Lois Drafke
Lois Drafke grew up on Acacia Country Club, the only child of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Drafke, who was the club superintendent there. She took to golf early, swinging an iron with youthful gusto and came to the attention of the club pro, who noticed her keen interest in the game and gave her some basic instruction.
She played in her first state tournament as a junior entrant held at Aurora CC at the age of 14 and won her first junior title at age 15 the same year she won the first of her IWGA State Am titles. She followed this victory with State Am wins in 1955, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1970 and 1973. Her runner up finishes were equally impressive and her fellow competitors were always aware that Lois was lurking somewhere in the field and could not be counted out until the final matches were completed.
She does recall that her win in 1964 at Quincy Country Club against Sandra Fullmer took 38 holes to complete. A little more time and it would have been called due to darkness. Lois also won many Northern Illinois Women’s Golf Association Championships at Cog Hill Country Club.
Accomplishments: 9-time winner of IWGA State Amateur Tournament – the first at age 15 in 1954. Other championships in 1955, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1970, and 1973.
Lois served as a board member of the IWGA. She was employed as a secretary in the western suburbs, spent her life in that general area and is now retired. She was a scratch bowler and has always enjoyed working in her flower garden.