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1961 U.S. Women's Open

Coordinates: 40°41′53″N 74°19′59″W / 40.698°N 74.333°W / 40.698; -74.333
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1961 U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 29 – July 1, 1961
LocationSpringfield, New Jersey
Course(s)Baltusrol Golf Club,
Lower Course
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play – 72 holes
Statistics
Par72
Length6,372 yards (5,827 m)[1]
Field82: 30 pros, 52 amateurs[2]
41 after cut[3]
Cut168 (+24)
Prize fund$8,000
Winner's share$1,800
Champion
United States Mickey Wright
293 (+5)
← 1960
1962 →
Baltusrol  Golf Club  is located in the United States
Baltusrol  Golf Club 
Baltusrol 
Golf Club 
Baltusrol  Golf Club  is located in New Jersey
Baltusrol  Golf Club 
Baltusrol 
Golf Club 

The 1961 U.S. Women's Open was the 16th U.S. Women's Open, held June 29 to July 1 at the Lower Course of Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.

Mickey Wright, age 26, won the third of her four U.S. Women's Open titles, six strokes ahead of runner-up Betsy Rawls, a four-time winner and the defending champion.[1] It was Wright's third win at the U.S. Women's Open in four years, and the sixth of her thirteen major titles.

After opening with a par 72 on Thursday to co-lead,[2] Wright shot an 80 (+8) in the second round on Friday and dropped four shots back after 36 holes.[4][5] A three-under 69 on Saturday morning regained the lead after 54 holes, two strokes ahead of Rawls.[1][6]

The Lower Course has hosted the U.S. Open four times (two won by Jack Nicklaus) and a PGA Championship, won by Phil Mickelson. The U.S. Women's Open returned to Baltusrol in 1985, but was played on the Upper Course.

Final leaderboard

[edit]

Saturday, July 1, 1961

Place Player Score To par Money ($)
1 United States Mickey Wright 72-80-69-72=293 +5 1,800
2 United States Betsy Rawls 74-76-73-76=299 +11 1,200
3 United States Ruth Jessen 75-73-77-75=300 +12 800
4 United States Louise Suggs 78-74-76-73=301 +13 650
5 United States Marilynn Smith 77-74-77-75=303 +15 500
6 United States JoAnn Prentice 72-76-80-76=304 +16 400
T7 United States Barbara Romack 77-77-78-74=306 +18 350
Canada Marlene Streit (a) 74-77-77-78=306 0
T9 United States Carolyn Cudone (a) 77-76-75-80=308 +20 0
United States Shirley Englehorn 80-73-78-77=308 313
United States Mary Lena Faulk 78-77-80-73=308

Source:[1][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Wright cards 72 hole 293 to win Open title". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. July 2, 1961. p. 4B.
  2. ^ a b "Wright, Prentice grab Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. June 30, 1961. p. 14.
  3. ^ "Jessen, Prentice share Open first". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 1, 1961. p. 8.
  4. ^ Brown, Gwilym (July 10, 1961). "Women's golf finds a new Zaharias". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  5. ^ "Ruth Jessen, JoAnn Prentice share lead". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 1, 1961. p. 9.
  6. ^ a b "Miss Wright takes third Open crown". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 2, 1961. p. 1, sports.
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40°41′53″N 74°19′59″W / 40.698°N 74.333°W / 40.698; -74.333