NW golf icon Pat Lesser Harbottle passes away at age 91

A legend and a pioneer in the Pacific Northwest’s golf community, Pat (Lesser) Harbottle passed away on July 30, 2025. She was 91. Pat was a dominating force in American women’s golf in the mid-20th century. Winner of the 1950 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 1955 U.S. Women’s Amateur. Low amateur in three U.S. Women’s Opens. Member of the 1954 and 1956 U.S. Curtis Cup teams.

Pat played for Seattle University on the men’s team, playing from the men’s tees and won more matches than she lost.

She more than held her own against some of the greatest names in women’s golf history – Zaharias, Wright, Berg, Suggs and JoAnne Gunderson (Carner).

She retired from competitive golf in 1957 at the young age of 24. She also won multiple PNGA titles, and was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame in 1985. She was a true pioneer in women’s sports.

Pat’s son John Harbottle III was one of the best young golf course architects in the country. He tragically passed away suddenly in 2012 of cardiac arrest at the age of 53. He designed courses in Idaho, Utah, Washington, Oregon and California. Some of most recognized local courses being Palouse Ridge Golf Club (home course for WSU golf teams), The Olympic Course at Gold Mountain in Bremerton, and BanBury Golf Course in Eagle, Idaho.