Ottilie Doering

Ottilie Doering was the most dominant female golfer of her time, winning a record seven SDGA Women’s Championships in a span of 16 years beginning in 1932. She became the first female to win four consecutive women’s championships, accomplishing that feat from 1936 through 1939. She won again in 1941 before capturing her final title in 1948. Considering that no championships were conducted during 1943, 1944 and 1945 because of World War II, her record shows she won seven of 14 championships during this span, a string unmatched by any male or female golfer in South Dakota history. All her titles were contested at match play. The first was at Watertown. The final was at Elmwood Golf Course in Sioux Falls, where she made her home with her husband, Dr. E.R. Doering beginning in 1940 after moving his dental practice from Parkston. Her four consecutive titles came at Watertown, Lead, Elmwood and Aberdeen. She beat LPGA pioneer Alice Bauer (sister of Hall of Famer Marlene Bauer Hagge) of Aberdeen in the 36-hole finale in 1941, then finished second to Bauer a year later. Ottilie was the vice president of the South Dakota Republican Party from 1935-37 and was secretary of the South Dakota Board of Regents from 1939 to 1947. Her competitive career ended in 1953 when she spent the summer in Germany in an exchange program under the Smith-Mundt Act.