Sahara Invitational

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Sahara Invitational
Tournament information
LocationLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Established1958, 1962
Course(s)Sahara Nevada Country Club (1972–76)
Par71
Length6,800 yards (6,220 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play – 72 holes
Prize fund$150,000 (1976)
Month playedSeptember – October
Final year1976
Final champion
United States George Archer

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  United States 271 −13 27,000
1975 Dave Hill  United States 270 −14 27,000
1974 Al Geiberger  United States 273 −11 27,000
1973 John Mahaffey  United States 271 −13 27,000
1972 Lanny Wadkins  United States 273 −11 27,000
1971 Lee Trevino  United States 280 −8 27,000
1970 Babe Hiskey  United States 276 −12 20,000
1969 Jack Nicklaus (4)  United States 272 −12 20,000
1968 Chi-Chi Rodríguez  Puerto Rico 274 −10 20,000
1967 Jack Nicklaus  United States 270 −14 20,000
1966 Jack Nicklaus  United States 282 −2 20,000
1965 Billy Casper  United States 269 −15 20,000
1964 R. H. Sikes  United States 275 −9 12,000
1963 Jack Nicklaus  United States 276 −8 13,000
1962 Tony Lema  United States 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[]

  1. ^ a b c "Sahara victory surprises Archer". The Day. New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. October 4, 1976. p. 29.
  2. ^ a b "Lema victor at Las Vegas with a 270". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 1, 1962. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Sahara golf no more". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. November 5, 1976. p. 1B.
  4. ^ Dick Sikes breaks in with Sahara golf win
  5. ^ Jack Nicklaus wins Sahara golf tourney
  6. ^ Chi Chi wins Sahara
  7. ^ Nicklaus wins Sahara event
  8. ^ Trevino wins Sahara Open
  9. ^ Geiberger ends drought with Sahara Open victory

External links[]

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