1946 U.S. Women's Open

Last updated

1946 U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
DatesAugust 26 – September 1
Location Spokane, Washington
Course(s) Spokane Country Club
Organized by WPGA and Spokane
Athletic Round Table
Format Match play
Statistics
Par74 [1]
Length6,387 yards (5,840 m) [2]
Field39 players,
32 to match play
Cut188 (+40)
Prize fund $19,700 [1] [3]
Winner's share$5,600 [4]
Champion
Flag of the United States.svg Patty Berg
def. Betty Jameson, 5 and 4
1947  
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Spokane
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Spokane

The 1946 U.S. Women's Open was a golf tournament contested from August 26 to September 1 at Spokane Country Club, north of Spokane, Washington. It was the first edition of the U.S. Women's Open, and only one to have been played in match play competition. The field of 39 women was reduced to the 32-player match play field by a 36-hole qualifier on Monday and Tuesday. [1] [2] Six professionals and 26 amateurs advanced to match play. The format was 18-hole matches through the quarterfinals, [5] and 36 holes for the semifinals and finals. [6]

Contents

Professionals Patty Berg and Betty Jameson reached the Sunday final. [6] Jameson led by three after seven holes, but Berg evened the match and they finished the first 18 holes all square. After lunch, Berg needed only fourteen holes in the afternoon to close out the match at 5 & 4. Berg won $5,600 and Jameson $3,100, all in war bonds. [4] [7] [8] This win was later recognized as Berg's sixth major championship. The winner's share at the U.S. Women's Open was substantially less in succeeding years and was not exceeded until 1972, 26 years later.

Jameson won the title the following year as a 72-hole stroke play event.

Founded in 1898, Spokane Country Club was purchased by the Kalispel Tribe in late 2015 and is now Kalispell Golf and Country Club. [9]

Qualifying scores and final results

PlayerQualifying
score
SeedFinish
Patty Berg 14511
Betty Jameson 15862
Betty Jean Rucker (a)1533T3
Dot Kielty (a)16212T3
Jackie Pung (a)1575T5
Betty Hicks 1597T5
Clara Sherman (a)1608T5
Ellen Kieser (a)18026T5
Beverly Hanson (a)1554T9
Mary Mozel1609T9
Helen Dettweiler 16111T9
Edean Anderson (a)16413T9
Ann Casey (a)16514T9
Yola Apostoli (a)16615T9
Mrs. Walter Nagel (a)16616T9
Grace Lenczyk (a)16718T9
Babe Didrikson Zaharias (a)1522T17
Hope Seignious16110T17
Margaret Spear (a)16617T17
Mrs. Frank Kapps (a)17419T17
Mrs. J.R. West (a)17420T17
Mrs. Jo Pedicord (a)17521T17
Barbara Smith (a)17622T17
Mary Sargent (a)17823T17
Carol Gleason (a)17924T17
Jewel Ann Gronley (a)18025T17
Betty Frank (a)18127T17
Pedee Hosler (a)18428T17
Mrs. William May (a)18529T17
Grace DeMoss (a)18630T17
Mrs. Walter McCarty (a)18731T17
Bennye Sellers (a)18832T17

Bracket

Round 1
August 28 [10]
Round 2
August 29 [11]
Quarter-finals
August 30 [12]
Semi-finals
August 31 [13] [14]
Final
September 1 [4]
               
1 Patty Berg 7&6
17 Margaret Spear
1 Patty Berg 5&3
9 Mary Mozel
9 Mary Mozel6&5
25 Jewel Ann Gronley
1 Patty Berg 6&5
5 Jackie Pung
5 Jackie Pung 5&4
21 Mrs. Jo Pedicord
5 Jackie Pung 4&2
13 Edean Anderson
13 Edean Anderson2 up
29 Mrs. William May
1 Patty Berg 3&2
3 Betty Jean Rucker
3 Betty Jean Rucker6&5
19 Mrs. Frank Kapps
3 Betty Jean Rucker2&1
11 Helen Dettweiler
11 Helen Dettweiler 6&4
27 Betty Frank
3 Betty Jean Rucker5&4
7 Betty Hicks
7 Betty Hicks 1 up
23 Mary Sargent
7 Betty Hicks 4&2
15 Yola Apostoli
15 Yola Apostoli3&1
31 Mrs. Walter McCarty
1 Patty Berg 5&4
6 Betty Jameson
2 Babe Didrikson Zaharias
18 Grace Lenczyk 3&2
18 Grace Lenczyk
26 Ellen Kieser5&4
10 Hope Seignious
26 Ellen Kieser3&2
26 Ellen Kieser
6 Betty Jameson 8&6
6 Betty Jameson 9&8
22 Barbara Smith
6 Betty Jameson 5&4
14 Ann Casey
14 Ann Casey3&2
30 Grace DeMoss
6 Betty Jameson 1 up
12 Dot Kielty
4 Beverly Hanson 6&4
20 Mrs. J.R. West
4 Beverly Hanson
12 Dot Kielty 5&4
12 Dot Kielty 5&4
28 Pedee Hosler
12 Dot Kielty 2&1
8 Clara Sherman
8 Clara Sherman7&5
24 Carol Gleason
8 Clara Sherman5&4
16 Mrs. Walter Nagel
16 Mrs. Walter Nagel8&7
32 Bennye Sellers

Final match scorecards

Morning

Hole 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 101112131415161718
Par445544353354544534
Flag of the United States.svg Berg445545453444545434
Flag of the United States.svg Jameson444544364353645534
LeaderJ1J1J1J2J3J2J1J2J1J2J1J1J1

Afternoon

Hole 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 101112131415161718
Par445544353354544534
Flag of the United States.svg Berg34545436335454Berg wins
5 & 4
Flag of the United States.svg Jameson45456636345355
LeaderB1B2B1B2B3B4B4B4B4B5B5B4B4B5

Source: [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Patty Berg, Babe Zaharias Post One-Under-Par Scores". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). August 27, 1946. p. 13.
  2. 1 2 "Patty Berg Gets Medalist Honor". Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). August 28, 1946. p. 10.
  3. Prize money was paid in war bonds.
  4. 1 2 3 Fowler, Gail (September 2, 1946). "Patty Berg Captures Women's Open Golf Crown at Spokane". Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. Associated Press. p. 2. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  5. "Women's golf Open reaches semi-finals". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. August 31, 1946. p. 3.
  6. 1 2 "Berg, Jameson clash for golf title today". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. September 1, 1946. p. 19.
  7. 1 2 Ashlock, Herb (September 2, 1946). "Patty Berg winner of Women's Open". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 13.
  8. "Patty Berg hits $5,600 jackpot". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. September 2, 1946. p. 1, sec.3.
  9. Stucke, John (December 10, 2015). "The Kalispel Tribe will open the Spokane Country Club to some public play". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  10. "Mrs. Zaharias Eliminated in Women's Open". Schenectady Gazette . New York. United Press. August 29, 1946. p. 23. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  11. "Women Enter Quarter-Finals Of Golf Play". The Pittsburgh Press . United Press. August 30, 1946. p. 31. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  12. Patterson, W. (August 31, 1946). "Rucker Scores 5 And 4 Win Over Hicks to Meet Berg in Semi-Finals". The Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 9. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  13. "Betty Hick Eliminated in Spokane Golf". Schenectady Gazette . New York. United Press. August 31, 1946. p. 15. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  14. "Spokane Girl Loses Match In Semi-Finals". Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. Associated Press. September 1, 1946. p. 10. Retrieved July 3, 2013.

47°46′01″N117°26′24″W / 47.767°N 117.440°W / 47.767; -117.440