Hall of Fame

Mary Anne Levins, formerly Widman, was raised in Elmira along with her three older brothers Ed, Steve and Jack. 

Her parents, Ed and Wini, were talented golfers who belonged to Elmira Country Club, each having won local and club titles. Her siblings earned their share of golf accolades as well, playing on the Elmira Free Academy golf team during high school.

With the help of her family, she picked up a golf club at age 3. Growing up, she was interested in many sports, becoming an eight-time letter winner in high school while participating on teams for basketball, swimming, track, softball and of course, golf.

It didn’t take long for her to begin a career of “firsts” for women golfers from the Twin Tiers. She was the first to play on the Elmira Free Academy (EFA) boys golf team, and did so beginning her freshman year. She was also the first girl to win Elmira CC’s junior championship.

Her streak continued, as she was the first female from New York State to be named to the All-American Scholastic team. She earned this honor after finishing in fourth at the National Prep All-American Golf Tournament as a senior. She was also the first from New York to ever be invited to that tournament.

In 1980, after graduating from EFA, she competed in her first U.S. Women’s Open as an amateur. She also participated in the LPGA’s Corning Classic that summer, and then again in 1981.

Levins’ golf career took off during her years with the Duke University Women’s Golf Team. Throughout her time as a Blue Devil, Levins was a three-time All-American (1982, 1983, 1984), National Golfer of the Year (1984), and won a record 12 collegiate tournaments. She was a team captain with the program and the NCAA’s top-ranked female golfer during her final season at Duke (1983-84). She also earned a place in collegiate history, becoming the first ACC individual champion in 1984. 

During her summers off, Levins would come home to New York to maintain a busy summer schedule of amateur events and a summer job mowing neighborhood lawns. She was known to have a very strict training regimen of running multiple miles a day, biking, practicing golf shots, playing a few holes of golf, then take care of the yards on her schedule.

In 1982 at Ives Hill, she captured her first NYS Women’s Amateur title in 38 holes over Rochester’s Jamie DeWeese in brutal 90-degree heat. The following year, she successfully defended at Colgate University’s Seven Oaks Golf Club over DeWeese, this time, 4 and 3.

In 1983, she was a 36-hole qualifying medalist (147) during the U.S. Women’s Amateur. She was also the Women’s Eastern Amateur Champion at Seabrook Island Resort in South Carolina.

She opted not to defend her NYS Women’s Am title in 1984, having instead participated in the U.S. Women’s Open.

After an impressive senior season at Duke and a number one ranking, Levins was selected to be a member of the 1984 U.S. Curtis Cup team that was contested at Muirfield in Scotland. Team USA defeated GBI 9 ½ to 8 ½. She followed the prestigious team event with appearances in the Women’s British Amateur, Western Amateur, U.S. Women’s Open, Women’s National Amateur and the Canadian Amateur.
 
She turned professional and earned non-exempt status on the LPGA in 1985 through Qualifying School. She then played on the Futures Tour ranks in 1986 and ‘87.

Mary Anne married in 1986 to James Levins, an attorney, and after struggles during her first few seasons as a pro, decided to retire to become a stay-at-home mother and raise a family. 

Levins participated in the U.S. Women’s Open five times during her short career.

In the late 90’s, the Levins family moved from the Southern Tier of New York to Rutland, Vermont to enjoy a more vital winter outdoor lifestyle for their four children; two boys and two girls, whom all have become avid in both golf and cross-country skiing. Her youngest daughter, Chloe, who’s won two Vermont State Amateurs, is a member of the United States Biathalon team and finishing up her senior year at Middlebury College. Two of her other children, Jimmy and Keely, both captained X-C Skiing and Golf during their time at Middlebury. Keely is now a writer and editor for Golf Digest and Jimmy is an orthopedic surgeon. She also has a son Augie who is an electrical engineer.

 
Mary Anne (Widman) Levins’ Career Highlights

• 2x NYSGA Women’s Amateur Champion (1982, 1983)
• Played collegiate golf at Duke
• 3x All-American (1982, 1983, 1984)
• Winner of a record 12 collegiate tournaments at Duke
• 36-hole qualifying medalist (147) in the 1983 U.S. Women’s Amateur
• 1983 Women’s Eastern Amateur Champion at Seabrook Island Resort, SC
• 1984 ACC Individual Champion
• 1984 College Player of the Year
• 1984 U.S. Curtis Cup team member
• 5x U.S. Women’s Open participant
• Earned LPGA card in 1985, joined the Futures Tour