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).

1954 U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
DatesJuly 1–3, 1954
LocationPeabody, Massachusetts
Course(s)Salem Country Club
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play – 72 holes
Statistics
Par72
Length6,393 yards (5,846 m)[1]
Field53: 21 pros, 32 amateurs[2]
Prize fund$7,500
Winner's share$2,000
Champion
Babe Zaharias
291 (+3)
Salem CC 
Location in the United States
Salem CC 
Location in Massachusetts

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

PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2R3R4TotalTo parFinish
Babe Zaharias United States1948, 195072717375291+31
Louise Suggs United States1949, 195276777876307+193
Betsy Rawls United States1951, 195377737880308+20T4
Patty Berg United States194678767881313+2512
Betty Jameson United States194778788080316+28T14

Source:[5][6]

Final leaderboard

Saturday, July 3, 1954

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney ($)
1Babe Zaharias United States72-71-73-75=291+32,000
2Betty Hicks United States75-76-75-77=303+151,250
3Louise Suggs United States76-77-78-76=307+191,000
T4Betsy Rawls United States77-73-78-80=308+20750
Mickey Wright (a) United States74-79-79-76=3080
6Jackie Pung United States81-77-78-73=309+21600
T7Beverly Hanson United States77-80-78-75=310+22500
Pat Lesser (a) United States79-73-78-80=3100
T9Fay Crocker Uruguay77-82-79-73=311+23400
Claire Doran (a) United States72-79-80-80=3110

Source:[5][6][7]

References

  1. Grimsley, Will (July 4, 1954). "Zaharias grabs Open title on 291". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. p. 1, sports.
  2. Grimsley, Will (July 2, 1954). "Babe and teacher share Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. p. 14.
  3. Considine, Bob (August 6, 1956). "Babe Zaharias, greatest girl athlete of all time, fights gamely in big battle". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 1.
  4. "Babe Zaharias loses match with cancer, dies in sleep". Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. September 27, 1956. p. 8.
  5. "Babe shoots record 71, Ziske slips to 82". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. July 3, 1954. p. 3, part 2.
  6. "Babe wins U.S. Open by 12 strokes". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. July 4, 1954. p. 1B.
  7. "Zaharias capture's Women's Open golf". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. July 4, 1954. p. 17.

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