1981 U.S. Women's Open

1981 U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
DatesJuly 23–26, 1981
LocationLaGrange, Illinois
Course(s)La Grange Country Club
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
Statistics
Par72
Length6,204 yards (5,673 m)[1][2]
Field150 players, 70 after cut
Cut153 (+9)
Prize fund$150,000
Winner's share$22,000
Champion
United States Pat Bradley
279 (−9)
← 1980
1982 →
La Grange  is located in the United States
La Grange 
La Grange 
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Location in the United States
La Grange  Country Club is located in Illinois
La Grange  Country Club
La Grange 
Country Club
class=notpageimage|
Location in Illinois

The 1981 U.S. Women's Open was the 36th U.S. Women's Open, held July 23–26 at La Grange Country Club in LaGrange, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago.

Three strokes back after 54 holes, Pat Bradley shot a final round 66 (−6) to win her only U.S. Women's Open, one stroke ahead of runner-up Beth Daniel.[1][2][3][4] It was the second of Bradley's six major titles.

Kathy Whitworth had her best chance to win the U.S. Women's Open, the only major championship to elude her. She co-led after 18 and 36 holes,[5] and led by a stroke over Bonnie Lauer after the third round.[6] Both faded on Sunday as Whitworth carded a 74 (+2) to finish five strokes back in solo third. With that, she became the first to exceed one million dollars in career earnings on the LPGA Tour.[7]

The course hosted the championship seven years earlier in 1974.

Final leaderboard

Sunday, July 26, 1981

Place Player Score To par Money ($)
1 United States Pat Bradley 71-74-68-66=279 −9 22,000
2 United States Beth Daniel 69-74-69-68=280 −8 12,500
3 United States Kathy Whitworth 69-70-71-74=284 −4 9,500
T4 United States Bonnie Lauer 72-67-72-76=287 −1 7,000
United States Cindy Hill 76-70-69-72=287
T6 United States Donna Caponi 71-74-72-73=290 +2 4,562
United States JoAnne Carner 73-71-72-74=290
United States Marlene Floyd 71-72-73-74=290
United States Patty Sheehan 74-74-72-70=290
T10 United States Amelia Rorer 73-77-69-73=292 +4 2,967
United States Debbie Massey 71-72-72-77=292
United States Hollis Stacy 73-75-71-73=292
South Africa Sally Little 74-72-76-70=292
United States Sandra Haynie 75-73-73-71=292
United States Shelley Hamlin 70-75-75-72=292

Source:[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bradley shows she can't be overlooked". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. July 27, 1981. p. 4B.
  2. ^ a b "Bradley shoots past field". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. July 27, 1981. p. D2.
  3. ^ McDermott, Barry (August 3, 1981). "A champion and a winner". Sports Illustrated. p. 42.
  4. ^ Kausler, Don Jr. (July 27, 1981). "Bradley wins Open by 1". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
  5. ^ "Whitworth touchy about Open hopes". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 25, 1981. p. 3C.
  6. ^ "Whitworth alone in lead". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 26, 1981. p. 7C.
  7. ^ "Women's Open emotional". St. Petersburg Independent. (Florida). Associated Press. July 27, 1981. p. 1C.

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