Rubber City Open
The Rubber City Open Invitational, first played as the Rubber City Open in 1954, was the first PGA Tour golf event to be held at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, US. The tournament, last played in 1959, was discontinued as Firestone gained national prominence and attracted bigger events beginning with hosting the 1960 PGA Championship, the American Golf Classic in 1961, and in 1962 the World Series of Golf now known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The first edition in September 1954 had a $15,000 purse with a winner's share of $2,400, won by Tommy Bolt. The sixth and final champion in August 1959 was Tom Nieporte, who won $2,800 from a $20,000 purse.
At the time, there were only 18 holes at Firestone, today's "South Course." The North Course was the second course, added in 1969.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Winner's share ($) |
Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber City Open Invitational | ||||||||
| 1959 |  Tom Nieporte |
267 | −13 | 3 strokes | Bob Goalby |
2,800 | ||
| 1958 | Art Wall Jr. |
269 | −15 | Playoff | Dow Finsterwald |
2,800 | ||
| 1957 | Arnold Palmer |
272 | −12 | Playoff | Doug Ford |
2,800 | ||
| Rubber City Open | ||||||||
| 1956 | Ed Furgol |
271 | −17 | 1 stroke | Arnold Palmer |
3,000 | ||
| 1955 | Henry Ransom |
272 | −16 | Playoff | Jackson Bradley Jack Burke Jr. Doug Ford |
2,400 | ||
| 1954 | Tommy Bolt |
265 | −23 | 5 strokes | Fred Hawkins |
2,400 | ||
References
- ^ "Nieporte grabs Rubber City Open". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. August 24, 1959. p. 13.
- ^ "A Championship Legacy". Firestone Country Club. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2007.
- ^ Howell, Fritz (September 6, 1954). "Tommy Bolt wins Rubber City Open". Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. p. 12.
- ^ "Nieporte captures Rubber City Open". Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. August 24, 1959. p. 10.
- ^ "Furgol Wins With 271". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. September 10, 1956. p. 7.
- ^ "Ransom Wins In Playoff". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. August 1, 1955. p. 9.
External links
41°00′29″N 81°30′29″W / 41.008°N 81.508°W
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