1964 U.S. Women's Open
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 9–12, 1964 |
| Location | Chula Vista, California |
| Course(s) | San Diego Country Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 73 |
| Length | 6,376 yards (5,830 m) [1] |
| Field | 58: 29 pros, 29 amateurs[3] |
| Prize fund | $10,010 [2] |
| Winner's share | $2,200 |
| Champion | |
 Mickey Wright | |
| 290 (−2), playoff | |
The 1964 U.S. Women's Open was the 19th U.S. Women's Open, held July 9–12 at the San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, California.
Hometown favorite Mickey Wright won her fourth and final U.S. Women's Open in an 18-hole playoff, two strokes ahead of runner-up Ruth Jessen, 70 to 72.[4][5] At the 72nd hole on Saturday afternoon, Jessen birdied while Wright scrambled for par from a greenside bunker to force the Sunday playoff.[2][6] Both players had San Diego ties, as Wright was born and raised in the area and Jessen was a resident of Bonsall.[6][7]
Jessen, originally of Seattle, was also a runner-up two years earlier in 1962. Wright, a Dallas resident, led (or co-led) after each of the five rounds to win the twelfth of her thirteen major titles. Defending champion Mary Mills finished in eleventh place.[8]
The championship was held the same week as the Open Championship in Scotland, which concluded on Friday.
This was the last U.S. Women's Open to schedule the final two rounds for Saturday, the format since the USGA took over in 1953. In 1965, the final round was moved to Sunday, as it was from 1947 through 1952.
Past champions in the field
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | To par | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey Wright |  United States |
1958, 1959, 1961 | 71 | 71 | 75 | 73 | 290 | −2 | 1 |
| Patty Berg | United States |
1946 | 76 | 74 | 77 | 75 | 302 | +10 | 10 |
| Mary Mills | United States |
1963 | 79 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 304 | +12 | 11 |
| Kathy Cornelius | United States |
1956 | 80 | 75 | 76 | 78 | 309 | +17 | T18 |
| Betsy Rawls | United States |
1951, 1953, 1957, 1960 |
81 | 77 | 76 | 77 | 311 | +19 | T22 |
Final leaderboard
Saturday, July 11, 1964
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Mickey Wright | United States |
71-71-75-73=290 | −2 | Playoff |
| Ruth Jessen | United States |
72-73-74-71=290 | |||
| T3 | Marilynn Smith | United States |
75-70-72-74=291 | −1 | 797 |
| Shirley Englehorn | United States |
71-78-68-74=291 | |||
| 5 | Sandra Haynie | United States |
78-73-70-74=295 | +3 | 550 |
| 6 | Peggy Wilson | United States |
73-77-72-74=296 | +4 | 440 |
| T7 | Jo Ann Prentice | United States |
78-73-76-71=298 | +6 | 371 |
| Marlene Hagge | United States |
71-76-74-77=298 | |||
| 9 | Kathy Whitworth | United States |
76-76-75-73=300 | +8 | 330 |
| 10 | Patty Berg | United States |
76-74-77-75=302 | +10 | 302 |
Playoff
Sunday, July 12, 1964
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mickey Wright | United States |
35-35=70 | −3 | 2,200 |
| 2 | Ruth Jessen | United States |
36-36=72 | −1 | 1,320 |
- Par: 36-37=73
References
- ^ "Mickey has fine 71, aedds to lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 11, 1964. p. 8.
- ^ a b c d "Wright, Jessen tie in U.S. Open". Toledo Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. July 12, 1964. p. G2.
- ^ "Wright heads Open field". July 9, 1964. p. 37.
- ^ a b "Golf queen adds 4th Open crown". Toledo Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. July 13, 1964. p. 20.
- ^ a b "Wright wins women's title". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. July 13, 1964. p. 2B.
- ^ a b c d "Mickey, Ruth will play off tie in Open". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 12, 1964. p. 1, sports.
- ^ "Miss Wright, two others lead Open". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 10, 1964. p. 14.
- ^ a b c "Jessen rally ties Wright; playoff slated". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. July 12, 1964. p. 1B.
External links
- Golf Observer final leaderboard
- U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship
- U.S. Women's Open – past champions – 1964
- San Diego Country Club