Lucky International Open
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | San Francisco,California |
| Established | 1961 |
| Course(s) | Harding Park Golf Club |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,677 yards (6,105 m)[1] |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Month played | October |
| Final year | 1969 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 269Billy Casper(1968) 269Steve Spray(1969) |
| To par | −15as above |
| Final champion | |
 Steve Spray | |
| Location map | |
  Harding Park GC Location in theUnited States  Harding Park GC Location inCalifornia | |
TheLucky International Openwas aPGA Tourevent in the 1960s inSan Francisco,California.It was played atHarding Park Golf Club,a public course acrossLake Mercedfrom the more glamorousOlympic Club.One of the founders and sponsors of the Lucky International Open wasEugene Selvage,owner of theLucky Lager Brewing Company.
Following surgery on his hands the previous summer, San Francisco nativeKen Venturiwon his 14th and final PGA Tour event here in January1966,taking the first prize of $8,500 with his parents in the gallery.[2][3][4]The deteriorating conditions and antiquated facilities at Harding Park caused the PGA Tour to leave at the end of the decade.
The final edition in1969was played in late October without the Lucky name and had a winner's share of $20,000.Steve Spraygained his only tour victory, one stroke ahead of runner-upChi-Chi Rodríguez,[5][6]the playoff winner in January1964.[7]
For its first six years, it was played in late January, the week after theBing Crosby National Pro-AmatPebble Beach.Not played in1967,it was held in mid-autumn in1968and 1969.
Of the eight winners, six weremajor champions;five already andGeorge Archer(1965) won his at the1969 Masters.
Winners
[edit]| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Winner's share ($) |
Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Open Invitational | ||||||||
| 1969 | Steve Spray |
269 | −15 | 1 stroke | Chi-Chi Rodríguez |
20,000 | [5][6] | |
| Lucky International Open | ||||||||
| 1968 | Billy Casper |
269 | −15 | 4 strokes | Raymond FloydDon Massengale |
20,000 | [8] | |
| 1967: No tournament | ||||||||
| 1966 | Ken Venturi |
273 | −11 | 1 stroke | Frank Beard |
8,500 | [2][3] | |
| 1965 | George Archer |
278 | −6 | Playoff |  Bob Charles |
8,500 | [9] | |
| 1964 | Chi-Chi Rodríguez |
272 | −12 | Playoff | Don January |
7,500 | [7] | |
| 1963 | Jack Burke Jr. |
276 | −8 | 3 strokes | Don January |
9,000 | [10] | |
| 1962 | Gene Littler |
274 | −10 | 2 strokes |  George Knudson |
9,000 | [11] | |
| 1961 |  Gary Player |
272 | −12 | 2 strokes | George BayerDon Whitt |
9,000 | [12] | |
References
[edit]- ^"George Archer shoots 67 to expand S.F. Open lead".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 25, 1969. p. 12.
- ^ab"Venturi fires 5 under 66 to capture 'Lucky' by one".Milwaukee Sentinel.UPI. February 1, 1966. p. 2, part 2.
- ^ab"Venturi's 273 wins Lucky golf title".Chicago Tribune.Associated Press. February 1, 1966. p. 1, section 3.
- ^Kroichick, Ron (October 3, 2005)."The Amex at Harding Park".San Francisco Chronicle.Retrieved2007-11-07.
- ^ab"Persevering Spray finally lands purse".Pittsburgh Press.UPI. October 27, 1969. p. 35.
- ^ab"Steve Spray's only birdie delivers SF Open victory".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 27, 1969. p. 13.
- ^ab"Rodriguez wins Lucky golf playoff".Pittsburgh Press.UPI. January 28, 1964. p. 28.
- ^"Casper strikes it Lucky with 66".St. Petersburg Times.Florida. Associated Press. November 4, 1968. p. 5C.
- ^"Archer captures Lucky tourney".Wilmington Morning Star.(North Carolina). UPI. February 1, 1965. p. 9.
- ^"Burke's San Francisco win his first since July 1961".Eugene Register-Guard.(Oregon). (Associated Press). January 28, 1963. p. 3B.
- ^"Rally by Littler brings title".Eugene Register-Guard.(Oregon). (Associated Press). January 29, 1962. p. 2B.
- ^"Player captures Bay Area tourney".Eugene Register-Guard.(Oregon). (Associated Press). January 30, 1961. p. 3B.