The 1953 U.S. Women’s Amateur was also played here at Rhode Island Country Club. One of the favorites was Barbara Romack of Sacramento, Calif., who had won the Canadian Women’s Open Amateur the previous week. Romack, however, had injured her left wrist in the Canadian final and wore a bandage.
The 20-year-old didn’t believe she had much chance to win the American title. NY Times golf writer, Linc Werden, knew of the injury and met Romack after the practice round. He wore a handkerchief wrapped around his left wrist, in solidarity with the Californian. Romack lasted until the fourth round, when she lost to Pat O’Sullivan, 3 and 2.
As she walked back to the clubhouse, a crowd of school-boy caddies waited behind the 18th green, their left wrists wrapped in handkerchiefs and towels in sympathy. Romack was so touched that she went with them to the caddie shack, where she shared a soft drink and chatted. The injury healed and Romack won the Women’s Amateur the following year.-- Rhonda Glenn