The Women's Western Open was an annual golf competition, which was played in match play between 1930 and 1954, and strokeplay between 1955 and 1967. It was established in 1930 and was a women's major championship that was organized by the Women's Western Golf Association. This event has the distinction of being the first women's major championship ever played.
Patty Berg holds the record for the most victories with seven, which is the overall record of the combined eras of match and stroke play. During match play competition Berg, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias holds the record for most victories with four. In the stroke play era, Berg and Mickey Wright holds the record for most victories with three. The most consecutive in the combined eras is two and was done by the following golfers: Berg, Suggs, Zaharias, Opal Hill and Wright. Berg and Betsy Rawls are the only two golfers to win the competition in match play and stroke play eras. In the match play era, 9&8 was the largest margin of victory by Marian McDougall in 1934, Hill in 1935, and Betty Jameson in 1942. During the stroke play era, Kathy Whitworth holds the record for lowest under-par at 11 in 1967 and the aggregate low of 289,
Key
[edit]† | Tournament won in a playoff |
* | Tournament won by an amateur, or had a runner-up who is an amateur |
Champions
[edit]Note: All winners (and runners-up from the match play era) were from the United States.
Match play era
[edit]Stroke play era
[edit]Year | Champion | Course | Location | Score | To par | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1955 | Patty Berg | Maple Bluff CC | Madison, Wisconsin | 292 | E | [27][35] |
1956 | Beverly Hanson | Wakonda CC | Des Moines, Iowa | 304 | E | [27] |
1957 | Patty Berg | Montgomery CC | Montgomery, Alabama | 291 | −1 | [27] |
1958 | Patty Berg | Kahkwa CC | Erie, Pennsylvania | 293 | +1 | [27] |
1959 | Betsy Rawls | Ranier G&CC | Seattle, Washington | 293 | −1 | [27] |
1960 | Joyce Ziske † | Beverly CC | Chicago, Illinois | 301 | +9 | [36][a] |
1961 | Mary Lena Faulk | Belle Meade CC | Nashville, Tennessee | 290 | −10 | [36] |
1962 | Mickey Wright † | Montgomery CC | Montgomery, Alabama | 295 | +7 | [36][b] |
1963 | Mickey Wright | Maple Bluff CC | Madison, Wisconsin | 292 | −4 | [36] |
1964 | Carol Mann | Scenic Hills CC | Pensacola, Florida | 308 | +8 | [36] |
1965 | Susie Maxwell | Beverly CC | Chicago, Illinois | 290 | −2 | [36] |
1966 | Mickey Wright | Rainbow Springs CC | Mukwonago, Wisconsin | 302 | +2 | [36] |
1967 | Kathy Whitworth | Pekin CC | Pekin, Illinois | 289 | −11 | [36] |
Multiple winners
[edit]This table lists the golfers who have won more than one Women's Western Open as a major championship. Bolded years and player name indicates consecutive victories. The (a) denotes amateur golfer.
Grand Slam winners ‡ |
Country | Golfer | Total | Years |
---|---|---|---|
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Patty Berg | 7 | 1941, 1943, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1958 |
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Babe Zaharias | 4 | 1940 (a), 1944 (a), 1945 (a), 1950 |
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Louise Suggs ‡ | 4 | 1946 (a), 1947 (a), 1949, 1953 |
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Mickey Wright ‡ | 3 | 1962, 1963, 1966 |
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June Beebe (a) | 2 | 1931, 1933 |
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Opal Hill (a) | 2 | 1935, 1936 |
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Betty Jameson | 2 | 1942 (a), 1954 |
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Betsy Rawls | 2 | 1952, 1959 |
Winners by nationality
[edit]This table lists the total number of titles won by golfers of each nationality as a major.
Rank | Nationality | Wins | Winners | First title | Last title |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
38 | 20 | 1930 | 1967 |
Notes
[edit]- a Joyce Ziske won in a sudden death playoff over Barbara Romack on the second hole with a par-5 to Romack's bogey 6.[37]
- b Mickey Wright won in a sudden death playoff over Mary Lena Faulk on the fourth hole with a par-3 to Faulk's bogey 4.[38]
See also
[edit]- Chronological list of LPGA major golf champions
- List of LPGA major championship winning golfers
- Grand Slam (golf)
References
[edit]- ^ Barry, Howard (July 19, 1930). "Mrs. Lee Mida Wins Western Open Golf Title". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. 12. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "It's June in June". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. June 27, 1931. p. 21. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Miss Weiller Wins Western Open Golf". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. July 16, 1932. p. 9. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ Bartlett, Charles (July 1, 1933). "June Beebe Wins Golf Title; Beats Jane Weiller, 3 and 2". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. 21. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Women's Finals In Golf Today". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. October 13, 1934. p. 7. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Sport Tabloids - Portland". The Bend Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. October 8, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Mrs. Hill Wins Western Open". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press. June 30, 1935. p. 18. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Mrs. Hill Keeps Western Open Golf Championship". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. June 13, 1936. p. 14. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Mrs. Hill Takes Par Apart With 71 - Babe Trails". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. June 8, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Helen Hicks Golf Winner". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. June 20, 1937. p. Sports-4. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Week End Sports in Briuef". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. June 20, 1938. p. 10. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Barrett And Hoffman In Women's Finals". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. Associated Press. June 18, 1938. p. 6. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ^ "Dettweiler Wins Title". Miami Daily News. Miami, Florida. United Press. June 18, 1939. p. 4B. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Babe Zaharias Wins Western". Miami Daily News. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. July 1, 1940. p. 2B. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Patty Berg Captures Western Open Crown". The Palm Beach Post-Times. West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press. June 15, 1941. p. 11. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Texan Cops Western Open". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press. June 28, 1942. p. 22. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Patty Berg Comes Back to Beat Dorothy Kirby". Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Associated Press. July 2, 1943. p. 8. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Western Golf Open to Have Patriotic 'Motif'". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Associated Press. June 10, 1943. p. 18. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Mrs. Zaharias Wins Western Open Title". Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. United Press. June 25, 1944. p. II-5. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Dorothy Germain and Babe Didriksen Zaharias In Showdown Battle For The Women's Western Open Championship". The Florence Times. Florence, Alabama. Associated Press. June 24, 1944. p. 5. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Babe Zaharias Sets Record; Keeps Title". Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Associated Press. June 24, 1945. p. II-5. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Berg Upset By Suggs In Western". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. June 29, 1946. p. 21. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Women's National Links Meet Next". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. June 23, 1947. p. 13. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Favorites Show Way in Women's Golf at Atlanta". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. June 19, 1947. p. 20. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Berg Defeats Zaharias For Western Open Title". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. June 27, 1948. p. 22. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Suggs Whips Jameson In Women's Finals". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. June 26, 1949. p. 23. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j LPGA Tournament Chronology - 1950-59 Archived 2010-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Babe Wins Women's Western". The Palm Beach Post-Times. West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press. June 25, 1950. p. 17. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Berg Victor Over Irish Lass". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. Associated Press. June 24, 1951. p. 14. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Patty Berg In Western Open Win". The Sunday Star. Wilmington, Delaware. United Press. June 24, 1951. p. 25. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Betsy Rawls Wins Open". Sunday Herald. Bridgeport, Connecticut. United Press. June 22, 1952. p. 33. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Louise Suggs Sweeps to Easy Victory in Western Open". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. Associated Press. June 21, 1953. p. 14A. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
- ^ "Miss Jameson Wins Western Golf Crown". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. June 20, 1954. p. 3-3. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
- ^ "Louise Suggs, Berg Western Favorites". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. June 13, 1954. p. 9A. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
- ^ "Blazing Putting Gives Betsy Title". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. August 17, 1959. p. 10. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h LPGA Tournament Chronology - 1960-69 Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Joyce Ziske Takes Golf In Playoff". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Associated Press. June 27, 1960. p. 21. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ^ "Mickey Wright Western Winner". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. 1962-05-14. Retrieved 2010-06-29.