Looking Back: Colgate European Open Tournament on the LPGA

The Colgate European Open was a golf tournament that was played six times in the 1970s and was an official LPGA Tour event in five of those years. All six winners of the tournament later became members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

First played: 1974

Last played: 1979

Only the 1974 event was an unofficial LPGA stop. The tournament was always played in August, and at a time when Colgate was heavily involved in women's golf and sponsored several tournaments per year.

The tournament was 54 holes the first year, 72 holes every other year. Judy Rankin, who also won the first year, set the tournament scoring record of 281 in 1977.

Nancy Lopez, who finished second to Rankin that year, won it the final two years.

Also known as: The tournament was named the Colgate-American/European Open its first year, the Colgate European Ladies Open in Year 2, and the Colgate European Women's Open in 1977.

Winners of the Colgate European Open

1979 — Nancy Lopez, 282
1978 — Nancy Lopez, 289
1977 — Judy Rankin, 281
1976 — Chako Higuchi, 284
1975 — Donna Caponi, 283
1974 — Judy Rankin, 218

Golf course: The tournament was played all six years at Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire, England.