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]

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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.

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


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