Inducted, 2007

Marcia Thayne, the fifth woman to be inducted into the Utah Golf Hall of Fame, has the distinction of being the only woman to win the Utah State Women's Amateur six consecutive times. Two others won the tournament six times, but not consecutively. They were Bev Nelson and Mary Lou Baker.

Her competitive amateur tournament career was outstanding, but it wasn't total domination. She had capable opposition in all events and had to come from behind to win so many times that it became the hallmark of her career. She was a contemporary of Hall of Famer Bev Nelson and so there was always formidable competition. Nevertheless, from the age of 19 through 25 she won every major women's tournament multiple times and earned a total of 35 championships in just six years of competition. She set course records at Mountain Dell, Nibley, Patio Springs, Hidden Valley, Meadowbrook, Oakridge, and Park City.

Her first Women's State Am title came at the age of 19. It broke up a skein of three straight wins by Nelson and started her own record breaking streak. She had to come from seven strokes behind in each of her first three State Am victories. Her fourth title was another thriller. It ended in a tie with Nelson. An 18-hole playoff didn't break the deadlock and it took another couple of holes for Thayne to claim the title and keep her streak going.

Her fifth title involved another major comeback. She birdied the 53rd hole and parred the final hole to claim a one-shot win over Janet Thurgood. Her sixth title was more comfortable, winning by three shots.

In all six of her State Am championships she wore the same checkered skirt that became part of the tournament lore. She was also affectionately called The Golden Fleece because of her gorgeous blond hair.

She graduated from Highland High School in 1968 when girls couldn't play on high school golf teams. While in college she initiated the University of Utah women's golf team and was the player-coach until her graduation.

One of her golfing highlights was playing an exhibition match with famed Patty Berg. She lost the match by a mere two shots and Berg offered high praise for her performance.

At the young age of 25, with the local amateur world conquered, Thayne left amateur golf behind and became an assistant golf professional at Glendale Golf Course. She was already an English teacher at Granger High School and the golf position meshed nicely with her teaching career.

She was the administrator of the Utah Junior Girls Golf Association from 1972-1979, a program she inherited from Mary Lou Baker. She also organized a competitive women's golf association that included an opportunity for women professionals to play, but it functioned for only two years. She wrote a column for Fairways Magazine for three years and coined it "From the Reds."

She taught English at Granger High from 1972 through 1997 and was Teacher of the Year in 1990. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Utah from 1992-1995.

She graduated from the University in 1972 and earned her Masters in 1992, also from the U. of U. She also earned a Masters of Social Work at Boise State University in 2001. Her counseling centered around mental health, drug abuse, depression, and domestic violence. She is currently program director of Windhorse Relations, a non-profit organization, that promotes the potential of the American Wild Horse and uses them in educational, experiential trainings.

She was born on Feburary 9, 1949 in Salt Lake City. Her parents are Shirl and Florence Thayne, both deceased. She has two brothers, Mike in Salt Lake City, and Steve, deceased.