Mary Bea Porter won the 1975 LPGA Golf Inns of America tournament on this date, at Whispering Pines in Rancho Santa Fe, by three shots over Donna Caponi.
On this date in 1964, Ruth Jessen won the LPGA Phoenix Thunderbirds Ladies' Golf Open at Arizona Biltmore Country Club in Phoenix. She shot 289, three ahead of Mickey Wright.
On this date in 1965, Marlene Hagge won the LPGA Phoenix Thunderbirds Golf Tournament at Biltmore Country Club in Phoenix with a four-under-par total, two ahead of Judy Torluemke (later Rankin).
The 1935 PGA Championship wrapped up on this date, with Johnny Revolta winning at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Revolta defeated Tommy Armour, 5 & 4, in the match-play final.
In the 1967 Ryder Cup, which ended on this date at Champions Golf Club in Houston, the United States enjoyed a record 15-point victory over Great Britain. Ben Hogan captained the U.S. squad to its final 23½-8½ margin.
In the final event of the LPGA Tour’s inaugural year, 1950, Patty Berg won the LPGA Hardscrabble Women's Golf Invitation at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in a 2-up victory over Betsy Rawls, then an amateur.
The fifth PGA Professional Championship (not the major PGA Championship) was held October 19-22 in 1972. Don Massengale had a 66 on the 20th at Pinehurst Resort and went on to win by two strokes over Bob Bruno. Defending champion Sam Snead was third at 284.
On this date in 1975, Shelley Hamlin won the LPGA of Japan Golf Classic in Tokyo by one stroke over Hollis Stacy. Hamlin had three LPGA Tour victories in all and passed away at age 69 in October 2018.
The improbable 2004 Open Championship winner Todd Hamilton was born on this date in 1965. My claim to fame with him is that I covered him in high school golf for the Pantagraph in Bloomington, Illinois, when Hamilton played for Biggsville Union High School.
Willie Park Sr. won the first Open Championship on this date in 1860. He had a score of 164 to win at Prestwick Club, Scotland. There were just eight players. In second by two strokes was Tom Morris Sr., who would become known as Old Tom in the history books.
The 1983 Ryder Cup, the 25th playing, ended on this date at PGA National with the U.S. winning, 14½-13½. Bernard Gallacher's missed short putt on 17 to lose to Tom Watson 2 & 1 ended up being the U.S.’s winning point, but also key was Lanny Wadkins’ par-5 18th hole wedge shot that gave him a win on the hole and a halve of his match with Jose Maria Canizares.
On this date in 1961, the LPGA Championship, at Stardust CC, was won by Mickey Wright in dominant fashion, by nine strokes over Louise Suggs.
The 1881 Open Championship, the 21st, was won by Bob Ferguson on this date when he shot a 170 at Prestwick Golf Club.
The 1963 Ryder Cup ended on this date at East Lake Golf Club with the U.S. beating Great Britain, 23-9. There was a format change with the addition of 4-ball (better ball) matches on a third day of action.
LPGA great Amy Alcott won the 1980 Inamori Golf Classic on this date at Almaden Country Club in San Jose, California. She shot 12 under par and won by four over Patty Hayes and Beth Daniel.
The 1902 and eighth U.S. Open ended on this date. Laurie Auchterlonie shot 307 at Garden City Golf Club in New York to win by six shots.
Australian golfer Bruce Devlin was born on this date in 1937. He won eight times on the PGA Tour and was famous for making a double eagle on the eighth hole at the Masters in 1967.
The 1965 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. The U.S. team, captained by Byron Nelson, beat Great Britain, 19½-12½; GB was captained by Harry Weetman. On the final day of singles, Arnold Palmer, Tony Lema, Julius Boros and Dave Marr each won two matches for the U.S. and Peter Alliss won two for GB.
On this date in 1888, the 28th Open Championship was played, at St. Andrews, with Jack Burns winning with a 171 total, to finish one shot ahead of two others.
The 31st Open Championship, held in 1891, ended on this date with Hugh Kirkaldy totaling 166 at St. Andrews to win.