Olympia Gold Classic

Olympia Gold Classic
Tournament information
Location Industry, California, U.S.
Established 1978 (as Sunstar Classic)
Course(s) Industry Hills Golf Club
Eisenhower Course
Par 73
Length 6,006 yards (5,492 m)[1]
Tour(s) LPGA Tour
Format Stroke play - 72 holes
Prize fund $150,000
Month played March
Final year 1982
Tournament record score
Aggregate 280 Nancy Lopez (1979)
To par −9 JoAnne Carner (1980)
Final champion
South Africa Sally Little
Industry
Location in the United States
Industry
Location in California
Industry Hills
Golf Club
Rancho Park 
Golf Club 
Locations in L.A. metro area

The Olympia Gold Classic was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour, held in southern California in Los Angeles County from 1978 to 1982.[2] It was played in late winter at the Rancho Park Golf Course in the city of Los Angeles from 1978 to 1980 as the "Sunstar Classic," then moved east to Industry Hills Golf Club in City of Industry in 1981 and 1982, in a renamed event sponsored by Olympia Brewing Company.

History

Nancy Lopez, age 21, won the inaugural edition by a stroke for her second career win;[3] she won her first at the previous tournament in Florida two weeks earlier and won nine times in 1978, including five consecutive in late spring.[4] Lopez successfully defended the title in 1979, sinking a ten-foot (3 m) birdie putt on the final hole to edge Hollis Stacy by a stroke.[5]

The last three editions were hampered by heavy rains; 1980 was 54 holes as the first round was washed out,[6] and 1981 was reduced to 36 holes with no weekend play.[7] The next year it went the full 72 holes, but the final round was postponed a day to Monday.[1] Sally Little was the champion the last two years.

It was not succeeded by any event in the Los Angeles area in 1983.

Tournament names

  • Olympia Gold Classic – (1981–1982), at Industry Hills Golf Club in City of Industry
  • Sunstar Classic – (1978–1980), at Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles

Winners

YearDatesChampionCountryWinning
score		To parMargin
of victory		Winner's
share ($)		Purse ($)Notes
Olympia Gold Classic
1982Mar 11–15Sally Little (2) South Africa75-74-69-70=288−42 strokes22,500150,000[1]
1981Feb 26–27Sally Little South Africa71-71=142−41 stroke 22,500150,000[7]
Sunstar Classic
1980Mar 6–9Joanne Carner United States69-71-67=207−93 strokes18,750125,000[6]
1979Mar 8–11Nancy Lopez (2) United States70-71-70-69=280−81 stroke 15,000100,000[3]
1978Mar 9–12Nancy Lopez United States72-72-70-71=285−31 stroke 15,000100,000[5]
  • Due to heavy rain, final round in 1982 was held on Monday; no weekend rounds in 1981, and no opening round in 1980.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Little draws big paycheck with no guilt". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 16, 1982. p. 2C.
  2. ↑ LPGA Tournament Chronology 1980-1989
  3. 1 2 "Lopez bids for premier rank in golf". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. March 13, 1978. p. 3C.
  4. ↑ "Lopez pulls miracle out of her golf bag". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 19, 1978. p. 1D.
  5. 1 2 "Lopez sinks putt on 18th to capture LPGA victory". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 12, 1979. p. 4B.
  6. 1 2 "Carner at top of game and the Sunstar Classic". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. March 10, 1980. p. 5B.
  7. 1 2 "Weather plagues LPGA". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 2, 1981. p. 4B.

Coordinates: 34°01′16″N 117°55′41″W / 34.021°N 117.928°W / 34.021; -117.928

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