Lucky International Open

The Lucky International Open was a PGA Tour event in the 1960s in San Francisco, California. It was played at Harding Park Golf Club, a public course across Lake Merced from the more glamorous Olympic Club. One of the founders and sponsors of the Lucky International Open was Eugene Selvage, owner of the Lucky Lager Brewing Company.

Lucky International Open
Tournament information
LocationSan Francisco, California
Established1961
Course(s)Harding Park Golf Club
Par71
Length6,677 yards (6,105 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play – 72 holes
Month playedOctober (1969)
November (1968)
January (1961–66)
Final year1969
Tournament record score
Aggregate269 Billy Casper (1968)[2]
269 Steve Spray (1969)
To par−15 as above
Final champion
Steve Spray
San Francisco
Location in the United States
San Francisco
Location in California

Following surgery on his hands the previous summer, San Francisco native Ken Venturi won his 14th and final PGA Tour event here in January 1966, taking the first prize of $8,500 with his parents in the gallery.[3][4][5] The deteriorating conditions and antiquated facilities at Harding Park caused the PGA Tour to leave at the end of the decade.

The final edition in 1969 was played in late October without the Lucky name and had a winner's share of $20,000. Steve Spray gained his only tour victory, one stroke ahead of runner-up Chi-Chi Rodríguez,[6][7] the playoff winner in January 1964.[8]

For its first six years, it was played in late January, the week after the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Not played in 1967, it was held in mid-autumn in 1968 and 1969.

Of the eight winners, six were major champions; five already and George Archer (1965) won his at the 1969 Masters.

Winners
YearPlayerCountryScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ($)		Ref
San Francisco Open Invitational
1969Steve Spray United States269−151 stroke Chi-Chi Rodríguez20,000[6][7]
Lucky International Open
1968Billy Casper United States269−154 strokes Raymond Floyd
Don Massengale		20,000[2]
1967No tournament
1966Ken Venturi United States273−111 stroke Frank Beard8,500[3][4]
1965George Archer United States278−6Playoff Bob Charles8,500[9]
1964Chi-Chi Rodríguez United States272−12Playoff Don January7,500[8]
1963Jack Burke Jr. United States276−83 strokes Don January9,000[10]
1962Gene Littler United States274−102 strokes George Knudson9,000[11]
1961Gary Player South Africa272−122 strokes George Bayer
Don Whitt		9,000[12]

References
  1. "George Archer shoots 67 to expand S.F. Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 25, 1969. p. 12.
  2. "Casper strikes it Lucky with 66". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. November 4, 1968. p. 5C.
  3. "Venturi fires 5 under 66 to capture 'Lucky' by one". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. February 1, 1966. p. 2, part 2.
  4. "Venturi's 273 wins Lucky golf title". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. February 1, 1966. p. 1, section 3.
  5. Kroichick, Ron (October 3, 2005). "The Amex at Harding Park". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  6. "Persevering Spray finally lands purse". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. October 27, 1969. p. 35.
  7. "Steve Spray's only birdie delivers SF Open victory". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 27, 1969. p. 13.
  8. "Rodriguez wins Lucky golf playoff". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 28, 1964. p. 28.
  9. "Archer captures Lucky tourney". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). UPI. February 1, 1965. p. 9.
  10. "Burke's San Francisco win his first since July 1961". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Associated Press). January 28, 1963. p. 3B.
  11. "Rally by Littler brings title". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Associated Press). January 29, 1962. p. 2B.
  12. "Player captures Bay Area tourney". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Associated Press). January 30, 1961. p. 3B.

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