List of Women's Western Open champions

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

† Tournament won in a playoff
* Tournament won by an amateur, or had a runner-up who is an amateur

Champions

Match play era

YearCountryChampionMarginCountryRunner-upCourseLocationNotes
1930  USA Mida, Mrs. LeeMrs. Lee Mida  * 6 & 5  USA Beebe, JuneJune Beebe  * Acacia CC Indian Head Park, Illinois [1]
1931  USA Beebe, JuneJune Beebe  * 3 & 2  USA Jones, Mrs. MelvinMrs. Melvin Jones  * Midlothian CC Midlothian, Illinois [2]
1932  USA Weiller, JaneJane Weiller  * 5 & 4  USA Beebe, JuneJune Beebe  * Ozaukee CC Milwaukee, Wisconsin [3]
1933  USA Beebe, JuneJune Beebe  * 3 & 2  USA Weiller, JaneJane Weiller  * Olympia Fields CC Olympia Fields, Illinois [4]
1934  USA McDougall, MarianMarian McDougall  * 9 & 7  USA Riegel, Mrs. GuyMrs. Guy Riegel  * Portland G&CC Portland, Oregon [5][6]
1935  USA Hill, OpalOpal Hill  * 9 & 7  USA Reinhart, Mrs. S.L.Mrs. S.L. Reinhart  * Sunset Ridge CC Chicago, Illinois [7]
1936  USA Hill, OpalOpal Hill  * 3 & 2  USA Dennehy, Mrs. CharlesMrs. Charles Dennehy  * Topeka CC Topeka, Kansas [8][9]
1937  USA Hicks, HelenHelen Hicks 6 & 5  USA Barrett, BeaBea Barrett  * Beverly CC Chicago, Illinois [10]
1938  USA Barrett, BeaBea Barrett  * 6 & 4  USA Hofmann, HelenHelen Hofmann Broadmoor GC Colorado Springs, Colorado [11][12]
1939  USA Dettweiler, HelenHelen Dettweiler  * 4 & 3  USABarrett, BeaBea Barrett  * Westwood CC St. Louis, Missouri [13]
1940  USA Zaharias, BabeBabe Zaharias  * 5 & 4  USA Mann, Mrs. RussellMrs. Russell Mann Blue Mound G&CC Wauwatosa, Wisconsin [14]
1941  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg 7 & 6  USA Weil, Olga StrashunOlga Strashun Weil Cincinnati CC Cincinnati, Ohio [15]
1942  USA Jameson, BettyBetty Jameson  * 9 & 7  USA Otto, PhyllisPhyllis Otto Elmhurst CC Chicago, Illinois [16]
1943  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg 1 up  USA Kirby, DorothyDorothy Kirby  * Glen Oak CC Glen Ellyn, Illinois [17][18]
1944  USA Zaharias, BabeBabe Zaharias  * 7 & 5  USA Germain, DorothyDorothy Germain  * Park Ridge Chicago, Illinois [19][20]
1945  USA Zaharias, BabeBabe Zaharias  * 4 & 2  USA Germain, DorothyDorothy Germain  * Highland G&CC Indianapolis, Indiana [21]
1946  USA Suggs, LouiseLouise Suggs  * 2 up  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg Wakoda Club Des Moines, Iowa [22]
1947  USA Suggs, LouiseLouise Suggs  * 4 & 2  USA Kirby, DorothyDorothy Kirby  * Capital City Club Atlanta, Georgia [23][24]
1948  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg 37 holes  USA Zaharias, BabeBabe Zaharias Skycrest CC Chicago, Illinois [25]
1949  USA Suggs, LouiseLouise Suggs 5 & 4  USA Jameson, BettyBetty Jameson Oklahoma City CC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma [26]
1950  USA Zaharias, BabeBabe Zaharias 5 & 3  USA Kirk, PeggyPeggy Kirk Cherry Hills CC Denver, Colorado [27][28]
1951  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg 2 up  USA O'Sullivan, PatPat O'Sullivan  * Whitemarsh Valley CC Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [27][29][30]
1952  USA Rawls, BetsyBetsy Rawls 1 up  USA Jameson, BettyBetty Jameson Skokie CC Chicago, Illinois [27][31]
1953  USA Suggs, LouiseLouise Suggs 6 & 5  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg Capital City Club Atlanta, Georgia [27][32]
1954  USA Jameson, BettyBetty Jameson 6 & 5  USA Suggs, LouiseLouise Suggs Glen Flora CC Waukegan, Illinois [27][33][34]

Stroke play era

Year Country Champion Course Location Total score Total par Notes
1955  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg Maple Bluff CC Madison, Wisconsin 292 E [27][35]
1956  USA Hanson, BeverlyBeverly Hanson Wakonda CC Des Moines, Iowa 304 E [27]
1957  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg Montgomery CC Montgomery, Alabama 291 -1 [27]
1958  USA Berg, PattyPatty Berg Kahkwa CC Erie, Pennsylvania 293 +1 [27]
1959  USA Rawls, BetsyBetsy Rawls Ranier G&CC Seattle, Washington 293 −1 [27]
1960  USA Ziske, JoyceJoyce Ziske † Beverly CC Chicago, Illinois 301 +9 [36][a]
1961  USA Faulk, Mary LenaMary Lena Faulk Belle Meade CC Nashville, Tennessee 290 -10 [36]
1962  USA Wright, MickeyMickey Wright † Montgomery CC Montgomery, Alabama 295 +7 [36][b]
1963  USA Wright, MickeyMickey Wright Maple Bluff CC Madison, Wisconsin 292 −4 [36]
1964  USA Mann, CarolCarol Mann Scenic Hills CC Pensacola, Florida 308 +8 [36]
1965  USA Maxwell, SusieSusie Maxwell Beverly CC Chicago, Illinois 290 -2 [36]
1966  USA Wright, MickeyMickey Wright Rainbow Springs CC Mukwonago, Wisconsin 302 +2 [36]
1967  USA Whitworth, KathyKathy Whitworth Pekin CC Pekin, Illinois 289 -11 [36]

Multiple winners

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.

Deceased golfer †
Grand Slam winners ‡
Country Golfer Total Years
 USA Patty Berg † 7 1941, 1943, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1958
 USA Babe Zaharias † 4 1940 (a), 1944 (a), 1945 (a), 1950
 USA Louise Suggs ‡ 4 1946 (a), 1947 (a), 1949, 1953
 USA Mickey Wright ‡ 3 1962, 1963, 1966
 USA June Beebe (a) † 2 1931, 1933
 USA Opal Hill (a) † 2 1935, 1936
 USA Betty Jameson † 2 1942 (a), 1954
 USA Betsy Rawls 2 1952, 1959

Winners by nationality

This table lists the total number of titles won by golfers of each nationality as a major.

RankNationalityWinsWinnersFirst titleLast title
1  United States 38 20 1930 1967

Notes

See also

References

  1. ↑ Barry, Howard (July 19, 1930). "Mrs. Lee Mida Wins Western Open Golf Title". Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, Illinois). p. 12. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  2. ↑ "It's June in June". Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, Illinois). June 27, 1931. p. 21. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Miss Weiller Wins Western Open Golf". The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). July 16, 1932. p. 9. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  4. ↑ Bartlett, Charles (July 1, 1933). "June Beebe Wins Golf Title; Beats Jane Weiller, 3 and 2". Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, Illinois). p. 21. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Women's Finals In Golf Today". The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). October 13, 1934. p. 7. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Sport Tabloids - Portland". The Bend Bulletin (Bend, Oregon). October 8, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Mrs. Hill Wins Western Open". Spartanburg Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, South Carolina). Associated Press. June 30, 1935. p. 18. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Mrs. Hill Keeps Western Open Golf Championship". Reading Eagle (Reading, Pennsylvania). Associated Press. June 13, 1936. p. 14. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Helen Hicks Golf Winner". The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). June 20, 1937. p. Sports-4. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Week End Sports in Briuef". The Day (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. June 20, 1938. p. 10. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Barrett And Hoffman In Women's Finals". Eugene Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon). Associated Press. June 18, 1938. p. 6. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Dettweiler Wins Title". Miami Daily News (Miami, Florida). United Press. June 18, 1939. p. 4B. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Babe Zaharias Wins Western". Miami Daily News (Miami, Florida). Associated Press. July 1, 1940. p. 2B. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "Texan Cops Western Open". Spartanburg Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, South Carolina). Associated Press. June 28, 1942. p. 22. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Patty Berg Comes Back to Beat Dorothy Kirby". Milwaukee Journal (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). Associated Press. July 2, 1943. p. 8. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Western Golf Open to Have Patriotic 'Motif'". The Montreal Gazette (Montreal, Canada). Associated Press. June 10, 1943. p. 18. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Mrs. Zaharias Wins Western Open Title". Milwaukee Journal (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). United Press. June 25, 1944. p. II-5. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  20. ↑ "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.
  21. ↑ "Babe Zaharias Sets Record; Keeps Title". Milwaukee Journal (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). Associated Press. June 24, 1945. p. II-5. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Berg Upset By Suggs In Western". St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, Florida). Associated Press. June 29, 1946. p. 21. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Women's National Links Meet Next". The Evening Independent (St. Petersburg, Florida). Associated Press. June 23, 1947. p. 13. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  24. ↑ "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.
  25. ↑ "Berg Defeats Zaharias For Western Open Title". St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, Florida). Associated Press. June 27, 1948. p. 22. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Suggs Whips Jameson In Women's Finals". St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, Florida). Associated Press. June 26, 1949. p. 23. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 27.7 27.8 27.9 LPGA Tournament Chronology - 1950-59
  28. ↑ "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.
  29. ↑ "Berg Victor Over Irish Lass". Eugene Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon). Associated Press. June 24, 1951. p. 14. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Patty Berg In Western Open Win". The Sunday Star (Wilmington, Delaware). United Press. June 24, 1951. p. 25. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Betsy Rawls Wins Open". Sunday Herald (Bridgeport, Connecticut). United Press. June 22, 1952. p. 33. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  32. ↑ "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.
  33. ↑ "Miss Jameson Wins Western Golf Crown". The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). United Press. June 20, 1954. p. 3-3. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Louise Suggs, Berg Western Favorites". The Miami News (Miami, Florida). Associated Press. June 13, 1954. p. 9A. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Blazing Putting Gives Betsy Title". The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 17, 1959. p. 10. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6 36.7 LPGA Tournament Chronology - 1960-69
  37. ↑ "Joyce Ziske Takes Golf In Playoff". The Montreal Gazette (Montreal, Canada). Associated Press. June 27, 1960. p. 21. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  38. ↑ AP (1962-05-14). "Mickey Wright Western Winner". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2010-06-29.

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