1953 U.S. Women’s Amateur: Mary Lena Faulk wins at Rhode Island C.C.

Mary Lena Faulk won the 1953 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Rhode Island C.C. in Barrington, Rhode Island, beating Polly Riley 3 & 2 in the final.

Updated October 23, 2026

Walk this draw in the U.S. Women’s Amateur room.

Edition: 53rd
Dates: August 24, 1953 to August 29, 1953
Course: Rhode Island C.C., Barrington, Rhode Island
Format: match play
Champion: Mary Lena Faulk · age 27 · United States
Champion's title: 1st U.S. Women’s Amateur
Runner-up: Polly Riley · age 27
Final: 3 & 2
Losing semifinalists: Mrs. Philip Cudone and Margaret (Wiffi) Smith
Defending champion: Jackie Pung · did not play
Entries: 158

What happened at the 1953 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Mary Lena Faulk shot 73 in sultry heat in the morning of the final to lead Polly Riley by six holes and held on to win 3 and 2.

Glenna Collett Vare was in match play for the 23rd time, with 59 match wins and six championships behind her.

Final, Mary Lena Faulk v. Polly Riley. Faulk's morning 73 put her six holes up on Riley and she won 3 and 2.

The draw

Every match is recorded through the final.

The final, 1953 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Mary Lena Faulk	def.	Polly Riley	3 & 2

Semifinals, 1953 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Polly Riley	def.	Mrs. Philip Cudone	won on 19th hole
Mary Lena Faulk	def.	Margaret (Wiffi) Smith	unknown

Round of 32, 1953 U.S. Women’s Amateur

Winner		Beaten	Result
Pat O'Sullivan	def.	Barbara Romack	3 & 2

How this was built

Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's U.S. Women’s Amateur data set (research collected through October 20, 2026). "unknown" means no source confirmed it; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the USGA's own record is used.

Data: us-womens-amateur.json.