1978 LPGA Championship
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 8–11, 1978 |
| Location | Mason, Ohio |
| Course(s) | Jack Nicklaus Golf Center Grizzly Course [1] |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play - 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,312 yards (5,772 m)[2] |
| Cut | 151 (+7) |
| Prize fund | $150,000 |
| Winner's share | $22,500 |
| Champion | |
 Nancy Lopez | |
| 275 (−13) | |
Jack Nicklaus Golf Center
Location in the United States
Jack Nicklaus Golf Center
Location in Ohio
The 1978 LPGA Championship was the 24th LPGA Championship, held June 8–11 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Center at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, a suburb northeast of Cincinnati.
Nancy Lopez, a 21-year-old tour rookie, won the first of her three major titles, all at the LPGA Championship at Kings Island. She finished at 275 (−13), six strokes ahead of runner-up Amy Alcott.[3][4][5][6]
It was the sixth tour win for Lopez and her fourth consecutive in 1978,[3][7] and she won the following week to run the streak to five.[8]
This was the first of twelve consecutive LPGA Championships at Kings Island; the last one in 1989 was also won by Lopez.
Past champions in the field
Made the cut
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | To par | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chako Higuchi |  Japan |
1977 | 75 | 73 | 69 | 73 | 290 | +2 | 14 |
| Gloria Ehret |  United States |
1966 | 72 | 72 | 78 | 70 | 292 | +4 | T17 |
| Kathy Ahern | United States |
1972 | 71 | 75 | 72 | 75 | 293 | +5 | T25 |
| Sandra Post |  Canada |
1968 | 74 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 293 | +5 | T25 |
| Mickey Wright | United States |
1958, 1960, 1961, 1963 |
69 | 82 | 73 | 69 | 293 | +5 | T25 |
| Kathy Whitworth | United States |
1967, 1971, 1975 | 73 | 76 | 73 | 73 | 295 | +7 | T33 |
| Betty Burfeindt | United States |
1976 | 73 | 77 | 73 | 74 | 297 | +9 | 44 |
Missed the cut
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | Total | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlene Hagge | United States |
1956 | 75 | 78 | 153 | +9 |
| Judy Kimball | United States |
1962 | 76 | 78 | 154 | +10 |
| Shirley Englehorn | United States |
1970 | 79 | 76 | 155 | +11 |
| Mary Mills | United States |
1964, 1973 | 80 | 79 | 159 | +15 |
| Louise Suggs | United States |
1957 | 82 | 82 | 164 | +20 |
Source:[9]
Final leaderboard
Sunday, June 11, 1978
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nancy Lopez | United States |
71-65-69-70=275 | −13 | 22,500 |
| 2 | Amy Alcott | United States |
68-68-74-71=281 | −7 | 14,650 |
| 3 | Judy Rankin | United States |
67-73-71-72=283 | −5 | 10,510 |
| 4 | JoAnne Carner | United States |
71-72-70-71=284 | −4 | 7,700 |
| 5 | Jo Ann Washam | United States |
67-69-74-75=285 | −3 | 6,080 |
| T6 | Donna Caponi Young | United States |
73-72-71-70=286 | −2 | 4,813 |
| Susan Lynn Grams | United States |
73-73-71-69=286 | |||
| Sally Little |  South Africa |
73-71-74-68=286 | |||
| T9 | Jane Blalock | United States |
72-73-73-69=287 | −1 | 3,750 |
| Dot Germain | United States |
73-69-75-70=287 | |||
| Hollis Stacy | United States |
69-75-72-71=287 |
References
- ^ a b c "LPGA golf". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 12, 1978. p. 22.
- ^ "Lopez fires 65 to tie in LPGA". Milwaukee Sentinel. wire services. June 10, 1978. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ a b McDermott, Barry (June 19, 1978). "All smiles while she tears up the tour". Sports Illustrated. p. 22.
- ^ "Lopez strikes again, wins LPGA, 4 in a row". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 12, 1978. p. 18.
- ^ a b c Strode, George (June 12, 1978). "Lopez clips mark in LPGA title rout". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. p. 18.
- ^ a b c "Lopez wins 4th straight, and wants a fifth". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 12, 1978. p. 3D.
- ^ "Lopez shatters records on romp to LPGA crown". Milwaukee Sentinel. wire services. June 12, 1978. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ "Lopez wins fifth straight". Milwaukee Sentinel. wire services. June 19, 1978. p. 2, part 2.
- ^ "Eagles and birdies fly Lopez toward No. 4". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 10, 1978. p. 2C.