Mariah Stackhouse Bio
Mariah Imani Stackhouse, born March 4, 1994, is an American professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour. A graduate of Stanford University, she was a four-year All-American and majored in communications while helping the Cardinal capture an NCAA team championship in 2015. Stackhouse first drew national attention in 2011, when at age 17 she became the youngest African American woman to earn a spot in the field at the U.S. Open. Three years later, she became the first African American woman to make the U.S. Curtis Cup team, which won the 2014 match against Great Britain and Ireland.
Early Life and Background
Mariah Imani Stackhouse was born on March 4, 1994, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and raised in a close-knit family that nurtured her early love of sport. She is the daughter of Ken Stackhouse, a former partner in an architectural firm, and Sharon Stackhouse, a hospital administrator. Her parents supported her interest in golf from the start, providing equipment and time on the course as she grew.
When Stackhouse was only two years old, her father cut down a set of golf clubs so she could swing alongside him, and she quickly developed a passion for the game. She played in her first tournament at age six and tied for first, an early sign of the competitive instinct that would carry her forward. She later attended North Clayton High School in Riverdale, Georgia, where she was elected class president in consecutive years.
Path to Professional Golf
Stackhouse continued her development in the amateur ranks, qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open at 17, a milestone that brought her visibility across the sport. As a freshman at Stanford in 2013, she shot a 61 at the Peg Barnard Invitational, setting an NCAA single-round scoring record and posting a front nine of 26. She went on to become a four-year All-American and a leader on one of the strongest programs in college golf.
Her amateur résumé also includes a sixth-place finish in the individual competition at the 2015 NCAA Division I Championship, where she led the Stanford Cardinal to the team title. The following year, she made her professional debut at the 2016 Portland Classic, becoming the seventh African American woman to earn an LPGA Tour card. She then secured Priority List Category 17 status for the 2017 season by tying for 21st at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
Mariah Stackhouse Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Stackhouse transitioned to the professional game in 2016, stepping onto the LPGA stage at the Portland Classic in June of that year. Her debut marked her as the seventh African American woman to hold an LPGA Tour card, a notable point in the tour’s modern history. While results were modest in those opening months, the experience gave her a full schedule and a clear picture of the standards required at the top level of women’s golf.
By the end of 2017, she had earned her full playing privileges and continued to log starts across the LPGA calendar. The early years were about learning to score within a full-field professional environment, and she used the time to build a consistent tee-to-green game.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Stackhouse recorded her first major professional highlight at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic, where a seventh-place finish stood as her best result on tour to that point. The performance signaled that she was ready to contend in weekend pairings against seasoned winners. A year later, she pushed that breakthrough further at the same event.
On June 9, 2019, Stackhouse started in the final group at the ShopRite LPGA Classic and finished tied for fifth, establishing a new career-best LPGA result. The week showcased her patience on a demanding coastal layout and her ability to handle a Sunday pairing with leaders. Across this stretch, she also gained experience in major championships, with her best major finish to date coming at the 2017 Evian Championship, where she tied for 68th, and at the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship, where she tied for 33rd.
Continued Tour Presence (2020–Present)
Since that 2019 close call, Stackhouse has remained a regular on the LPGA Tour, working to translate Sunday contention into her first victory. Her schedule has included a mix of standard stroke-play events and majors, with appearances at the U.S. Women’s Open, the Women’s PGA Championship, the Evian Championship, and the Women’s British Open. She has continued to be one of a small group of African American women regularly competing at the highest level of the LPGA Tour.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Stackhouse’s career, her 2011 U.S. Open appearance as a 17-year-old stands out as her first national breakthrough. In 2014, her selection to the Curtis Cup team made her the first African American woman to represent the United States in that prestigious amateur match. Her 2013 round of 61 at the Peg Barnard Invitational remains a record-setting amateur performance, and her 2019 final-group start at the ShopRite LPGA Classic marked her most visible run at a professional title.
Mariah Stackhouse Career Wins
Stackhouse has not yet recorded a victory on the LPGA Tour, though she has produced several top finishes that point to an emerging contender. Her strongest results have come at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, where she posted a seventh-place finish in 2018 and a career-best tie for fifth in 2019, when she played in the final group. She has also made the cut in multiple major championships, with her best major result a tie for 33rd at the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Stackhouse’s LPGA Tour résumé is built on steady progress rather than a single breakthrough win. Her best finish remains the tie for fifth at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic, the event where she also earned her previous best result of seventh a year earlier. She has continued to gain experience in major championships, including appearances at the U.S. Women’s Open, the Women’s PGA Championship, the Women’s British Open, and the Evian Championship, steadily building the resume of a player knocking on the door of her first title.
Other Wins & Performances
As an amateur, Stackhouse helped Stanford capture the 2015 NCAA Division I team title, finishing sixth individually in the championship. She also posted a tournament-tying 61 at the 2013 Peg Barnard Invitational, an NCAA single-round record. In 2014, she was part of the U.S. team that won the Curtis Cup, becoming the first African American woman to play in the event.
Mariah Stackhouse Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stackhouse comes from a supportive family that played a direct role in her introduction to golf. Her father, Ken Stackhouse, formerly a partner in an architectural firm, first cut down a set of clubs for her when she was two years old, sparking the interest that became her career. Her mother, Sharon Stackhouse, has worked as a hospital administrator, and both parents have remained involved in her development as a player and person.
Personal Life
Stackhouse stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and remains active on social media, where her handles reflect her nickname, “Stacks.” Public details about her personal relationships, marital status, and residence are not widely documented in verified sources. Her story continues to be defined by her accomplishments on the course, her Stanford education, and her role as one of the most visible African American players on the LPGA Tour.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 LPGA Tour season, Stackhouse is focused on converting her consistent ball-striking into a first career victory. She enters the year with the experience of multiple top-10 finishes, including her tie for fifth at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic, and a record of cuts made across major championships. Her schedule in 2025 is expected to include a full slate of regular LPGA events as well as the five women’s majors.
Her 2025 outlook is shaped by the lessons of her best seasons, particularly her ability to contend in final groups on coastal and parkland layouts. A major goal will be improving her positioning in the final rounds of full-field events, where she has historically been within striking distance of leaders. Continued progress in scoring on par-fives and approaches from inside 150 yards will be key areas of focus for her coaching team.
While a maiden victory would be the headline outcome, the broader storyline for Stackhouse in 2025 is sustained contention and another step forward in the Women’s World Golf Rankings. With several years of full-time LPGA experience behind her, she is well placed to push deeper into weekend pairings and compete for her first title.