yearpro = 1984

| retired =

| tour =

| extour = Ladies European Tour (joined 1984)
LPGA Tour (joined 1989)

| prowins = 18

| lpgawins = 4

| letwins = 12 (10th all-time)

| jlpgawins =

| klpgawins =

| lagtwins =

| alpgwins =

| futwins =

| otherwins = 2

| majorwins = 1

| nabisco = T16: 1995

| lpga = T23: 2000

| wusopen = Won: 1997

| dumaurier = CUT: 1997

| wbritopen = 28th: 2004

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 = Ladies European Tour
Order of Merit

| year1 = 1997

| award2 = Ladies European Tour
Player of the Year

| year2 = 1997

}}

Alison Nicholas {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|MBE}} (born 6 March 1962) is an English professional golfer, who won the 1997 U.S. Women's Open.

Amateur career

Nicholas was born in Gibraltar. She was educated at the School of St Mary and St Anne (now Abbots Bromley School for Girls). She enjoyed a very successful amateur career in England. She started playing golf at the age of 17 and won the 1982 and 1983 Northern Girls Amateur Open. Nicholas was the 1983 British Amateur Stroke Play champion. In 1983, Nicholas won the Yorkshire Ladies County Championship.

Professional career

Nicholas turned professional in 1984 and joined the Ladies European Tour in the same year. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1989.

Nicholas won the Women's British Open in 1987, when it was recognised as a major championship by the Ladies European Tour only, and the 1997 U.S. Women's Open. She became the seventh player to have won both the British and U.S. Open titles, joining Laura Davies, Jane Geddes, Betsy King, Patty Sheehan, Liselotte Neumann and Annika Sörenstam.

At her retirement at the end of the 2004 season, Nicholas had won 12 events on the Ladies European Tour. She topped the European Tour Order of Merit in 1997 and finished in the top-10 15 times in 16 seasons between 1985 and 2000. She also won four times on the LPGA Tour, between 1995 and 1999, including winning the U.S. Women's Open in 1997. In 1992, she won both the Western Australian Open and the Malaysian Open.

She won the 1991 Vivien Saunders Trophy for lowest stroke average (71.71). In 1997, she became the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year, was awarded The Association of Golf Writers Trophy and was voted LET Players' Player of the Year, 1997 Evening Mail Sports Personality of the Year and 1997 Midlands Sports Personality of the Year.

In the 1998 Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to women's golf,United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |issue=55155 |date=12 June 1998 |supp=y |pages=21 }} and in 2002 became a Life Member of the Ladies European Tour.

Nicholas was a member of the European Solheim Cup team in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000, forming a formidable partnership with Laura Davies. She was non-playing assistant captain in 2005. In 2007, Nicholas was selected captain for the 2009 and 2011 European Solheim Cup teams.{{cite web |title=Nicholas Solheim Cup Captain for Europe |publisher=Ladies European Tour |first=Bethan |last=Cutler |date=5 November 2007 |url=http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_news.php?Id=11486 |access-date=20 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525232508/http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/content/let_content_news.php?Id=11486 |archive-date=25 May 2008}} In 2011, she led the European team to a 15–13 victory at Killeen Castle outside Dublin, Ireland.

Professional wins (18)

=LPGA Tour wins (4)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|LPGA Tour major championships (1)

Other LPGA Tour (3)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|28 May 1995

|LPGA Corning Classic{{cite web |website=GolfObserver.com |url=http://www.golfobserver.com/new/golfstats.php?year=1995&tour=LPGA&tournament=LPGA+Corning+Classic |title=1995 Corning Classic Golfstats |access-date=25 September 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304234520/http://golfobserver.com/new/golfstats.php?tour=lpga&tournament=lpga+corning+classic&year=1995 |url-status=dead }}

|−13 (70-67-66-72=275)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Barb Mucha

align=center|2

|10 Sep 1995

|Ping-AT&T Wireless Services LPGA Golf Championship{{cite web |website=GolfObserver.com |url=http://www.golfobserver.com/new/golfstats.php?year=1995&tour=LPGA&tournament=Safeway+Classic |title=1995 Ping Championship Golfstats |access-date=25 September 2011 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305202029/http://golfobserver.com/new/golfstats.php?tour=lpga&tournament=safeway+classic&year=1995 |url-status=dead }}

|−9 (66-73-68=207)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Kelly Robbins

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|align=center|3

|13 Jul 1997

|U.S. Women's Open

|−10 (70-66-67-71=274)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Nancy Lopez

align=center|4

|20 Feb 1999

|Sunrise Hawaiian Ladies Open

|−7 (70-66-73=209)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Annette DeLuca
{{flagicon|USA}} Moira Dunn

LPGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result

style="background:#F5DEB3;"

|1993

|LPGA Corning Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} Kelly Robbins

|Lost to par on first extra hole

=Ladies European Tour wins (12)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No. !Date !Tournament !Winning score !Margin of victory !Runner(s)-up
align=center\|1	2 Aug 1987	Weetabix Women's British Open{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/7t37n0r7/74 \|title=Results Wetabix Ladies' British Open \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=9/1987 \|date=September 1987 \|page=75 \|accessdate=2022-12-19}}	+4 (74-76-73-73=296)	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Laura Davies {{flagicon\|USA}} Muffin Spencer-Devlin
align=center\|2	26 Sep 1987	Laing Charity Classic{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/pnkh814m/88 \|title=Results Laing Charity Classic \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=10/1987 \|date=October 1987 \|page=89 \|accessdate=2022-12-19}}	−8 (76-67-69-69=281)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|AUS}} Corinne Dibnah
align=center\|3	21 May 1988	British Olivetti Tournament{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/jkntr3ph/90 \|title=Results British Olivetti Tournament \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=6/1988 \|date=June 1988 \|page=91 \|accessdate=2022-12-19}}	−9 (71-72-69-71=283)	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Jane Connachan
align=center\|4	4 Sep 1988	Variety Club Celebrity Classic{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/8kbs4vtn/90 \|title=Results Variety Classic, Guernsey Open \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=10/1988 \|date=October 1988 \|page=91 \|accessdate=2022-12-19}}	−12 (68-67-69=204)	4 strokes	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Dale Reid
align=center\|5	2 Oct 1988	James Capel Guernsey Open	−14 (68-72-67-67= 274)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|RSA\|1982}} Alison Sheard
align=center\|6	30 Jul 1989	Lufthansa Ladies' German Open{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/7n3bdv89/44 \|title=Results Lufthansa Ladies German Open \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=8/1989 \|date=August 1988 \|page=45 \|accessdate=2022-12-19}}	−19 (67-69-68-65=269)	5 strokes	{{flagicon\|COL}} Patricia Gonzalez
align=center\|7	27 Aug 1989	Gislaved Ladies Open{{cite magazine \|first=Anders \|last=Nordlund \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/gtqv35x9/68 \|title=Gislaveds Ladies Open: Lotta kom, sågs - och missade \|trans-title=Gislaveds Ladies Open: Lotta came, was seen - and lost \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=9/1989 \|date=September 1989 \|pages=68–69 \|accessdate=2022-12-19}}	E (73-72-69-74=288)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|SWE}} Liselotte Neumann
align=center\|8	3 Nov 1989	Qualitair Classic{{cite magazine \|first=Lena \|last=Sellberg \|date=November 1989 \|title=Sofia tvåa i La Manga, Qualitar Classic \|trans-title=Sofia second in La Manga, Qualitar Classic \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/161m3p5p/paper/97#/paper/161m3p5p/97 \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|language=Swedish \|pages=94–95 \|number=11}}	−3 (69-74-70=213)	2 strokes	{{flagicon\|USA}} Peggy Conley {{flagicon\|SWE}} Sofia Grönberg
align=center\|9	2 Sep 1990	Variety Club Celebrity Classic{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/5m2vqbg4/75 \|title=Variety Club Ladies Classic \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=10/1990 \|date=October 1990 \|page=75 \|accessdate=2022-12-19}} (2)	−13 (68-68-68-71=275)	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|SWE}} Sofia Grönberg
align=center\|10	10 May 1992	AGF Ladies' Open de Paris{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/90s3pcrq/141 \|title=Results AGF Ladies Open de Paris\|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=6/1992 \|date=June 1992 \|page=141 \|accessdate=2022-12-20}}	−9 (66-68-73-68=275)	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|PER}} Alicia Dibos
align=center\|11	6 Aug 1995	Payne & Gunter Scottish Open{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/cq7s7d6f/79 \|title=Results Scottish Open \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=9/1995 \|date=September 1995 \|page=79 \|accessdate=2022-12-20}}	−16 (66-67-70-69=272)	1 stroke	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Patricia Meunier
align=center\|12	28 Jul 1996	Guardian Irish Open{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/m7nv78zn/117 \|title=Results Guardian Irish Holydays Open \|language=sv \|magazine=Svensk Golf \|number=9/1996 \|date=September 1996 \|page=117 \|accessdate=2022-12-20}}	−11 (69-73-65-70=277)	8 strokes	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Trish Johnson

Ladies European Tour Tour playoff record (0–1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result

style="background:#F5DEB3;"

|1990

|Laing Ladies Charity Classic{{cite magazine |url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/j0btbf03/paper/1#/paper/f2c2f6nj/75 |title=Results Laing Ladies Charity Classic |language=sv |magazine=Svensk Golf |number=8/1990 |date=August 1990 |page=75 |accessdate=2022-12-20}}

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Laurette Maritz

|Lost

Note: Nicholas won the Women's British Open once before it was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour in 1994, and recognized as a major championship on the LPGA Tour in 2001.

Source:{{cite web |title=Alison Nicholas, Alla tävlingsresultat |language=Swedish |trans-title=Alison Nicholas, All Results |publisher=Golfdata.se |url=https://golfdata.se/sgfranking/Players_all_results?PlayerID=3324 |accessdate=2022-12-19 }}

=Other wins (2)=

1992 Western Australian Open, Malaysia Ladies Open

Major championships

=Wins (1)=

class="wikitable"

!Year!!Championship!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up

style="background:#FBCEB1;"

| 1997

U.S. Women's Open

−10 (70-66-67-71=274)

1 stroke

{{flagicon|USA}} Nancy Lopez

Team appearances

Professional

Solheim Cup (representing Europe): 1990, 1992 (winners), 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 (winners), 2009 (non-playing captain), 2011 (non-playing captain) (winners)
Handa Cup (representing World team): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 (tie), 2013 (winners), 2014