Looking Back: LET Ford Ladies Classic
First played: 1982
Last played: 2000
The Ford Ladies Classic was played under that name from 1982-1992 (though sometimes spelled Ford Ladies' Classic). In 1993, the name changed to Ford Golf Classic. The tournament was discontinued after 1995, but returned in 2000 — under the name Kronenbourg 1664 Chart Hills Classic — for one last playing. The tournament was 72 holes in all but that last year, when it was 54 holes.
Winners of the LET Ford Ladies Classic
1982 — Jenny Lee Smith, 3051983 — Barbara Helbig, 298
1984 — Kitrina Douglas, 292
1985 — Gillian Stewart, 296 (def. Muriel Thomson in playoff)
1986 — Muriel Thomson, 290
1987 — Gillian Stewart, 289
1988 — Laura Davies, 292
1989 — Marie-Laure de Lorenzi, 286
1990 — Marie-Laure de Lorenzi, 284
1991 — Dale Reid, 280
1992 — Stefania Croce, 286
1993 — Federica Dassu, 289
1994 — Catrin Nilsmark, 284
1995 — Lora Fairclough, 277
1996–1999 — Not played
2000 — Gina Scott, 207 (def. Isabella Maconi in playoff)
The Ford Ladies Classic 72-hole scoring record of 277 was set by Lora Fairclough in her 1995 victory. The largest margin of victory was eight strokes by Marie-Laure de Lorenzi in 1989.
The tournament's first winner, Jenny Lee Smith, was also first winner of the Women's British Open when that future major championship debuted in 1976. Barbara Helbig, 1983 champ, was the first German golfer to win on the Ladies European Tour.
Three of the Ladies European Tour's biggest names, Annika Sorenstam, Trish Johnson and Alison Nicholas, all failed to win but did have runner-up finishes. Sorenstam finished second in 1993, Johnson in 1992 and 1994, and Nicholas in 1986 and 1991.
The biggest name among the golfera who did win this tournament was Laura Davies, 1988 champ. It was the seventh of her record-shattering 45 career LET victories.
Golf courses: The tournament was played primarily at Woburn Golf and Country Club in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The club's Duke course was the site from 1982-84, and its Duchess course was the site from 1985-1994. In 1995 and 2000, the tournament was played at Chart Hills Golf Club in Biddenden, Kent, England.
