The LPGA at Glen Echo
1954 St. Louis Open
1964 Squirt Open
1970 Johnny Londoff Open
The 1954 St. Louis Open
The LPGA in the 1950s was a fledgling organization. At many events only a dozen or so professional women golfers arrived to compete, supplemented by a large group of talented local players.
Back before the days of large sponsorships for tournaments, the LPGA looked to local sponsors for their events, often with small purses, but enough for the winner, along with those finishing among the top ten, to cover their travel expenses.
The 1954 St. Louis Open began on September 10 with 13 professionals and 17 invited amateurs in the field. Glen Echo members Susie Driscoll, Lorette Medart, Mary Rose Driscoll and Mrs. Frank Bush would be among those who would tee it up that week.
Betsy Rawls got off to a fast start, posting a 67 in the first round to give her a five shot lead. The 28-year-old from Spartanburg, South Carolina was expected to become the heir apparent to Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg and Louise Suggs, but had yet to exhibit the talent that would emerge over the next several years. Coming into the tournament, Berg was the money leader, with Suggs having taken that title during the 1953 campaign.
Rawls has returned to the Tour after a week with her instructor, Harvey Pennick, at Austin Country Club, and her work with the legendary teacher was paying off. Glen Echo's small greens demanded accurate approach shots; something that suited Rawls' game very well.
The second round found Rawls shooting a 3-under ladies par 73, extending her lead to eight shots. A crowd of just over 1,000 had followed her around the grounds and stood amazed at her mastery over the course. Amateurs Jeanne Dobin, along with Susie Driscoll continued to battle for low amateur honors.
Sunday's third round gave Rawls' competitors little consolation as she posted an excellent round of 71, giving her a 211 total and the top prize of $750.00. Beverly Hanson eased into the runner-up position as Betty Hicks, Suggs and Berg all saw their scores slip. The crowd of 1,500 saw Rawls finish birdie-birdie-birdie to end up only a shot off the Ladies record score of 210, set the previous season by Berg. Rawls had already won two U.S. Open titles since turning professional in 1951 and she would capture two more Open crowns before ending her playing days. Low amateur honors were secured by Jeanne Dobbin when she won a two-hole playoff with Mrs. Clyde Webb of Centralia, Illinois, as both players finished the tournament with scores of 242.
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The 1964 Squirt Open
After a hiatus of several seasons, the LPGA returned to St. Louis – and to Glen Echo – in May 1964. The Squirt Open would have a $12,500 purse, nearly four-times what was offered in 1954, and a number of new, talented players were not playing a key role in the success of the Tour.
LPGA Founders such as Betsy Rawls and Marilyn Smith continued to compete successfully, but there was now a player who seemed to dominate the game like no one had since the days of Babe Zaharias: her name was Mickey Wright. She wasn't just a talented player, rather none other than the like of Ben Hogan stated that she had the best swing he had ever seen – man or woman. By May 1964, Wright had already captured two tournaments.
Her 215 total was good enough to claim the winning check of $2,000, one of the largest offered that season. By seasons end Wright would capture a total of 11 events of the 33 tournaments held that year, including the U.S. Open, and took second in another five events.
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Glen Echo member, Chevrolet car dealer Johnny Londoff, hosted the last in a series of seven LPGA event. With the LPGA now a proven attraction, the purses for these events continued to grow. During the seven year run in St. Louis, the total increased from $12,500 in 1964 to $22,000 in 1970, with the winner's share standing at $3,075.00.
Like earlier St. Louis events during the 1960s, the 1970 edition would be held early in the season, May 15-17. Between 1964 and 1970, Norwood Hills had hosted five LPGA tournaments, but the 1970 was scheduled to be the last one in town for several years. Shirley Englehorn entered the event with a strong belief that 1970 would be a good year for her. Since joining the LPGA in 1962, at age 22, she had compiled a solid record, winning seven times and a number of second place finishes. Her accomplishments were in spite of her missing most of the 1965 season after being involved in a serious automobile accident. However, 1970 would clearly be her best season.
Her first round was unspectacular as she posted a 2-over par 74, matching it again in the second round. However, her third round was spectacular as she shot a 68, good enough for an even par 216 for the tournament, and the trophy.
The Johnny Londoff Open was the first of four consecutive tournaments she entered and won, including the LPGA Championship where she defeated Kathy Whitworth by four shots in a playoff for the title.
Amazingly, the 1970 season would effectively be her last. She continued to have ankle problems as a result of the accident and had surgery in 1971 to fuse the bones in her ankles. After a year off, and barely able to walk 18-holes, she made only cameo appearances on Tour after that. Englehorn became a successful teaching professional after leaving the Tour, winning numerous awards from the LPGA's Teaching and the Club Professional Division.
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