Barbara (Bubany) Berkmeyer’s success on the golf course goes back over six decades.

Born in Fort Madison, Berkmeyer began swinging the club at age four under the watchful eye of her father, Frank. There was no doubt she was destined to become an accomplished player.

After moving in 1952 to Ottumwa, Berkmeyer continued to hone her golf skills by playing across the state. At age 10, Berkmeyer participated in the 1954 Southeast Iowa Women’s Championship, an event that attracted the best female golfers from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. Within a few years she was a consistent top-five finisher at the event, winning the overall title in 1965, with runner-up finishes in 1964 and 1966. Her career as an amateur golfer was off and running.

Following stops in Davenport and ultimately in St. Louis, Berkmeyer, who was already an accomplished player in her home-state of Iowa, began to make a name for herself in Missouri. Soon after arriving, Berkmeyer captured the 1962 St. Louis Women’s District Golf Association Junior Girls’ Championship, which helped earn her the first women’s athletic scholarship in the history of the University of Missouri, regardless of sport.

At the age of 21, Berkmeyer, won the first of her five (1965, 1970, 1974, 1975 and 1984) Missouri Women’s Golf Association State Championships. Many more tournament wins followed, while always crediting her Iowa golf pedigree for her success.

“The swing my dad taught me back at Fort Madison Country Club has served me well,” Berkmeyer once said. “I learned how to play the game and compete growing up in Iowa. That experience was invaluable.”

Berkmeyer has competed in a total of 11 USGA Championships over her playing career, including five Women’s Amateurs, two Mid-Amateurs and four Senior Women’s Amateurs. She finished runner-up in the 2002 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and made it to the Round of 16 in 1999 and 2000. She was the runner-up of the 2002 Canadian Ladies National Senior Championship and she has won the Missouri Senior Women’s Amateur title 13 times.

As a full-time middle school teacher for 25 years, Berkmeyer has been inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

“Her respect, kindness, courage and talent are second to none,” two-time Walker Cup Captain Jim Holtgrieve said. “Barbara is an absolute perfect role model for the future of women’s golf.”

• Has competed in a total of 11 USGA Championships over her playing career, including five Women’s Amateurs, two Mid-Amateurs and four Senior Women’s Amateurs.
• Finished runner-up in the 2002 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and made it to the Round of 16 in 1999 and 2000.
• Was the runner-up of the 2002 Canadian Ladies National Senior Championship.
• Earned the first women’s athletic scholarship in the history of the University of Missouri, regardless of sport.