Olympia Gold Classic

(Redirected from Sunstar Classic)

The Olympia Gold Classic was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour, held in southern California in Los Angeles County from 1978 to 1982.[2] It was played in late winter at the Rancho Park Golf Course in the city of Los Angeles from 1978 to 1980 as the "Sunstar Classic," then moved east to Industry Hills Golf Club in City of Industry in 1981 and 1982, in a renamed event sponsored by Olympia Brewing Company.

Olympia Gold Classic
Tournament information
LocationIndustry, California, U.S.
Established1978 (as Sunstar Classic)
Course(s)Industry Hills Golf Club
Eisenhower Course
Par73
Length6,006 yards (5,492 m)[1]
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play - 72 holes
Prize fund$150,000
Month playedMarch
Final year1982
Tournament record score
Aggregate280 Nancy Lopez (1979)
To par−9 JoAnne Carner (1980)
Final champion
South Africa Sally Little
Industry is located in the United States
Industry
Industry
Industry is located in California
Industry
Industry
Olympia Gold Classic is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Industry Hills Golf Club
Industry Hills
Golf Club
Rancho Park  Golf Club 
Rancho Park 
Golf Club 

History

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Nancy Lopez, age 21, won the inaugural edition by a stroke for her second career win;[3] she won her first at the previous tournament in Florida two weeks earlier and won nine times in 1978, including five consecutive in late spring.[4] Lopez successfully defended the title in 1979, sinking a ten-foot (3 m) birdie putt on the final hole to edge Hollis Stacy by a stroke.[5]

The last three editions were hampered by heavy rains; 1980 was 54 holes as the first round was washed out,[6] and 1981 was reduced to 36 holes with no weekend play.[7] The next year it went the full 72 holes, but the final round was postponed a day to Monday.[1] Sally Little was the champion the last two years.

It was not succeeded by any event in the Los Angeles area in 1983.

Tournament names

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Winners

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Year Dates Champion Country Winning
score
To par Margin
of victory
Winner's
share ($)
Purse ($) Notes
Olympia Gold Classic
1982 Mar 11–15 Sally Little (2)   South Africa 75-74-69-70=288 −4 2 strokes 22,500 150,000 [1]
1981 Feb 26–27 Sally Little   South Africa 71-71=142 −4 1 stroke  22,500 150,000 [7]
Sunstar Classic
1980 Mar 6–9 Joanne Carner   United States 69-71-67=207 −9 3 strokes 18,750 125,000 [6]
1979 Mar 8–11 Nancy Lopez (2)   United States 70-71-70-69=280 −8 1 stroke  15,000 100,000 [3]
1978 Mar 9–12 Nancy Lopez   United States 72-72-70-71=285 −3 1 stroke  15,000 100,000 [5]
  • Due to heavy rain, final round in 1982 was held on Monday; no weekend rounds in 1981, and no opening round in 1980.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Little draws big paycheck with no guilt". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 16, 1982. p. 2C.
  2. ^ "LPGA Tournament Chronology 1980-1989" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  3. ^ a b "Lopez bids for premier rank in golf". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. March 13, 1978. p. 3C.
  4. ^ "Lopez pulls miracle out of her golf bag". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 19, 1978. p. 1D.
  5. ^ a b "Lopez sinks putt on 18th to capture LPGA victory". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 12, 1979. p. 4B.
  6. ^ a b "Carner at top of game and the Sunstar Classic". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. March 10, 1980. p. 5B.
  7. ^ a b "Weather plagues LPGA". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 2, 1981. p. 4B.
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34°01′16″N 117°55′41″W / 34.021°N 117.928°W / 34.021; -117.928