This Day in Golf History: November 30

On this date in 1969, Arnold Palmer ended a long winless drought by winning the first Heritage Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.C. Here is the game story lede from UPI: Arnold Palmer, unable to mount any semblance of a charge, staggered to his first tournament victory in nearly 15 months , firing a three-over-par 74 for a 282 and a three-stroke edge in the first Heritage classic. Palmer, three shots up on the field going into the final round, had nines of 38-36 over the lush 36-35—71 Harbour Town Golf Links, a spanking new layout built by Jack Nicklaus on this island retreat for the wealthy. Young Richard Crawford wound up second with a 73 for a 72-hole total of 285. Palmer pocketed a check for $20,000, pushing his earnings for 1969 to $80,081.28. He last won a tournament Sept. 15, 1968, when he was victorious at the Kemper Open.