1954 U.S. Women's Open
The 1954 U.S. Women's Open 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).
| 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 | $2,000 |
| Champion | |
 Babe Zaharias | |
| 291 (+3) | |
Babe Zaharias won her third U.S. Women's Open, twelve strokes ahead of runner-up Betty Hicks,[1] a record victory margin which still stands. It was the last of her ten major championships and her final U.S. Women's Open as a competitor.
Zaharias missed the event in 1953 while recovering from surgery for colon cancer.[1] She did not defend in 1955 due to back surgery, which discovered that cancer had recurred near her sacrum and she died in September 1956 at age 45.[3][4]
Future four-time champion Mickey Wright, age 19, was the low amateur and tied for fourth place. She was paired with Zaharias on Saturday for the final two rounds and impressed the three-time champion.[1]
Past champions in the field
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | To par | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babe Zaharias | United States | 1948, 1950 | 72 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 291 | +3 | 1 |
| Louise Suggs | United States | 1949, 1952 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 76 | 307 | +19 | 3 |
| Betsy Rawls | United States | 1951, 1953 | 77 | 73 | 78 | 80 | 308 | +20 | T4 |
| Patty Berg | United States | 1946 | 78 | 76 | 78 | 81 | 313 | +25 | 12 |
| Betty Jameson | United States | 1947 | 78 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 316 | +28 | T14 |
Final leaderboard
Saturday, July 3, 1954
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
References
- Grimsley, Will (July 4, 1954). "Zaharias grabs Open title on 291". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. p. 1, sports.
- Grimsley, Will (July 2, 1954). "Babe and teacher share Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. p. 14.
- Considine, Bob (August 6, 1956). "Babe Zaharias, greatest girl athlete of all time, fights gamely in big battle". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 1.
- "Babe Zaharias loses match with cancer, dies in sleep". Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. September 27, 1956. p. 8.
- "Babe shoots record 71, Ziske slips to 82". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. July 3, 1954. p. 3, part 2.
- "Babe wins U.S. Open by 12 strokes". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. July 4, 1954. p. 1B.
- "Zaharias capture's Women's Open golf". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. July 4, 1954. p. 17.
External links
- USGA final leaderboard
- U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship
- U.S. Women's Open – past champions – 1954