Meriam Bailey Leeke (Golf, 1955-59)

Bailey Leeke was a rare student-athlete. Rare, because she was one of the few women of her era to compete in athletics and because she did so prior to the beginning of University-sponsored women's sports.

While a student at Northwestern in 1956, Leeke captured the Illinois State Women's Amateur golf championship and also earned the Chicago District Women's Amateur title. One year later, she won the National Intercollegiate Women's Golf Championship and the Women's Western Amateur title.

In 1958 she was a member of the United States Curtis Cup Team that competed against the top women amateur golfers from Great Britain. The Curtis Cup is the equivalent of the men's amateur Walker Cup and professional Ryder Cup.

She competed against the nation's finest professional and amateur golfers in three straight United States Opens during her college days and made the 36-hole cut all three years, finishing as high as 22nd. Leeke considers her U.S. Open performances as perhaps her most notable achievements since the competitions took place just one week after the conclusion of final examinations at Northwestern. While her competition was playing on the pro tour and practicing daily, Leeke was studying for exams and trying to squeeze in a few practice holes a day.

A business administration major at Northwestern, she graduated in 1959.