1954 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship

1954 U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
Dates July 1–3, 1954
Location Peabody, Massachusetts
Course(s) Salem Country Club
Organized by USGA
Tour(s) LPGA Tour
Format Stroke play – 72 holes
Statistics
Par 72
Length 6,393 yards (5,846 m)[1]
Field 53: 21 pros, 32 amateurs[2]
Prize fund $7,500
Winner's share $2,000
Champion
United States Babe Zaharias
291 (+3)
«1953
1955»
Salem CC
Location in the United States

The 1954 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was the ninth U.S. Women's Open, held July 1–3 at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Massachusetts. It was the second conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Babe Zaharias won her third U.S. Women's Open, twelve strokes ahead of runner-up Betty Hicks,[1] a record victory margin which still stands. It was the last of her ten major championships and her final U.S. Women's Open as a competitor.

Zaharias missed the event in 1953 while recovering from surgery for colon cancer.[1] She did not defend in 1955 due to back surgery, which discovered that cancer had recurred near her sacrum and she died in September 1956 at age 45.[3][4]

Future four-time champion Mickey Wright, age 19, was the low amateur and tied for fourth place. She was paired with Zaharias on Saturday for the final two rounds and impressed the three-time champion.[1]

Past champions in the field

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 R3 R4 Total To par Finish
Babe Zaharias  United States 1948, 1950 72 71 73 75 291 +3 1
Louise Suggs  United States 1949, 1952 76 77 78 76 307 +19 3
Betsy Rawls  United States 1951, 1953 77 73 78 80 308 +20 T4
Patty Berg  United States 1946 313 +25 12
Betty Jameson  United States 1947 316 +28 T14

Final leaderboard

Saturday, July 3, 1954

Place Player Country Score To par Money ($)
1 Babe Zaharias  United States 72-71-73-75=291 +3 2,000
2 Betty Hicks  United States 75-76-75-77=303 +15 1,250
3 Louise Suggs  United States 76-77-78-76=307 +19 1,000
T4 Betsy Rawls  United States 77-73-78-80=308 +20 750
Mickey Wright (a)  United States 74-79-79-76=308 0
6 Jackie Pung  United States 81-77-78-73=309 +21 600
T7 Beverly Hanson  United States 77-80-78-75=310 +22 500
Pat Lesser (a)  United States 79-73-78-80=310 0
T9 Fay Crocker  Uruguay 77-82-79-73=311 +23 400
Claire Doran (a)  United States 72-79-80-80=311 0

Source:[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Grimsley, Will (July 4, 1954). "Zaharias grabs Open title on 291". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. p. 1, sports.
  2. Grimsley, Will (July 2, 1954). "Babe and teacher share Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. p. 14.
  3. Considine, Bob (August 6, 1956). "Babe Zaharias, greatest girl athlete of all time, fights gamely in big battle". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 1.
  4. "Babe Zaharias loses match with cancer, dies in sleep". Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia). Associated Press. September 27, 1956. p. 8.
  5. "Zaharias capture's Women's Open golf". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. July 4, 1954. p. 17.

External links

Coordinates: 42°31′52″N 70°57′47″W / 42.531°N 70.963°W / 42.531; -70.963

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