Distinguished Alumni Award: Kendra Beard Graham (’85)

Kendra Graham is known as a “rules savant” in the world of professional golf. Over 30 years, her vast knowledge of the game and her natural ability to communicate the rules to players have led to some impressive “firsts” for women. Among those groundbreaking achievements, Kendra was the first female rules official at the Masters Tournament and the first American woman to officiate the R&A Open Championship (a.k.a. The British Open). She has served as a key official in more than 50 majors - men’s and women’s - as well as notable amateur events. A member of the USGA’s Executive Committee for six years, Kendra was chair of the Rules of Golf Committee and co-chair of the Joint Rules of Golf Committee with her counterpart from the R&A. In that capacity, she became a principal decision-maker in the January 2023 revisions to the official Rules of Golf.