Betsy Bro dominated women’s golf in Iowa for a decade.

She won the Iowa Women’s Amateur five times between 1983 and 1992, and the Des Moines City title seven times between 1988 and 1994. Only two golfers, fellow Iowa Golf Hall of Famers Ann Casey Johnstone and Corkey Nydle, have won more Iowa Women’s Amateurs with six each.

Bro’s 1983 triumph, at Elmcrest Country Club, came by 18 shots. Another hall of famer, Lucile Robinson Mann, won an unprecedented four straight Iowa Women’s Amateur titles (1931-1934). Bro won four straight that she played in, missing the 1984 championship. Her 1987 Iowa Women’s Amateur came in a playoff over Annie Vandermillen. Betsy won by holing a 30-foot birdie putt in the third extra hole.

The daughter of famed amateur Neil Croonquist, Betsy was 14 when her father told her and her two siblings that they could take up golf or get a job. Golf was Betsy’s choice. Her championship golf resume preceded her stay in Iowa, and continued after she left. Betsy won the Minnesota State Amateur in 1980. She also played in the 1977 U.S. Women’s Open, as well as three U.S. Women’s Amateurs, and was a quarterfinalist in the North and South Amateur at Pinehurst.

After leaving Iowa, Bro won four Arizona State Amateur titles – the stroke play championship in 1997 and the match-play championship in 1996, 1997 and 2000. She was also a semifinalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in 1999 at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Bro resides in Scottsdale, Ariz.

• 1983,’85, ’86, ’87, ‘92 Iowa Women’s State Amateur Champion
• 1988-1994 Des Moines City Women’s Champion
• 1980 Minnesota State Women’s Amateur
• 1999 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur semifinalist
• Played in the 1977 U.S. Women’s Open and 3 U.S. Women’s Amateurs
• North and South Women’s Amateur Quarterfinalist
• 4 Arizona State Women’s Amateur titles (Stroke Play and 3 Match Play)