Syracuse Senior Classic on Champions Tour
First played: 1982
Last played: 1991
Also known as: This tournament was first played under the name Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic, then Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Classic, followed by MONY Syracuse Senior's Classic and MONY Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic. For its final five years, it was was named MONY Syracuse Senior Classic.
Winners of Champions Tour Syracuse Senior Classic
1982 — Bill Collins, 2851983 — Gene Littler, 275
1984 — Miller Barber, 206
1985 — Peter Thomson, 204
1986 — Bruce Crampton, 206
1987 — Bruce Crampton, 197
1988 — Dave Hill, 200
1989 — Jim Dent, 201
1990 — Jim Dent, 199
1991 — Rocky Thompson, 199
The Syracuse Senior Classic was first played in 1982, which was just the third year of the PGA Senior Tour's existence. It was one of just 11 tournaments on the tour's schedule that year. And for the first winner, Bill Collins, it was his only Champions Tour victory.
The tournament was played over 72 holes (four rounds) its first two years, then switched to a 54-hole format for the rest of its time. Its 54-hole scoring record of 197 was set by Bruce Crampton in 1987. That total was 19-under par, which, at the time, tied the senior tour's record for most strokes under par in a 54-hole tournament. Crampton also won that year by six strokes over runner-up Chi Chi Rodriguez, the tournament's record for margin of victory.
Crampton and Jim Dent were the only two-time champions, and both won it back-to-back. The first of Dent's successive victories, in 1989, was also the first of his eventual 12 career wins on the Champions Tour.
Golf courses: Its first three year the tournament was played at Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse, N.Y. In 1985 it moved to Lafayette Country Club in Jamesville, N.Y., and remained there through the final iteration.
Sources:
PGA Tour. "Senior PGA Tour Chronology," Senior PGA Tour Book 1992, PGA Tour Creative Services, 1991.