National Airlines Open Invitational

National Airlines Open Invitational

Tournament information
Location	Hialeah, Florida
Established	1969
Course(s)	Country Club of Miami (West Course)
Par	72
Length	6,970 yards (6,370 m)
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	US$200,000
Month played	March
Final year	1971
Tournament record score
Aggregate	274 Bob Menne (1970) 274 Lee Trevino (1970) 274 Gary Player (1971)
To par	−14 as above
Final champion
Gary Player
Location map
CC of Miami Location in the United States Show map of the United States CC of Miami Location in Florida Show map of Florida

The National Airlines Open Invitational was a professional golf tournament in south Florida on the PGA Tour. It was held in late March in Hialeah at the West Course of the Country Club of Miami in 1969, 1970, and 1971^[1] At the time, it was among the richest events on tour, with a $200,000 purse and a $40,000 winner's share.^[2]

Gary Player was the final champion in 1971, two strokes ahead of defending champion Lee Trevino,^[3] who won the previous year in a playoff over Bob Menne.^[4] Player's win was his 75th worldwide.

In 1972, it was replaced on the schedule by the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic in Lauderhill, initially a month earlier in late February. Miami-based National Airlines co-sponsored its second edition in 1973, also won by Trevino,^[5] but not after. That tournament ended its affiliation with Gleason after 1980 and continues today as The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens.

The other PGA Tour event in the Miami area was the Doral Open, which began in 1962 and was usually played in early March. It was sponsored by competing carrier Eastern Air Lines, also Miami-based, from 1970 through 1986.

Winners

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Winner's share ($)	Ref.
1971	Gary Player	274	−14	2 strokes	Lee Trevino	40,000	[3]
1970	Lee Trevino	274	−14	Playoff	Bob Menne	40,000	[4]
1969	Bunky Henry	278	−10	1 stroke	Bruce Crampton Bob Murphy Dan Sikes Dave Stockton	40,000	[2]

References

1. "History of National Airlines Open". Retrieved 2007-11-18.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
2. "Henry gains Miami Victory". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. March 31, 1969. p. 20.
3. "Player - 4 strokes isn't safe". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. March 29, 1971. p. 1-C.
4. "No jokes in playoff; Trevino tips Menne". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 30, 1970. p. 11.
5. "Trevino benefits as foe hits snag". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. February 26, 1973. p. 14.

External links

• Country Club of Miami

25.944°N 80.314°W / 25.944; -80.314