Rubber City Open Invitational

Last updated
Rubber City Open Invitational
Tournament information
Location Akron, Ohio
Established1954
Course(s) Firestone Country Club
(South Course)
Par71
Length6,620 yards (6,050 m) [1]
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund US$20,000
Month playedAugust
Final year1959
Tournament record score
Aggregate265 Tommy Bolt (1954)
To par−23 as above
Final champion
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Nieporte
Location Map
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Icona golf.svg
Firestone CC
Location in the United States
USA Ohio relief location map.svg
Icona golf.svg
Firestone CC
Location in Ohio

The Rubber City Open Invitational, first played as the Rubber City Open in 1954, was the first PGA Tour golf event to be held at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, US. The tournament, last played in 1959, was discontinued as Firestone gained national prominence and attracted bigger events beginning with hosting the 1960 PGA Championship, the American Golf Classic in 1961, and in 1962 the World Series of Golf now known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. [2]

Contents

The first edition in September 1954 had a $15,000 purse with a winner's share of $2,400, won by Tommy Bolt. [3] The sixth and final champion in August 1959 was Tom Nieporte, who won $2,800 from a $20,000 purse. [4]

At the time, there were only 18 holes at Firestone, today's "South Course." The North Course was the second course, added in 1969.

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ($)		Ref.
Rubber City Open Invitational
1959 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Nieporte 267−133 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Bob Goalby 2,800 [1]
1958 Flag of the United States.svg Art Wall Jr. 269−15Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Dow Finsterwald 2,800
1957 Flag of the United States.svg Arnold Palmer 272−12Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Doug Ford 2,800
Rubber City Open
1956 Flag of the United States.svg Ed Furgol 271−171 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Arnold Palmer 3,000 [5]
1955 Flag of the United States.svg Henry Ransom 272−16Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jackson Bradley
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Burke Jr.
Flag of the United States.svg Doug Ford 		2,400 [6]
1954 Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Bolt 265−235 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Fred Hawkins 2,400 [3]

Related Research Articles

The Senior Players Championship, stylised by the PGA Tour as The SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, is one of the five major championships on golf's PGA Tour Champions. The inaugural event was played 40 years ago in 1983 and the age minimum is 50, the standard for men's senior professional golf tournaments. The winner gains entry into the following season's Players Championship on the PGA Tour. For sponsorship reasons, from 2023, the tournament will be titled as the Kaulig Companies Championship.

The World Series of Golf was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. From its inception in 1962 through 1975, it was an unofficial 36-hole event matching the winners of the four major championships. In 1976 it became an official PGA Tour event; the field expanded to 20 players and the event was lengthened to 72 holes. the victory and $100,000 winner's share went to Nicklaus. The field was increased to over 40 players in 1983, though it never exceeded 50; NEC began sponsoring the event in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firestone Country Club</span> Private golf club in Akron, OH, US

Firestone Country Club is a private golf club in the United States, located in Akron, Ohio. It was a regular stop on the PGA Tour and has hosted the PGA Championship three times. It is the current home of the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship through 2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Bolt</span> American professional golfer

Thomas Henry Bolt was an American professional golfer. He did not join the PGA Tour until he was in his thirties, but he went on to win 15 PGA Tour titles, including the 1958 U.S. Open. He played in the Ryder Cup in 1955 and 1957.

The Milwaukee Open Invitational was a professional golf tournament in Wisconsin on the PGA Tour. It was played seven times from 1955 through 1961 at different courses in the Milwaukee area.

The Azalea Open Invitational was a golf tournament in North Carolina on the PGA Tour, held at Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington. Last played in November 1971 as an unofficial event; it was an official PGA Tour event in 1945 and from 1949 through 1970. The Heritage in South Carolina debuted in 1969 and soon displaced it on the schedule.

The American Golf Classic was a tournament on the PGA Tour from 1961 to 1976 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the third event at the storied South course, after the Rubber City Open Invitational (1954–1959) and the PGA Championship in 1960.

The 1960 PGA Championship was the 42nd PGA Championship, played July 21–24 at the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Jay Hebert won his only major championship, one stroke ahead of runner-up Jim Ferrier, the 1947 champion. Only one player broke par in the final round; Wes Ellis shot 69 (−1) and finished in sixth place. Hebert's younger brother Lionel won the title in 1957, the last PGA Championship contested in match play format.

The 1966 PGA Championship was the 48th PGA Championship, played July 21–24 at the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Al Geiberger won his only major championship, four strokes ahead of runner-up Dudley Wysong.

The 2001 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 23–26, 2001 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the third WGC-NEC Invitational tournament, and the second of three World Golf Championships events held in 2001.

The 2004 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 19–22, 2004 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the sixth WGC-NEC Invitational tournament, and the second of four World Golf Championships events held in 2004.

The 2005 WGC-NEC Invitational was a golf tournament that was contested from August 18–21, 2005 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the seventh WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the second of four World Golf Championships events held in 2005.

The 2010 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a golf tournament held August 5–8 over the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the 12th WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the third of four World Golf Championships events held in 2010.

The 2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was the 13th WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, held August 4–7 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Adam Scott was the winner on the South Course, four strokes ahead of Luke Donald and Rickie Fowler. This tournament was the third of four World Golf Championships events held in 2011.

The 2012 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a professional golf tournament held August 2–5 on the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the 14th WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the third of four World Golf Championships events held in 2012. Keegan Bradley shot a 64 (−6) in the final round to finish with 267 (−13) to win his first WGC event, one stroke ahead of runners-up Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker.

The 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a professional golf tournament played August 1–4 on the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the 15th WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the third of the World Golf Championships (WGC) events held in 2013.

The 2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a professional golf tournament held July 31 – August 3 on the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the 16th WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the third of the World Golf Championships events in 2014. Rory McIlroy won the tournament.

The 2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a professional golf tournament held August 6–9 on the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the 17th WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the third of the World Golf Championships events in 2015. Shane Lowry shot a final-round 66 to win his first WGC event, two strokes ahead of runner-up Bubba Watson.

The 2016 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a professional golf tournament played June 30 – July 3 on the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the 18th WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the third of the World Golf Championships events in 2016.

The 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a professional golf tournament held August 3–6 on the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the 19th WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament, and the third of the World Golf Championships events in 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 "Nieporte grabs Rubber City Open". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. August 24, 1959. p. 13.
  2. ↑ "A Championship Legacy". Firestone Country Club. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2007.
  3. 1 2 Howell, Fritz (September 6, 1954). "Tommy Bolt wins Rubber City Open". Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. p. 12.
  4. ↑ "Nieporte captures Rubber City Open". Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. August 24, 1959. p. 10.
  5. ↑ "Furgol Wins With 271". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. September 10, 1956. p. 7.
  6. ↑ "Ransom Wins In Playoff". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. August 1, 1955. p. 9.

Coordinates: 41°00′29″N81°30′29″W / 41.008°N 81.508°W / 41.008; -81.508


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.