10/16/2009
Nancy Blanchard Inducted into the Hall of Fame
By Patti Stuhlman
Something special happened at the fall meeting in New Ulm. The MWGA had the pleasure and honor of hosting the induction of Nancy (Harris) Blanchard into the 2009 Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame.
Blanchard chose the occasion for her induction because of the MWGA's important role in supporting and promoting women's golf. In accepting the honor, she talked about the help that she received along the way and she encouraged all of us to continue our work for women's golf.
Nancy grew up in Roseau, MN in a golfing family, with four brothers and her father Bob all playing the game. Nancy started a remarkable run in Minnesota women's golf in 1983 by winning the Minnesota Women's State Amateur Championship at Midland Hills Country Club in a play-off against Julie Gumlia. Nancy still remembers the timeless advice she received from Anne Zahn, another MWGA champion, that helped her prevail in the play-off -- "play one shot at a time."
After that first win, Nancy went on to collect five more Minnesota Women's Amateur titles as well as four runner-up finishes. In addition, she won the Minnesota Women's Match Play Championship three times and finished runner-up twice.
Nancy also competed in the USGA Women's Public Links and Women's Amateur Championships and was named the Minnesota Women's Golf Association (MWGA) Player of the Year in 1994.
Nancy played on the University of Minnesota golf team from 1981-84 and was Big Ten runner-up in 1984. She went on to coach the University of Minnesota team from 1987-91 and was Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1989.
Nancy's nine Minnesota state individual open championship titles ranks fifth, behind four other Hall of Fame members: Bev Vanstrum, Joan Garvin, Gertrude Dansingburg, and Bea Altmeyer.
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