1953 U.S. Women's Open

1953 U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 25–28, 1953
LocationRochester, New York
Course(s)Country Club of Rochester
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play – 72 holes
Statistics
Par74
Length6,417 yards (5,868 m)[1]
Field37: 17 pros, 20 amateurs
Prize fund$7,500
Winner's share$2,000
Champion
United States Betsy Rawls
302 (+6), playoff
← 1952
1954 →
Rochester is located in the United States
Rochester
Rochester
Rochester is located in New York
Rochester
Rochester

The 1953 U.S. Women's Open was the eighth U.S. Women's Open, held June 25–28 at the Country Club of Rochester in Rochester, New York. It was the first U.S. Women's Open conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA),[2][3][4] and the final two rounds were played on Saturday.[5]

Betsy Rawls won an 18-hole playoff on Sunday by six strokes over runner-up Jackie Pung, 71 to 77. It was the third of eight major championships for Rawls and the second of four U.S. Women's Opens.

Patty Berg set a course record with a 71 on Thursday and was the 36-hole leader on Friday evening, eight strokes ahead of the field.[1][6] Her final two rounds of 80 and 79 on Saturday dropped her to solo third, one stroke out of the playoff.[7]

Notably absent was two-time champion Babe Zaharias, who was recovering from colon cancer surgery.[2][8][9] She returned in 1954 and won by a record twelve strokes in her final U.S. Women's Open.

  1. ^ a b "Berg blows to an 80 in 3d round of Open". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. June 27, 1953. p. 8.
  2. ^ a b Talbot, Gayle (June 24, 1953). "First Open championship in play at Rochester, NY Thurs". Nashua Telegraph. New Hampshire. Associated Press. p. 15.
  3. ^ "Rawls is winner in Women's Open". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. June 29, 1953. p. 16.
  4. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (July 7, 2002). "Founders marvel at tour's success". Toledo Blade. Ohio. p. 5, section JF.
  5. ^ "Pung, Rawls tie in women's golf". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. June 28, 1953. p. 3C.
  6. ^ "Patty Berg lengthens lead in Open tourney". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. June 26, 1953. p. 13.
  7. ^ "Rawls, Pung in Open playoff". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. June 28, 1953. p. 4, sports.
  8. ^ Considine, Bob (August 6, 1956). "Babe Zaharias, greatest girl athlete of all time, fights gamely in big battle". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Babe Zaharias loses match with cancer, dies in sleep". Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. September 27, 1956. p. 8.