1961 U.S. Women's Open
The 1961 U.S. Women's Open was the 16th U.S. Women's Open, held June 29 to July 1 at the Lower Course of Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 29 – July 1, 1961 |
| Location | Springfield, New Jersey |
| Course(s) | Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,372 yards (5,827 m)[1] |
| Field | 82: 30 pros, 52 amateurs[2] 41 after cut[3] |
| Cut | 168 (+24) |
| Prize fund | $8,000 |
| Winner's share | $1,800 |
| Champion | |
 Mickey Wright | |
| 293 (+5) | |
Golf Club
Golf Club
Mickey Wright, age 26, won the third of her four U.S. Women's Open titles, six strokes ahead of runner-up Betsy Rawls, a four-time winner and the defending champion.[1] It was Wright's third win at the U.S. Women's Open in four years, and the sixth of her thirteen major titles.
After opening with a par 72 on Thursday to co-lead,[2] Wright shot an 80 (+8) in the second round on Friday and dropped four shots back after 36 holes.[4][5] A three-under 69 on Saturday morning regained the lead after 54 holes, two strokes ahead of Rawls.[1][6]
The Lower Course has hosted the U.S. Open four times (two won by Jack Nicklaus) and a PGA Championship, won by Phil Mickelson. The U.S. Women's Open returned to Baltusrol in 1985, but was played on the Upper Course.
Past champions in the field
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | To par | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey Wright | United States | 1958, 1959 | 71 | 80 | 69 | 72 | 293 | +5 | 1 |
| Betsy Rawls | United States | 1951, 1953, 1957, 1960 | 74 | 76 | 73 | 76 | 299 | +11 | 2 |
| Louise Suggs | United States | 1949, 1952 | 78 | 74 | 76 | 73 | 301 | +13 | 4 |
| Fay Crocker |  Uruguay | 1955 | 76 | 83 | 77 | 73 | 309 | +21 | T12 |
| Kathy Cornelius | United States | 1956 | 76 | 80 | 73 | 82 | 311 | +23 | T14 |
| Patty Berg | United States | 1946 | 80 | 76 | 78 | 80 | 316 | +28 | 18 |
| Betty Jameson | United States | 1947 | 81 | 81 | 79 | 77 | 318 | +30 | T21 |
Final leaderboard
Saturday, July 1, 1961
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mickey Wright | United States | 72-80-69-72=293 | +5 | 1,800 |
| 2 | Betsy Rawls | United States | 74-76-73-76=299 | +11 | 1,200 |
| 3 | Ruth Jessen | United States | 75-73-77-75=300 | +12 | 800 |
| 4 | Louise Suggs | United States | 78-74-76-73=301 | +13 | 650 |
| 5 | Marilynn Smith | United States | 77-74-77-75=303 | +15 | 500 |
| 6 | JoAnn Prentice | United States | 72-76-80-76=304 | +16 | 400 |
| T7 | Barbara Romack | United States | 77-77-78-74=306 | +18 | 350 |
| Marlene Streit (a) | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada | 74-77-77-78=306 | 0 | ||
| T9 | Carolyn Cudone (a) | United States | 77-76-75-80=308 | +20 | 0 |
| Shirley Englehorn | United States | 80-73-78-77=308 | 313 | ||
| Mary Lena Faulk | United States | 78-77-80-73=308 |
References
- "Wright cards 72 hole 293 to win Open title". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. July 2, 1961. p. 4B.
- "Wright, Prentice grab Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. June 30, 1961. p. 14.
- "Jessen, Prentice share Open first". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 1, 1961. p. 8.
- Brown, Gwilym (July 10, 1961). "Women's golf finds a new Zaharias". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- "Ruth Jessen, JoAnn Prentice share lead". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 1, 1961. p. 9.
- "Miss Wright takes third Open crown". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 2, 1961. p. 1, sports.
External links
- USGA final leaderboard
- U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship
- U.S. Women's Open – past champions – 1961
- Baltusrol Golf Club