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 – 72 holes |
| Month played |
October (1969) November (1968) January (1961–66) |
| Final year | 1969 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate |
269 Billy Casper (1968)[2] 269 Steve Spray (1969) |
| To par | –15 as above |
| Final champion | |
 Steve Spray | |
The Lucky International Open was a PGA Tour event in the 1960s in San Francisco, California. It was played at Harding Park Golf Club, a public course across Lake Merced from the more glamorous Olympic Club. One of the founders and sponsors of the Lucky International Open was Eugene Selvage, owner of the Lucky Lager Brewing Company.
Following surgery on his hands the previous summer, San Francisco native Ken Venturi won his 14th and final PGA Tour event here in January 1966, taking the first prize of $8,500 with his parents in the gallery.[3][4][5] The deteriorating conditions and antiquated facilities at Harding Park caused the PGA Tour to leave at the end of the decade.
The final edition in 1969 was played in late October without the Lucky name and had a winner's share of $20,000. Steve Spray gained his only tour victory, one stroke ahead of runner-up Chi-Chi Rodríguez,[6][7] the playoff winner in January 1964.[8]
For its first six years, it was played in late January, the week after the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Not played in 1967, it was held in mid-autumn in 1968 and 1969.
Winners
San Francisco Open Invitational
- 1969 Steve Spray – $20,000[6][7]
Lucky International Open
- 1968 Billy Casper – $20,000[2]
- 1967 No tournament
- 1966 Ken Venturi – $8,500[3][4]
- 1965 George Archer – $8,500
- 1964 Chi-Chi Rodríguez – $7,500[8]
- 1963 Jack Burke, Jr. – $9,000
- 1962 Gene Littler – $9,000
- 1961 Gary Player – $9,000
References
- ↑ "George Archer shoots 67 to expand S.F. Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 25, 1969. p. 12.
- 1 2 "Casper strikes it Lucky with 66". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. November 4, 1968. p. 5C.
- 1 2 "Venturi fires 5 under 66 to capture 'Lucky' by one". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. February 1, 1966. p. 2, part 2.
- 1 2 "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. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- 1 2 "Persevering Spray finally lands purse". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. October 27, 1969. p. 35.
- 1 2 "Steve Spray's only birdie delivers SF Open victory". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 27, 1969. p. 13.
- 1 2 "Rodriguez wins Lucky golf playoff". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 28, 1964. p. 28.
Coordinates: 37°43′26″N 122°29′35″W / 37.724°N 122.493°W