Sahara Invitational
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Location | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
Established | 1958, 1962 |
Course(s) | Sahara Nevada Country Club (1972–76) |
Par | 71 |
Length | 6,800 yards (6,220 m)[1] |
Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
Prize fund | $150,000 (1976) |
Month played | September – October |
Final year | 1976 |
Final champion | |
![]() |
The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event in Nevada from 1958 through 1976, played Las Vegas and sponsored by the Sahara Hotel. In the first four years, it was the Sahara Pro-Am and an unofficial tour event. Paradise Valley Country Club hosted in 1970 and 1971, and Sahara Nevada Country Club from 1972–1976.
Jack Nicklaus won Sahara four times in a seven-year span in the 1960s, and three future major champions (Tony Lema,[2] Lanny Wadkins, and John Mahaffey) made Sahara their first tour victory.
A month after the 1976 event,[1] it was announced in early November that the Sahara Invitational was being discontinued. Edward M. Nigro, vice president and general manager of Hotel Sahara, cited rising costs, scheduling conflicts, and a decline in the national promotion benefit as the reasons for the tournament's cancellation.[3]
The Las Vegas Founders returned the PGA Tour to Las Vegas in 1983 with the Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic; since 2007, it has been organized by the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Winners[]
Sahara Invitational
Year | Winner | Country | Score | To par | Winner's share ($) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | George Archer | ![]() |
271 | −13 | 27,000 |
1975 | Dave Hill | ![]() |
270 | −14 | 27,000 |
1974 | Al Geiberger | ![]() |
273 | −11 | 27,000 |
1973 | John Mahaffey | ![]() |
271 | −13 | 27,000 |
1972 | Lanny Wadkins | ![]() |
273 | −11 | 27,000 |
1971 | Lee Trevino | ![]() |
280 | −8 | 27,000 |
1970 | Babe Hiskey | ![]() |
276 | −12 | 20,000 |
1969 | Jack Nicklaus (4) | ![]() |
272 | −12 | 20,000 |
1968 | Chi-Chi Rodríguez | ![]() |
274 | −10 | 20,000 |
1967 | Jack Nicklaus | ![]() |
270 | −14 | 20,000 |
1966 | Jack Nicklaus | ![]() |
282 | −2 | 20,000 |
1965 | Billy Casper | ![]() |
269 | −15 | 20,000 |
1964 | R. H. Sikes | ![]() |
275 | −9 | 12,000 |
1963 | Jack Nicklaus | ![]() |
276 | −8 | 13,000 |
1962 | Tony Lema | ![]() |
270 | −14 | 2,800 |
Sahara Pro-Am
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1961 | Phil Rodgers |
1960 | Bob Duden |
1959 | Doug Sanders |
1958 | Bill Johnston |
Tournament highlights[]
- 1962: Tony Lema wins the inaugural Sahara Invitational, three shots ahead of Don January.[2]
- 1964: R. H. Sikes shoots a first round 62 on his way to a two shot triumph over defending champion Jack Nicklaus, Phil Rodgers, and Jack McGowan.[4]
- 1967: Jack Nicklaus becomes the only Sahara champion to successfully defend his title. He wins by one shot over Steve Spray.[5]
- 1968: Chi-Chi Rodríguez shoots a final round 64 to come from six shots back and force a sudden death playoff. He then birdies the first playoff hole to defeat Dale Douglass.[6]
- 1969: Nicklaus shoots a final round 65 for his 29th PGA Tour title and fourth Sahara victory. He finishes four shots ahead of Frank Beard.[7]
- 1971: Lee Trevino wins his sixth PGA Tour event of the year, one shot ahead of George Archer.[8]
- 1974: Al Geiberger wins for the first time on tour since his PGA Championship triumph in 1966; he finishes three shots ahead of Jerry Heard, Wally Armstrong, Mike Hill, and Dave Hill.[9]
- 1976: Runner-up five years earlier, Archer wins the last Sahara, two strokes ahead of defending champion Dave Hill and third round leader Don January.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b c "Sahara victory surprises Archer". The Day. New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. October 4, 1976. p. 29.
- ^ a b "Lema victor at Las Vegas with a 270". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 1, 1962. p. 12.
- ^ "Sahara golf no more". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. November 5, 1976. p. 1B.
- ^ Dick Sikes breaks in with Sahara golf win
- ^ Jack Nicklaus wins Sahara golf tourney
- ^ Chi Chi wins Sahara
- ^ Nicklaus wins Sahara event
- ^ Trevino wins Sahara Open
- ^ Geiberger ends drought with Sahara Open victory
External links[]
- Former PGA Tour events
- Recurring sporting events established in 1958
- Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1976
- Golf in Las Vegas
- Pro–am golf tournaments
- 1958 establishments in Nevada
- 1976 disestablishments in Nevada