1972 LPGA Championship
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 8–11, 1972 |
| Location | Sutton, Massachusetts |
| Course(s) | Pleasant Valley Country Club |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 73 |
| Length | 6,130 yards (5,605 m) |
| Field | 82 players, 52 after cut[1] |
| Cut | 160 (+14) |
| Prize fund | $50,000 |
| Winner's share | $7,500 |
| Champion | |
 Kathy Ahern | |
| 293 (+1) | |
Sutton
Location in the United States
Pleasant Valley Country Club
Location in Massachusetts
The 1972 LPGA Championship was the 18th LPGA Championship, held June 8–11 at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Massachusetts, southeast of Worcester.
Kathy Ahern shot a final round 69 (−4) to win her only major title, six strokes ahead of runner-up Jane Blalock.[2][3][4] Ahern began the final round with a one-stroke lead over three players;[5] after five straight birdies on the front nine, she had a six-stroke lead and shot even par on the final nine.[2]
Three weeks later, Ahern was a runner-up by a stroke at the U.S. Women's Open at Winged Foot, then won the week after at the George Washington Classic near Philadelphia.[6][7]
Past champions in the field
Made the cut
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | To par | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlene Hagge |  United States |
1956 | 77 | 74 | 80 | 70 | 301 | +9 | T3 |
| Gloria Ehret | United States |
1966 | 75 | 74 | 80 | 76 | 305 | +13 | T7 |
| Kathy Whitworth | United States |
1967, 1971 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 79 | 307 | +15 | T12 |
| Mary Mills | United States |
1964 | 78 | 81 | 77 | 75 | 311 | +19 | T23 |
| Betsy Rawls | United States |
1959, 1969 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 78 | 315 | +23 | 32 |
| Louise Suggs | United States |
1957 | 81 | 74 | 79 | 82 | 316 | +24 | T33 |
Source:[2]
Missed the cut
| Player | Country | Year won | R1 | R2 | Total | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judy Kimball | United States |
1962 | 90 | WD | ||
Source:[8]
Final leaderboard
Sunday, June 11, 1972
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathy Ahern | United States |
75-73-76-69=293 | +1 | 7,500 |
| 2 | Jane Blalock | United States |
74-75-76-74=299 | +7 | 5,400 |
| T3 | Marlene Hagge | United States |
77-74-80-70=301 | +9 | 3,400 |
| Sharon Miller | United States |
74-72-79-76=301 | |||
| T5 | Clifford Ann Creed | United States |
78-76-79-71=304 | +12 | 2,155 |
| Marilynn Smith | United States |
75-76-76-77=304 | |||
| T7 | Pam Barnett | United States |
74-75-82-74=305 | +13 | 1,650 |
| Betty Burfeindt | United States |
74-75-80-76=305 | |||
| Gloria Ehret | United States |
75-74-80-76=305 | |||
| T10 | Debbie Austin | United States |
79-74-78-75=306 | +14 | 1,350 |
| Susie Berning | United States |
80-72-79-75=306 |
References
- ^ "LPGA led by Miller". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. June 10, 1972. p. 12.
- ^ a b c d "Miss Ahern birdies in to capture Eve LPGA easily". Spartanburg Herald. (South Carolina). Associated Press. June 12, 1972. p. B3.
- ^ a b "Miss Ahern conquers Eve field". Palm Beach Post. (Florida). Associated Press. June 12, 1972. p. D2.
- ^ "Kathy Ahern wins Eve LPGA by six strokes". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). UPI. June 12, 1972. p. 16.
- ^ "Miss Ahern takes Eve LPGA lead". Spartanburg Herald-Tribune. (South Carolina). Associated Press. June 11, 1972. p. B3.
- ^ "Women's golf". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). July 10, 1972. p. 17.
- ^ "Kathy Ahern champ in women's tourney". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. July 10, 1972. p. 3C.
- ^ "Sharon Miller's 72 good for lead in LPGA tourney". Spartanburg Herald. (South Carolina). Associated Press. June 10, 1972. p. A7.