Mariajo Uribe Bio
María José Uribe Durán, known more commonly as Mariajo Uribe, is a Colombian professional golfer who has competed on the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. Born on 27 February 1990 in Girón, Santander, Colombia, she rose to international attention in 2007 when she became the only player from Latin America to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur championship. Standing 168 cm tall and a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Uribe has built a career that bridges amateur achievement, Olympic-level competition, and the highest ranks of women’s professional golf.
Throughout her career, Uribe has represented Colombia at the Pan American Games and the South American Games, collecting both gold and silver medals. After turning professional in 2009, she qualified for LPGA and LET membership in her first attempt and has continued to compete at the elite level of the game. She currently resides in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and plays out of her home country while traveling the international circuit.
Early Life and Background
María José Uribe Durán was born on 27 February 1990 in the town of Girón, in the Santander department of Colombia. She grew up in a country where golf was still developing, yet she gravitated toward the sport from an early age. Her Colombian upbringing shaped a calm, disciplined approach that has carried through her amateur and professional career alike.
By her teenage years, Uribe had already developed into one of the most promising junior players in South America. The Colombian national federation supported her development, and she began competing in international amateur events while still in high school. Her talent was soon visible on a global stage, setting the foundation for a remarkable run of results in 2007 and 2008.
Path to Golf
Uribe’s path to elite golf accelerated in 2007 when, at 17, she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur championship, defeating Amanda Blumenherst 1 up in the final. The victory made her the only player from Latin America ever to claim that title and instantly raised her profile. The following year, she tied for tenth at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open as the low amateur and added the 2008 Mexican International Amateur to her résumé.
She took her game to the collegiate level at UCLA, where she played for the Bruins and was recognized as an All-American First Team selection in both 2008 and 2009. Her time at UCLA sharpened her competitive edge and prepared her to move into the professional ranks. By the spring of 2009, she chose to leave UCLA and return to Colombia, finishing her amateur career with a reputation as one of the most decorated amateur golfers to come out of South America.
Mariajo Uribe Career
Early Career (2009–2010)
Prior to the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open, Uribe ended her amateur status and competed in the tournament as a professional. She joined the Futures Tour in July 2009, posting a tie for 15th at the ING New England Golf Classic in her early professional starts. The transition from amateur standout to touring professional was swift and well managed.
At the close of 2009, Uribe qualified for both LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour membership for 2010 on her first attempt, a rare achievement for a player who had just turned professional. Her status on both tours gave her access to a full international schedule and laid the groundwork for steady improvement in the seasons to come.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2010–2014)
Uribe’s early LPGA Tour years were marked by consistent learning as she adjusted to the demands of week-in, week-out professional competition. On 29 May 2011, she captured the HSBC Brazil Cup, an unofficial LPGA event, defeating Lindsey Wright by one stroke. The win confirmed that her amateur pedigree could translate into results against seasoned tour professionals.
Throughout this period, she continued to represent Colombia in multi-national events, earning the silver medal at the 2014 South American Games. Her growing experience on the LPGA Tour, combined with strong performances in team competitions, established her as one of the leading figures in South American women’s golf.
Pan American and Olympic Era (2015–Present)
Uribe added a signature moment to her career at the 2015 Pan American Games, where she won the gold medal for Colombia. The victory was a milestone both for her personally and for Colombian golf, underscoring her status as the country’s most prominent female player. She continued to balance her LPGA Tour schedule with national team duties over the following seasons.
In 2023, Uribe returned to the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and won the silver medal, further cementing her reputation as a dependable performer on the continental stage. After the 2024 season, she announced her retirement from professional golf, closing a career that spanned more than 15 years and reached from amateur glory to the LPGA Tour.
Notable Events and Milestones
Uribe’s signature achievement remains her 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur victory, a result that still stands as the only win in that championship by a player from Latin America. Combined with her gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and her silver medal at the 2023 Pan American Games, her career features a rare blend of individual amateur, professional, and multi-sport accomplishments.
Mariajo Uribe Career Wins
Mariajo Uribe’s competitive record includes a celebrated amateur major, professional victories on the LPGA’s developmental and unofficial circuits, and medals at major multi-national events. While her official LPGA Tour victory total is limited, her impact has been measured in the milestones she reached and the barriers she broke for Colombian and South American women’s golf.
LPGA Tour and LET Highlights
Uribe qualified for both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour for the 2010 season on her first attempt, a notable early milestone. In 2011, she won the HSBC Brazil Cup, an unofficial LPGA event, defeating Lindsey Wright by one stroke. Her LPGA Tour career summary through the 2024 season reflects consistent participation across more than a decade of professional play.
Other Wins and Performances
In the amateur ranks, Uribe won the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 2008 Mexican International Amateur, while earning low-amateur honors at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open. At the multi-national level, she captured gold at the 2015 Pan American Games, silver at the 2014 South American Games, and silver at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
Mariajo Uribe Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Mariajo Uribe’s family background and any racing or sporting lineage is limited. Her rise in Colombian golf is widely credited to her own dedication and to the support of the Colombian national golf development system.
Personal Life
Uribe maintains a relatively private personal life. She resides in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and is connected with fans through her social media presence, including her Instagram account at @mariajogolf. Her professional identity has remained centered on her golf career and her representation of Colombia in international competition.
2025 Season Performance
Following her retirement announcement at the end of the 2024 season, Mariajo Uribe is not actively competing on the LPGA Tour or the Ladies European Tour in 2025. Her career, which concluded after more than 15 years as a professional, leaves a lasting legacy for Colombian and South American women’s golf. The 2025 calendar is therefore expected to focus on her contributions away from the tournament course rather than on active play.
Uribe’s 2024 finale capped a journey that began with amateur glory in 2007 and grew into professional success on two major tours. Her bronze-and-silver medal collection from the Pan American Games and South American Games remains a reference point for golfers across the region. As a retired competitor, she continues to be recognized as a pioneer who expanded the visibility of Colombian women in international golf.