1983 Ladies European Tour

The 1983 Ladies European Tour was the fifth season of golf tournaments organised on behalf of the Women's Professional Golfers' Association (WPGA), which later became the Ladies European Tour (LET). There were 17 tournaments on the schedule.

There was a major organisational change from the end of the 1982 season, which ended with the future of the tour in doubt after several tournaments were cancelled. Following action in the High Court, the departure of executive director Barry Edwards, who was also responsible for the tour's marketing, was secured,[1][2][3] and administration of the tour was taken over by the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA).[4] The new executive director of the WPGA was Colin Snape, who had previously been a director at the PGA.[5]

There were twelve new tournaments on the calendar, and only half of the ten from the previous season survived. The Women's British Open, which was to have been jointly sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and by far the richest event on the schedule, was cancelled when sponsors Hitachi withdrew due to the failure of organisers, the Ladies Golf Union, to secure television coverage.[6]

The Order of Merit was won for the second time by Muriel Thomson.[7]

Tournaments

The table below shows the 1983 schedule.[8][9] The numbers in brackets after the winners' names show the number of career wins they had on the Ladies European Tour up to and including that event. This is only shown for members of the tour.[10]

DateTournamentLocationWinnerScoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)–upWinner's
share (£)		Ref
7 MayFord Ladies ClassicEngland Barbara Helbig (1)298 (−2)4 strokes Marta Figueras-Dotti3,000[11]
21 MaySmirnoff Ladies Irish OpenNorthern Ireland Cathy Panton (7)224 (+2)Playoff Beverly Lewis
Susan Moon
Muriel Thomson		1,500
10 JunUnited Friendly Worthing OpenEngland Marta Figueras-Dotti (2)217 (+4)5 strokes Beverly Huke750
18 JunUBM Northern ClassicEngland Cathy Panton (8)210 (−3)5 strokes Jane Forrest1,000
29 JunGuernsey OpenGuernsey Marta Figueras-Dotti (3)209 (−7)3 strokes Beverly Huke890[12]
7 JulColt Cars Jersey OpenJersey Debbie Dowling (1)215 (+2)1 stroke Jenny Lee Smith890[13]
22 JulBritish Olivetti TournamentEngland Sandra Mackenzie (1)223 (+7)1 stroke Jane Forrest900[14]
29 JulUnited Friendly TournamentEngland Dale Reid (5)216 (−6)2 strokes Maxine Burton1,000
31 JulMiddlesbrough Municipal Ladies ClassicEngland Beverly Lewis (2)144 (E)2 strokes Muriel Thomson
Mickey Walker		500[15]
5 AugPlayford Lark Valley ClassicEngland Beverly Huke (3)
Judy Statham (1)		138 (−4)Tie350 each[16]
10 AugWhite Horse Whisky ChallengeEngland Beverly Huke (4)207 (−12)1 stroke Muriel Thomson600[17]
24 AugLilley Brook Cotswold Ladies ClassicEngland Dale Reid (6)139 (−9)2 strokes Kärstin Ehrnlund
Elizabeth Glass		750
31 AugMelcade International TournamentEngland Debbie Dowling (2)142 (E)1 stroke Joanna Smurthwaite500[18]
4 SepClandeboye ClassicNorthern Ireland Christine Sharp (2)154 (+6)Playoff Muriel Thomson600[19]
11 SepDunham Forest Pro-AmEngland Cathy Panton (9)142 (−2)2 strokes Mickey Walker600[20]
2 OctWomen's British OpenEnglandCancelled[6]
9 OctCaldy ClassicEngland Dale Reid (7)225 (+3)1 stroke Maxine Burton
Jo Rumsey		700
19 OctSands InternationalEngland Mickey Walker (4)233 (+11)1 stroke Vanessa Marvin700[7]

Order of Merit

The Order of Merit was based on a points system.[7]

#PlayerPointsMoney (£)Events
1 Muriel Thomson1,233
2 Mickey Walker1,185
3 Beverly Huke1,146.5
4 Dale Reid1,143.5
5 Vanessa Marvin988.25

See also

References
  1. Mair, Lewine (11 October 1982). "Edwards answers with an injunction". The Times. p. 20. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  2. "Sports in Brief". The Times. 8 January 1983. p. 15. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  3. Hennessy, John (11 January 1983). "A sonic boom for Europe's players". The Times. p. 20. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  4. Hennessy, John (4 May 1983). "Big money will flow from this". The Times. p. 22. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  5. Hennessy, John (8 February 1983). "Events schedule marks WPGA's good health". The Times. p. 24. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  6. "Hitachi pull the plug". The Guardian. 12 March 1983. p. 13. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Painful slip by Miss Reid". Glasgow Herald. 20 October 2020. p. 16. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  8. Tour Guide 2013. Ladies European Tour. 2013. p. 196.
  9. Past Tournament Winners, Ladies European Tour, GolfToday
  10. Ladies European Tour – 1983 Winners
  11. Jacobs, Raymond (10 May 1983). "Scots duo succumb to German power". Glasgow Herald. p. 14. Retrieved 30 September 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  12. "A Spanish plunderer". Glasgow Herald. 30 June 1983. p. 15. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  13. "Scots girls left trailing". Glasgow Herald. 8 July 1983. p. 26. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  14. "SAussie wins as Thomson falters". Glasgow Herald. 23 July 1983. p. 16. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  15. "Miss Thomson pipped again as Mrs Lewis charges". Glasgow Herald. 1 August 1983. p. 15. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  16. "Judy clickety-clicks". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 6 August 1983. p. 20. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Miss Huke withstands challenge". Glasgow Herald. 11 August 1983. p. 17. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  18. "Winner has right approach". Glasgow Herald. 1 September 1983. p. 15. Retrieved 1 October 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  19. Magowan, Jack (5 September 1983). "Drama as girl Scot's putter hiccups!". Belfast Telegraph. p. 19. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "Cathy's third win". Aberdeen Evening Express. 26 September 1983. p. 12. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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