Lou Weddington Hart
MGA Hall of Fame 2021
Lou Weddington Hart was born in Meridian, MS on June 7, 1952. Hart was raised in Meridian where she attended Meridian High School from 1967-1970. Following high school, Hart continued her education and golf career at Meridian Junior College from 1970-1972 where she was the first woman to compete on the men’s golf team. During her time at Meridian Junior College, Hart won her first of nine Mississippi Women’s State Amateurs in 1970, a title she defended in 1971. She was a member of the undefeated junior college golf team in 1972, and was the recipient of the H.M. Ivy Award as a top student. Garnering recognition for her superb golf talent, Hart was awarded a scholarship to Florida State University where she attended from 1972-1974. During her time at Florida State, Hart continued her dominance of the Mississippi Women’s State Amateur as she defended her title once again in 1972 & 1973. Following her collegiate career, Hart began working at Holiday Inn South from 1976-1981 and was recognized as the Sales Director of the Year in 1978-1979. From 1981-1982, Hart worked at the Country Club of Jackson before landing at Northwood Country Club and Meridian Community College where she coached from 1993-2006 and collected 7 NJCAA Region 23 Titles, a Runner-Up and 3rd Place finish in the NJCAA National Championship, and 3 MACJC State Championships. Hart was a 7-time Region 23 Coach of the Year and during her tenure coached 12 NJCAA All Americans including 5 First Team honorees and 4 NJCAA Academic All Americans. As a golfer, Hart is one of Mississippi’s most decorated amateurs. Beyond her record 9 Mississippi Women’s State Amateur Titles, Hart captured 6 Mississippi Women’s Senior Amateur Titles, and 5 Mississippi Women’s Four-Ball Titles. She was a 10-time member of the MS team in the Southeastern Women’s Amateur Team Championship and garnered National recognition as she was a Quarterfinalist at the Women’s Southern Amateur in 1978. Hart qualified for the USGA National Amateur in 1979, was both medalist and qualifier for the US Women’s MidAmateur in 1987 and 1991, and competed in 5 USGA Senior Women’s Amateurs where she made match play all 5 times. Throughout her life Hart was a valued and active member of her community and of Northwood Country Club. She was a two-time President of the MWGA (Mississippi Women’s Golf Association), Secretary of NJCAA Golf Coaches Association, and in 2003 was recognized by the MWGA for her contributions to golf in Mississippi. Lou Weddington Hart was a charter member (2002) of the Meridian College Hall of Fame, charter member (2007) of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2007 was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame where she joined her father, H.G. Weddington, as the only father/daughter members. In 2015, Hart was also inducted into the National Junior College Golf Coaches Hall of Fame.