Pamela Mary Benka (née Tredinnick; born 17 June 1946)[1] was an English amateur golfer. She won the 1964 Girls Amateur Championship and the 1967 Astor Prince's Trophy. She reached the semi-finals of the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship in 1965. She played in the Curtis Cup in 1966 and 1968 and was the non-playing captain in 2002.
| Pam Benka | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Pamela Mary Benka |
| Born | 17 June 1946 Worthing, Sussex, England |
| Sporting nationality |  England |
| Career | |
| Status | Amateur |
Golf career edit
In August 1964, Benka reached the final of the inaugural English girls championship at Wollaton Park, losing 2 and 1 to Shirley Ward.[2] Two weeks later, she won the Girls Amateur Championship at Camberley Heath, having beaten Ward at the 19th hole in the semi-finals and Kathleen Cumming 2 and 1 in the final.[3] In April 1965, she won the French junior championship.[4] In October, she reached the semi-finals of the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship, losing to Brigitte Varangot, a match delayed a day by rain.[5][6] In 1967, she won the 72-hole Astor Prince's Trophy by three strokes from Angela Bonallack, while in 1968, playing with Isa Goldschmid, she was runner-up in the Avia Foursomes.[7][8] In 1969, she and Bruce Critchley reached the final of the Worplesdon Mixed Foursomes and in 1970 she won the Portuguese championship.[9][1]
Benka was selected for the 1966 Curtis Cup team in Hot Springs, Virginia.[10] She narrowly lost her foursomes match on the first day, playing with Liz Chadwick and halving her singles match against Nancy Syms in the final round of singles matches.[11][12] Benka made her second appearance in the Curtis Cup at Royal County Down in 1968. She was only selected for the foursomes, losing both matches. The team led after the first day but the United States had the better of the second day and won by 3 points.[13][14] Benka played in the 1967 Vagliano Trophy match at Royal Lytham, match that the Continent of Europe won by a single point.[15]
Benka was the non-playing captain in the 2002 Curtis Cup match.[16]
Personal life edit
She was born in Worthing on 17 June 1946, the daughter of John Tredinnick and Mary née Lake.[17] Mary was a golfer and had reached the semi-finals of the 1933 English Women's Amateur Championship at Royal North Devon.[18] John's brother Steve Tredinnick played for England in the Men's Home Internationals.[19] She married Peter Benka (1946–2007) in 1971. Peter Benka had played in the 1969 Walker Cup.
Team appearances edit
- Curtis Cup (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1966, 1968, 2002 (non-playing captain)
- Vagliano Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1967
- Women's Home Internationals (representing England): 1967 (joint winners)
- England–Scotland girls match (representing England): 1963 (winners), 1964 (winners)
References edit
- ^ a b "Benka, Mrs Pamela Mary (nee Tredinnick)". Women Golfers' Museum. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ Wilson, Enid (15 August 1964). "Miss Ward's power-shots earn title". The Daily Telegraph. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Miss Tredinnick girls' champion". The Glasgow Herald. 29 August 1964. p. 5.
- ^ "British girl wins". The Glasgow Herald. 17 April 1965. p. 3.
- ^ "Rain causes curtailment of women's final". The Glasgow Herald. 2 October 1965. p. 5.
- ^ "British title regained by Mlle Varangot". The Glasgow Herald. 4 October 1965. p. 6.
- ^ Wilson, Enid (14 August 1967). "Miss Tredinnick stays ahead". The Daily Telegraph. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Small players' success". The Glasgow Herald. 22 March 1968. p. 6.
- ^ "Splendid putting display by Mrs Ferguson". The Glasgow Herald. 17 October 1969. p. 6.
- ^ "Three Scots in Curtis Cup team". The Glasgow Herald. 11 June 1966. p. 7.
- ^ "Americans set to keep Curtis Cup". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1966. p. 5.
- ^ "Americans retain Curtis Cup". The Glasgow Herald. 1 August 1966. p. 10.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (15 June 1968). "British women recover for lead in Curtis Cup". The Glasgow Herald. p. 4.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (17 June 1968). "U.S. retain Curtis Cup as British Isles falter". The Glasgow Herald. p. 4.
- ^ "Britain Women Lose Narrowly". The Glasgow Herald. 9 September 1967. p. 4.
- ^ "Semple Thompson Leads USA to Curtis Cup Victory". www.usga.org. United States Golf Association. 4 August 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "Births Tredinnick". The Daily Telegraph. 19 June 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "English women's title". The Glasgow Herald. 6 October 1933. p. 16.
- ^ "Recovery in singles saves Scots at Harlech". The Glasgow Herald. 30 September 1950. p. 2.