Lauri Peterson

Lauri Peterson’s career initially began in professional golf, where she competed under her maiden name, Lauri Merten, and also for a period as Lauri Peterson and Lauri Merten-Peterson. Born on July 6, 1960, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, she attended Arizona State University before joining the LPGA Tour in 1983. During her time as a professional golfer, Merten achieved three significant victories, including the Rail Charity Golf Classic in 1983, the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in 1984, and notably, the U.S. Women’s Open in 1993, which is recognized as one of the LPGA’s major championships. She retired from professional golf, with burnout cited as a contributing factor, along with personal attention surrounding her family.

Peterson later gained widespread public recognition as an original cast member on the reality television series “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” debuting in 2006. She was featured prominently for the show’s first four seasons and made recurring appearances in subsequent seasons until 2016. Her involvement showcased aspects of her personal life, including her marriage to George Peterson in 2007, and her family dynamics. Beyond reality television, Peterson has maintained an active presence, including a return to her real estate career in 2020. She has also appeared in other television productions such as “A-List Awards” in 2008, “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” from 2012 to 2018, “Megyn Kelly Today” in 2018, and “BravoCon Live with Andy Cohen” in 2023.