Esmeralda Open

Last updated
Esmeralda Open
Tournament information
Location Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Established1945
Course(s)Indian Canyon Golf Course
Par70 - (1947)
72 - (1945)
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Format Stroke play - 72 holes
Prize fund $10,000
Month playedAugust (1947)
September (1945)
Final year1947
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Byron Nelson (1945)
To par–22 Byron Nelson (1945)
Final champion
Flag of the United States.svg Herman Keiser

The Esmeralda Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour that was played in 1945 and 1947 in Spokane, Washington. It was held at Indian Canyon Golf Course, a municipal facility designed in 1930 by Chandler Egan [1] [2] on the west end of the city, and opened in 1935. [3] The Esmeralda Open was organized by the Spokane Athletic Round Table, a fraternal organization, headed by Joe Albi. The ART's emblem was a laughing horse named Esmeralda, which inspired the title of the charity tournament. [4] [5] The Round Table would later be instrumental in the construction of the city's Esmeralda Golf Course, opened in 1956 in northeast Spokane. [6] It also was the driving force behind Spokane Memorial Stadium, named for Albi in 1962.

Contents

The Esmeralda Open was held annually for over a decade, but most editions featured local and regional golfers, and was not part of the PGA Tour. The first in 1943 was a 54-hole event played at Downriver, [7] and the 1949 tournament included Bing Crosby, [8] who was raised in Spokane. It was not held in 1944, when the 1944 PGA Championship was played at Manito Golf and Country Club in south Spokane. [9] [10] In 1946, Spokane and the ART hosted the first U.S. Women's Open at the Spokane Country Club, north of the city. [11] An attempt was made to have the PGA Tour return in 1954, [12] but was unsuccessful. [13]

1945

The second Esmeralda Open, and the first as a tour event, was held in September 1945. It was won by Byron Nelson by seven strokes over runner-up Harold "Jug" McSpaden, followed by Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. Nelson shot a 64 (–8) in the final round for a 266, an unofficial tour record at the time of 22-under par. [14] His winner's share of the $10,000 event was $1,500 in cash and $2,000 in war bonds. [15]

It was Nelson's sixteenth victory of 18 during his record-setting year. [16] Several course records were established at the 1945 tournament. McSpaden shot a course-record 30 on his final front nine and Snead shot a final-round 63 (–9) to set another course record. [15] [16]

1947

For the 1947 event, par was changed to 70 and the tournament was played in early August. Herman Keiser shot a one-under 69 on Sunday to finish at 273 (–7), one stroke ahead of three runners-up: Ben Hogan, Ed Furgol, and Johnny Palmer. Hogan electrified the gallery with an ace at the 161-yard (147 m) fourth hole in the final round. [17] He shot a 68, but missed a putt for par from less than 2 feet (60 cm) on the final hole that would have tied Keiser. [18]

Winners

YearDatesChampionWinning
score		To parMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upPurse
($)		Winner's
share ($)
1945Sep 20–23 Flag of the United States.svg Byron Nelson 66-66-70-64=266–227 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Harold McSpaden 10,0001,500
(& $2,000
war bond)
1947Aug 7–10 Flag of the United States.svg Herman Keiser 65-69-70-69=273–71 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Ben Hogan
Flag of the United States.svg Ed Furgol
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Palmer 		10,0002,000

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byron Nelson</span> American professional golfer (1912–2006)

John Byron Nelson Jr. was an American professional golfer between 1935 and 1946, widely considered one of the greatest golfers of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jug McSpaden</span> American professional golfer (1908–1996

Harold Lee "Jug" McSpaden was an American professional golfer, and golf course architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valero Texas Open</span> American golf tournament

The Texas Open, known as the Valero Texas Open for sponsorship reasons, is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played near San Antonio, Texas. It dates back 102 years to 1922, when it was first called the Texas Open; San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corporation took over naming rights in 2002. It is played at The Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio, northeast of the city. The Valero Energy Foundation is the host organization for the Valero Texas Open.

Herman W. Keiser was an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour, best known for winning the Masters Tournament in 1946, his only major title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Open</span> Golf tournament held in Los Angeles, California, US

The Genesis Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in southern California, first played 98 years ago in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open. Other previous names include Genesis Open, Northern Trust Open and Nissan Open. Played annually in February at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, it is often the concluding event of the tour's "West Coast Swing" early in the calendar year, before the tour moves east to Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zurich Classic of New Orleans</span> Golf tournament held in New Orleans, Louisiana, US

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a professional golf tournament in Louisiana on the PGA Tour, currently held at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, a suburb southwest of New Orleans. Beginning 86 years ago in 1938 and held annually since 1958, it is commonly played in early to mid-spring. Zurich Insurance Group is the main sponsor, and it is organized by the Fore!Kids Foundation.

The Wyndham Championship is a professional golf tournament in North Carolina on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in Greensboro and was originally the Greater Greensboro Open.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Oliver (golfer)</span> American professional golfer (1915–1961)

Edward Stewart "Porky" Oliver, Jr. was a professional golfer from the United States. He played on what is now known as the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s.

James Rodney Funseth was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.

The 1940 Masters Tournament was the seventh Masters Tournament, held April 4–7 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

The 1942 Masters Tournament was the ninth Masters Tournament, held April 9–13 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

The 1946 Masters Tournament was the tenth Masters Tournament, held April 4–7 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It was the first in four years, because of World War II. The purse was $10,000, double that of the previous Masters in 1942, with a winner's share of $2,500.

The 1947 Masters Tournament was the 11th Masters Tournament, held April 3–6 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The purse was $10,000 with a winner's share of $2,500.

The 1948 Masters Tournament was the 12th Masters Tournament, held April 8–11 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

The 1949 Masters Tournament was the 13th Masters Tournament, held April 7–10 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. This was the first year that the famous Green Jacket was awarded to the tournament winner, and previous champions were awarded theirs retroactively.

The Miami International Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1954. It was played primarily at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida. It was also played at the Miami Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables, Florida from 1939 to 1942 and at the Normandy Shore Club in Miami Beach, Florida from 1952 to 1954.

The 1944 PGA Championship was the 26th PGA Championship, held August 14–20 at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington. Then a match play championship, Bob Hamilton won his only major title, 1 up in the 36-hole final over heavily favored Byron Nelson; the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500. Hamilton defeated Jug McSpaden 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals and George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinals.

The 1946 PGA Championship was the 28th PGA Championship, held August 19–25 at Portland Golf Club outside Portland, Oregon. Ben Hogan won the match play championship, 6 and 4 over Ed Oliver in the final; the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500.

Joseph Aloysius Albi was an American attorney and civic leader in Spokane, Washington.

The Chicago Open was a golf tournament played in the Chicago area. A Chicago District Open was first held in 1914. From 1926 to 1928 it became a national event. It was held again from 1937 to 1941, although there was no event in 1939. The Hale America National Open Golf Tournament was held in Chicago in 1942 and the Chicago Victory Open was played from 1943 to 1948. It was revived again as the Gleneagles-Chicago Open Invitational in 1958 and 1959.

References

  1. ↑ "Chandler Egan coming in April". Spokane Daily Chronicle . March 27, 1934. p. 11. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  2. ↑ Broom, Ron (April 20, 1935). "It's Like This--". Spokane Daily Chronicle . p. 12. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Big gallery watches first players on the Indian Canyon Golf Course". Spokesman-Review . August 18, 1935. p. 1-sports. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Pro golf stars head west for Esmeralda Open". Lewiston Morning Tribune . Associated Press. September 17, 1945. p. 6. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Big Christmas Party Marks Esmeralda Open". St. Petersburg Times . Associated Press. August 7, 1947. p. 16. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Round Table donates $75,000 for Esmeralda golf house". Spokesman-Review . March 20, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Esmeralda golf tournament lures season's biggest field". Spokane Daily Chronicle . September 16, 1943. p. 12. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  8. ↑ Ashlock, Herb (August 20, 1949). "Oliver, Ward, Welch lead Esmeralda golf". Spokane Daily Chronicle . p. 9. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Bob (August 14, 1944). "Star golfers tee off today in PGA qualifying rounds". Spokane Daily Chronicle . p. 12. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  10. ↑ Johnson, Bob (August 21, 1944). "Bob Hamilton and A.R.T. turn toward new endeavors". Spokane Daily Chronicle . p. 12. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  11. ↑ Ashlock, Herb (September 2, 1946). "Patty Berg winner of Women's Open". Spokane Daily Chronicle . p. 13. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Ward, West good bets to top Esmeralda golf championships". Spokane Daily Chronicle . August 27, 1953. p. 34. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Top players enter Esmeralda golf tourney". Spokane Daily Chronicle . August 20, 1954. p. 13. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Nelson's 266 wins Esmeralda tourney". Spokesman-Review . September 24, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Ashlock, Herb (September 24, 1945). "Byron Nelson, Esmeralda Champion". Spokane Daily Chronicle . p. 12. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  16. 1 2 Nyhan, Paul (August 20, 2002). "Tour History in Washington". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Keiser's putting wins him golf title; champ heads for Portland". Spokane Daily Chronicle . August 11, 1947. p. 13. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Keiser annexes Esmeralda Open". Eugene Register-Guard . United Press. August 11, 1947. p. 7. Retrieved February 20, 2013.

47°38′49″N117°28′26″W / 47.647°N 117.474°W / 47.647; -117.474

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.