Karen Stupples - Part 1 (The Early Years)

Major Champion and Golf Broadcaster Karen Stupples joins Bruce Devlin and Mike Gonzalez to share her story in this first of three episodes. Listen in as Karen looks back on her early years growing up in the idyllic fishing village of Deal, England and discovering the game of golf, first as a caddie for her father at Princes Golf Club and later as a Junior Member at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. These two former Open Championship venues were ideal proving grounds for the young Stupples as she progressed from English Junior golf to collegiate competition in the U.S. She represented GB&I and England in several team competitions including two Curtis Cups before turning professional at age 25. Karen Stupples begins her life story, "FORE the Good of the Game."

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About

"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”

Thanks so much for listening!

Stupples, Karen

Golf Professional and Broadcaster

Karen Louise Stupples (born 24 June 1973) is an English former professional golfer who played primarily on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and was also a member of the Ladies European Tour.

Amateur career
Stupples was born in Dover, Kent. She started her golfing career as a caddie for her father at Prince's Golf Club, Sandwich to earn pocket money. She played for England Juniors from 1989–1991 and England Seniors from 1995-1998. She also represented Great Britain & Ireland on the Curtis Cup winning team in 1996 at home in Killarney, Ireland and losing 1998 team away in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Stupples was going to study polymer science in the UK before deciding to go to university in the United States. With the assistance of College Prospects of America, she took a golf scholarship at Arkansas State University before transferring to Florida State University in 1993. As a Seminole, she won two events (Spring 1994 Spalding/Peggy Kirk Bell and Spring 1995 Lady Gator), was selected as All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 1994 and 1995, and was also named a 1995 Second-Team All-American.

Stupples turned professional following the 1998 U.S. Women's Amateur.

Professional career
Despite being a professional, Stupples returned home to England becoming a cloakroom attendant for the Port of Dover and waitressing at a public golf course in Kent as she did not have the money to take a run at LPGA Qualifying School. When a regular restaurant customer offered to sponsor her for three years, she and her husband sold their house, furniture and ca… Read More

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