The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event in Nevada from 1958 through 1976, played in 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.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Established | 1958 |
| Course(s) | Sahara Nevada Country Club |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,800 yards (6,200 m)[1] |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | US$135,000 |
| Month played | September/October |
| Final year | 1976 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 269 Billy Casper (1965) |
| To par | −15 as above |
| Final champion | |
 George Archer | |
| Location map | |
  Sahara Nevada CC Location in the United States  Sahara Nevada CC Location in Nevada | |
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.
Tournament highlights
edit- 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]
Winners
edit| Year | Tour[a] | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahara Invitational | |||||||
| 1976 | PGAT | George Archer |
271 | −13 | 2 strokes | Dave Hill Don January |
27,000 |
| 1975 | PGAT | Dave Hill |
270 | −14 | Playoff | Rik Massengale |
27,000 |
| 1974 | PGAT | Al Geiberger |
273 | −11 | 3 strokes | Wally Armstrong Jerry Heard Dave Hill Mike Hill |
27,000 |
| 1973 | PGAT | John Mahaffey |
271 | −13 | 3 strokes | Dave Eichelberger |
27,000 |
| 1972 | PGAT | Lanny Wadkins |
273 | −11 | 1 stroke | Arnold Palmer |
27,000 |
| 1971 | PGAT | Lee Trevino |
280 | −8 | 1 stroke | George Archer |
27,000 |
| 1970 | PGAT | Babe Hiskey |
276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Miller Barber Terry Dill Bob Goalby |
20,000 |
| 1969 | PGAT | Jack Nicklaus (4) |
272 | −12 | 4 strokes | Frank Beard |
20,000 |
| 1968 | PGAT | Chi-Chi Rodríguez |
274 | −10 | Playoff | Dale Douglass |
20,000 |
| 1967 | PGAT | Jack Nicklaus (3) |
270 | −14 | 1 stroke | Steve Spray |
20,000 |
| 1966 | PGAT | Jack Nicklaus (2) |
282 | −2 | 3 strokes | Miller Barber Arnold Palmer |
20,000 |
| 1965 | PGAT | Billy Casper |
269 | −15 | 3 strokes | Billy Martindale |
20,000 |
| 1964 | PGAT | R. H. Sikes |
275 | −9 | 3 strokes | Jack McGowan Jack Nicklaus Phil Rodgers |
12,000 |
| 1963 | PGAT | Jack Nicklaus |
276 | −8 | 1 stroke | Gay Brewer Al Geiberger |
13,000 |
| 1962 | PGAT | Tony Lema |
270 | −14 | 3 strokes | Don January |
2,800 |
| Sahara Pro-Am | |||||||
| 1961 | Phil Rodgers |
 |
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| 1960 | Bob Duden |
|
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| 1959 | Doug Sanders |
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| 1958 | Bill Johnston |
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Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Sahara victory surprises Archer". The Day. New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. October 4, 1976. p. 29.
- ^ a b "Lema victor at Las Vegas with a 270". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 1, 1962. p. 12.
- ^ "Sahara golf no more". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. November 5, 1976. p. 1B.
- ^ Dick Sikes breaks in with Sahara golf win
- ^ Jack Nicklaus wins Sahara golf tourney
- ^ Chi Chi wins Sahara
- ^ Nicklaus wins Sahara event
- ^ Trevino wins Sahara Open
- ^ Geiberger ends drought with Sahara Open victory