1961 U.S. Women's Open

The 1961 U.S. Women's Open was the 16th U.S. Women's Open, held June 29 to July 1 at the Lower Course of Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.

1961 U.S. Women's Open

Tournament information
Dates	June 29 – July 1, 1961
Location	Springfield, New Jersey
Course(s)	Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course
Organized by	USGA
Tour(s)	LPGA Tour
Format	Stroke play – 72 holes
Statistics
Par	72
Length	6,372 yards (5,827 m)[1]
Field	82: 30 pros, 52 amateurs[2] 41 after cut[3]
Cut	168 (+24)
Prize fund	$8,000
Winner's share	$1,800
Champion
Mickey Wright
293 (+5)
← 1960 1962 →

Baltusrol 
Golf Club 

Location in the United States

Baltusrol 
Golf Club 

Location in New Jersey

Mickey Wright, age 26, won the third of her four U.S. Women's Open titles, six strokes ahead of runner-up Betsy Rawls, a four-time winner and the defending champion.^[1] It was Wright's third win at the U.S. Women's Open in four years, and the sixth of her thirteen major titles.

After opening with a par 72 on Thursday to co-lead,^[2] Wright shot an 80 (+8) in the second round on Friday and dropped four shots back after 36 holes.^[4][5] A three-under 69 on Saturday morning regained the lead after 54 holes, two strokes ahead of Rawls.^[1][6]

The Lower Course has hosted the U.S. Open four times (two won by Jack Nicklaus) and a PGA Championship, won by Phil Mickelson. The U.S. Women's Open returned to Baltusrol in 1985, but was played on the Upper Course.

Final leaderboard

Saturday, July 1, 1961

Place	Player	Score	To par	Money ($)
1	Mickey Wright	72-80-69-72=293	+5	1,800
2	Betsy Rawls	74-76-73-76=299	+11	1,200
3	Ruth Jessen	75-73-77-75=300	+12	800
4	Louise Suggs	78-74-76-73=301	+13	650
5	Marilynn Smith	77-74-77-75=303	+15	500
6	JoAnn Prentice	72-76-80-76=304	+16	400
T7	Barbara Romack	77-77-78-74=306	+18	350
	Marlene Streit (a)	74-77-77-78=306		0
T9	Carolyn Cudone (a)	77-76-75-80=308	+20	0
	Shirley Englehorn	80-73-78-77=308		313
	Mary Lena Faulk	78-77-80-73=308

Source:^[1][6]

References

1. "Wright cards 72 hole 293 to win Open title". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. July 2, 1961. p. 4B.
2. "Wright, Prentice grab Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. June 30, 1961. p. 14.
3. "Jessen, Prentice share Open first". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 1, 1961. p. 8.
4. Brown, Gwilym (July 10, 1961). "Women's golf finds a new Zaharias". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
5. "Ruth Jessen, JoAnn Prentice share lead". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 1, 1961. p. 9.
6. "Miss Wright takes third Open crown". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 2, 1961. p. 1, sports.

External links

• USGA final leaderboard
• U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship
• U.S. Women's Open – past champions – 1961
• Baltusrol Golf Club

40.698°N 74.333°W / 40.698; -74.333