Mickey Wright Invitational (LPGA Tournament)

The Mickey Wright Invitational was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the 1960s. It was named after the tour's biggest winner of that era and, not surprisingly, she won this tournament more than anyone else.

First played: 1961

Last played: 1969

Mickey Wright was the dominant player in women's golf in the early 1960s, with double-digit tournament wins many seasons. And she was the only golfer who won the tournament named after her more than once.

In fact, Wright won the Mickey Wright Invitational four times total, including the first three years it was played. Wright also set the event's 72-hole scoring record with a 268 in 1962.

The tournament was 72 holes some years, 54 holes in other years. The lowest 54-hole winning total was Betsy Rawls' 208 in 1968.

There was one playoff: Sandra Haynie defeated Kathy Whitworth in 1967. Whitworth was runner-up two other years, as well, and won it once, too. Every golfer who won this tournament is, today, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Winners of the Mickey Wright Invitational

1961 — Mickey Wright, 290
1962 — Mickey Wright, 268
1963 — Mickey Wright, 222
1964 — Marlene Hagge, 287
1965 — Kathy Whitworth, 283
1966 — Mickey Wright, 289
1967 — Sandra Haynie, 212
1968 — Betsy Rawls, 208
1969 — Carol Mann, 212

Golf courses: The tournament was played in and around San Diego, California, including at Mission Valley Country Club and Stardust Country Club, both in San Diego proper, its first two years. Other host sites included La Jolla Country Club, San Luis Rey Golf Club (Bonsall), Fallbrook Country Club and Lake San Marcos Country Club (San Marcos).

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