Milwaukee Open Invitational
During its final year, Arnold Palmer skipped the tournament to prepare for the British Open, which he won. The field at North Hills Country Club in Menomonee Falls did include 21-year-old Jack Nicklaus of Ohio State, already a veteran of eight majors and the reigning NCAA champion, he won his second U.S. Amateur a month later. The purse was $30,000 and Bruce Crampton won by a stroke; his winner's share was $4,300. Nicklaus was three strokes back at 275 (−5), tied for sixth.
Two won the event twice, both at different courses: Cary Middlecoff (1955, 1958) and Ken Venturi (1957, 1960).
Miller Brewing Company was the title sponsor for the first five editions; the tournament was initiated in 1955 with a five-year agreement, part of the company's centennial celebration.
Venues
The tournament was played at three courses in the Milwaukee area:
| Venue | City | Events | Years | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mound Country Club | Wauwatosa | 1 | 1955 | 43°04′05″N 88°02′28″W / 43.068°N 88.041°W |
| Tripoli Country Club | Milwaukee | 4 | 1956–1959 | 43°09′11″N 87°58′01″W / 43.153°N 87.967°W |
| North Hills Country Club | Menomonee Falls | 2 | 1960–1961 | 43°09′04″N 88°04′37″W / 43.151°N 88.077°W |
Blue Mound hosted the PGA Championship in 1933. The PGA Tour returned in 1968 with the Greater Milwaukee Open, which was played for 42 years, through 2009; it was played twice at Tripoli (1971, 1972).
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Open Invitational | |||||
| 1961 |  Bruce Crampton |
272 | −8 | 1 stroke |  Gay Brewer Bob Goalby
|
| 1960 | Ken Venturi (2) |
271 | −9 | 2 strokes | Billy Casper
|
| Miller Open Invitational | |||||
| 1959 | Gene Littler |
265 | −15 | 1 stroke | Bob Rosburg Bo Wininger
|
| 1958 | Cary Middlecoff (2) |
264 | −16 | 2 strokes | Bob Rosburg
|
| Miller High Life Open | |||||
| 1957 | Ken Venturi |
267 | −13 | 5 strokes |  Al Balding Sam Snead
|
| 1956 | Ed Furgol |
265 | −15 | 4 strokes | Gene Littler
|
| 1955 | Cary Middlecoff |
265 | −15 | 4 strokes | Julius Boros Ted Kroll Mike Souchak
|
See also
Other former PGA Tour events in Milwaukee
- Greater Milwaukee Open, 1968–2009
- Blue Ribbon Open, 1951
- Milwaukee Open, 1940
References
- ^ "Massengale, Hawkins knotted". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 21, 1961. p. 2B.
- ^ "Aussie wins Milwaukee with 272". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. (Florida). Associated Press. July 24, 1961. p. 9.
- ^ "Palmer bypasses Milwaukee event". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. (Florida). Associated Press. July 19, 1961. p. 7.
- ^ "Nicklaus-Nicklaus set to compete in Milwaukee Open". Ocala Star-Banner. (Florida). Associated Press. September 11, 1985. p. 4C.
- ^ "Miller to quit Open golf meet". Milwaukee Sentinel. September 23, 1959. p. 2 part 2.
- ^ "Miller Open golf tourney dropped by brewery". Milwaukee Journal. September 23, 1959. p. 17, part 2.
External links
- North Hills Country Club – 1960–61 host
- Tripoli Country Club – 1956–59 host
- Blue Mound Golf and Country Club – 1955 host