Mariah Stackhouse Bio
Mariah Imani Stackhouse, born March 4, 1994, is an American professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour, the premier women’s golf circuit in the United States. A Stanford University graduate and four-year All-American, she helped the Stanford Cardinal capture the NCAA Division I women’s golf team title in 2015. Stackhouse first drew national attention in 2011, when, at age 17, she became the youngest African American woman to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. Three years later, in 2014, she became the first African American woman selected to the United States Curtis Cup team, a squad that won the biennial match-play competition that year.
Early Life and Background
Mariah Stackhouse was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and raised in a household that valued education and athletics. Her father, Ken Stackhouse, is a former partner in an architectural firm, and her mother, Sharon Stackhouse, works as a hospital administrator. The couple introduced their daughter to golf at a very young age; when Mariah was two, her father cut down a set of clubs so she could swing them. She has said that she practiced alongside him from the start and never stopped going to the course with him.
Stackhouse played in her first tournament at age six and tied for first, an early sign of the competitive instinct that would define her career. She attended North Clayton High School in Riverdale, Georgia, where she was elected class president in back-to-back years. Her performance on the junior and amateur circuits, combined with her academic record, helped her earn a place in one of the most decorated golf programs in the country.
Path to Professional Golf
Stackhouse enrolled at Stanford University in 2013 and immediately made an impact. As a freshman, she shot a 61 at the Peg Barnard Invitational, setting an NCAA single-round scoring record. That round featured a front-nine score of 26, nine strokes under par, a performance that put her on the national amateur map.
By the time she reached her junior season, Stackhouse had become one of the most accomplished amateurs in the country. At the 2015 NCAA Division I Championship, she finished sixth individually and led the Stanford Cardinal to the team title, capping four straight years as an All-American. She majored in communications at Stanford, balancing elite-level athletics with a full academic load. Her amateur résumé, which already included a 2011 U.S. Women’s Open appearance and a 2014 Curtis Cup selection for the victorious U.S. team, positioned her for a smooth transition to the professional ranks.
Mariah Stackhouse Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Stackhouse made her professional debut at the 2016 Portland Classic, becoming the seventh African American woman to hold an LPGA Tour card. Her rookie year was a learning experience, as she worked to adjust her game to the demands of weekly tournament golf. Later in 2016, she finished tied for 21st at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament, which earned her Priority List Category 17 status for the 2017 LPGA season.
The 2017 season marked her first full year on tour. While she did not record a victory, she gained valuable experience navigating a long schedule and competing against many of the best players in the world. Each tournament helped her identify the parts of her game that needed refinement and gave her a clearer sense of the life of a touring professional.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Stackhouse’s first significant top finish on the LPGA Tour came at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic, where she placed seventh. It was her best result as a professional to that point and confirmed that her game was trending in the right direction.
A year later, on June 9, 2019, she took another step forward at the same event. Starting the final round in the last group, she finished tied for fifth, establishing a new career-best LPGA result. The performance signaled that she was ready to contend on a regular basis and set the stage for the next phase of her career.
2020–Present
Stackhouse has remained an active member of the LPGA Tour since then, continuing to compete in major championships and full-field events. Her consistent play, particularly on courses that reward accurate iron play and steady putting, has helped her maintain her tour card year after year. She has spoken frequently about the importance of representation in golf, noting that visibility for young Black players remains one of her priorities off the course.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond her professional results, Stackhouse is widely recognized for the barriers she has broken. Her 2011 appearance at the U.S. Women’s Open made her the youngest African American woman to qualify for the championship, and her 2014 Curtis Cup selection made her the first African American woman named to the U.S. team, which went on to win. These milestones, paired with her Stanford education and continued presence on the LPGA Tour, have made her one of the most prominent American players of her generation.
Mariah Stackhouse Career Wins
As of the most recent verifiable records, Mariah Stackhouse has not recorded a victory on the LPGA Tour. Her best finishes remain her tie for fifth at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic and her seventh-place result at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic. She has, however, posted strong results in team competitions, including the 2014 Curtis Cup, which the United States won with her on the roster.
Mariah Stackhouse Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stackhouse credits her parents with introducing her to golf and supporting her development from childhood. Her father, Ken Stackhouse, a former partner in an architectural firm, custom-fit her first set of clubs, while her mother, Sharon Stackhouse, a hospital administrator, helped balance the family’s travel and competition schedule. The family lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, before relocating to Riverdale, Georgia, where Mariah attended North Clayton High School.
Personal Life
Stackhouse is known to keep her personal life largely private, and details about a spouse, partner, or children are not publicly confirmed in verifiable sources. She earned her degree in communications from Stanford University and has used that platform to advocate for greater diversity and inclusion within golf. Her social media presence, including her verified accounts, often highlights her work with youth golf programs and the next generation of Black players.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 LPGA Tour season, Mariah Stackhouse is expected to continue as an active member of the tour, with full access to standard events and the season’s major championships. Her 2018 and 2019 top finishes at the ShopRite LPGA Classic suggest that the spring and early summer stretch remains a productive part of her schedule. The 2025 campaign gives her another opportunity to build on her career-best tie for fifth and convert steady play into her first official LPGA victory.
Stackhouse has continued to be a steady presence in the locker room and a popular interview subject, both for her on-course results and her advocacy for diversity in the sport. With multiple major championships and dozens of full-field events on the calendar, she has ample chances to record the kind of breakthrough finish that has eluded her to this point. Her track record of contending in the final group of weekend rounds, as she did at the 2019 ShopRite, points to a player who is comfortable in contention when the opportunity arises.