Introduction
Mary Elizabeth Linzee "May" Hezlet (29 April 1882 – 1978) was a British amateur golfer.
Early life
Hezlet was born in Gibraltar, the daughter Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Jackson Hezlet. She and her sisters Florence and Violet Hezlet grew up in Ireland and became top golfers in their era.
Golf career
Irish Ladies Close Championship
In 1899, at the golf course in Newcastle, County Down, May Hezlet defeated Rhona Adair to win the first of her five Irish Ladies Close Championships, three of which came in succession from 1904 to 1906. In two of those victories her sister Florence was the runner-up.
British Ladies Amateur
She won the British Ladies Amateur title in 1899, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the championship—an age record that still stands. Hezlet won the British Ladies Amateur again in 1902 then in 1904 at Scotland's Royal Troon Golf Club she lost in the final to Lottie Dod. She won her third British title in 1907 and her fifth Irish Ladies Close Championship in 1908 at the Royal Portrush Golf Club.
Writer of golf books
Hezlet published a book titled Ladies Golf in 1904 that was immensely popular. A second edition was published 1907 with an additional updating chapter. In 1912, she contributed to The New Book of Golf by Horace G. Hutchinson.
Family
In 1909, she married Rev. Arthur Edwin Ross. Her brother Charles O. Hezlet was runner-up in The Amateur Championship in 1914, played in the Walker Cup, and won several Irish amateur titles.
Death
Hezlet died in 1978 at Sandwich, Kent, England. She had a long life, living into her mid-90s.