Chevron Championship
The Chevron Championship is a professional women's golf tournament. An event on the LPGA Tour, it is one of the tour's five major championships, and has traditionally been the first of the season since its elevation to major status in 1983. Founded in 1972 by singer and actress Dinah Shore and Colgate-Palmolive chairman David Foster, it was played at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California from its inception through 2022. In 2023, the championship was played in The Woodlands, Texas for the first time at The Club at Carlton Woods - Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | The Woodlands, Texas |
| Established |
|
| Course(s) | The Club at Carlton Woods Jack Nicklaus Signature Course |
| Par | 72 |
| Organized by | |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play - 72 holes |
| Prize fund | US$5.1 million |
| Month played | April |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 269 Dottie Pepper (1999) |
| To par | −19 Dottie Pepper (1999) |
| Current champion | |
| Lilia Vu | |
| 2023 Chevron Championship | |
Sometimes referred to as The Dinah Shore in deference to its founder, the tournament has had many official sponsored titles, all of which included Shore's name until 2000; since then it has been titled as the Nabisco Championship, Kraft Nabisco Championship, and ANA Inspiration.
The championship's time at Mission Hills is associated with several traditions; in 1988, Amy Alcott established a tradition of the event's champion diving into the pond that surrounds the 18th hole, while an annual women's festival coinciding with the championship has been held since 1991, attracting a large number of female tourists to the Rancho Mirage area for the events annually. In 2022, the championship was held in Mission Hills for the final time; as part of its new title sponsorship agreement with Chevron Corporation, the championship will be moved to a new venue in 2023, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Club at Carlton Woods to coincide with the company's move to the Greater Houston area.[1]
History edit
Founded in 1972 by Colgate-Palmolive chairman David Foster,[2][3] and entertainer Dinah Shore,[4] the championship has been classified as a major since 1983.[5] Since its inception, it has been held annually at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, southeast of Palm Springs.[4] It is the first major of the year, usually played in late March or early April.
At its debut in 1972 as a 54-hole event, it was the richest event in women's golf;[4][6][7] its purse was more than double that of the LPGA Championship or the U.S. Women's Open. The first edition invited all winners of tour events from the previous ten seasons.[4]
After over twenty years of sponsorship by Nabisco, and parent company Kraft Foods, Japanese airline All Nippon Airways became the title sponsor of the tournament in late 2014, renaming the tournament the ANA Inspiration (in reference to its slogan "Inspiration of Japan").[8]
In October 2021, a six-year sponsorship agreement with energy company Chevron Corporation was announced that would see the tournament renamed The Chevron Championship, with an increased prize fund of $5 million in 2022, up from $3 million in 2021. It was also announced that the tournament will be moved to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Club at Carlton Woods in the Greater Houston area in 2023, with a change of dates. Dinah Shore's daughter Melissa Montgomery established an advisory board to oversee the tournament's transition.[9][10]
Officials intend the date change to allow for network television coverage on NBC,[9][10] it has also been suggested that the tournament was moved in deference to the Augusta National Women's Amateur.[11]
Tournament names edit
| Years | Tournament name |
|---|---|
| 1972–1980 | Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle |
| 1981 | Colgate-Dinah Shore |
| 1982 | Nabisco Dinah Shore Invitational |
| 1983–1999 | Nabisco Dinah Shore |
| 2000–2001 | Nabisco Championship |
| 2002–2014 | Kraft Nabisco Championship |
| 2015–2021 | ANA Inspiration |
| from 2022 | The Chevron Championship |
- Informally, it is commonly referred to as "the Dinah Shore,"
even though her name was removed from the official title in 2000.
The winner's trophy bears Shore's name.
"Poppie's Pond" edit
From 1988 to 2022, the winner traditionally celebrated her victory by jumping in the pond surrounding the 18th green.[12] The pond is known as Champions Lake or "Poppie's Pond" as it was dubbed in 2006 honor of Terry Wilcox, the tournament director from 1994 through 2008; Wilcox is known as "Poppie" to his grandchildren.[13]
Amy Alcott established the tradition in 1988 to celebrate her second win here,[14] and repeated in 1991, including tournament host Dinah Shore.[15] It was not embraced by others until 1994, when Donna Andrews made the leap, followed by Nanci Bowen the next year, and it became an annual tradition.[16][17] In 1998, winner Pat Hurst waded in only up to her knees, as she could not swim.[18][19][20][21]
Originally a very natural water hazard, the portion near the bridge it is now lined with concrete and has treated water, more like a swimming pool.
With the tournament's new home in The Woodlands, Texas in 2023, the traditional leap into the pond by the winner still remained.
Associated events edit
A women's festival known as the Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend has been held in the city of Palm Springs, California during the week of the tournament, featuring concerts by female musicians, comedy shows, parties, and other events and networking opportunities. The Dinah Shore Weekend was first organized in 1991 by promoter Mariah Hanson, expanding upon afterparties that had become associated with the tournament.[22][23]
A large number of lesbians and bisexual women visit the Palm Springs area for the festival and tournament;[22][23] the Dinah Shore Weekend was described by Los Angeles as the "largest annual gathering of queer women and their female allies",[24] while the tournament as a whole had been described as "spring break for lesbians."[25][26]
Winners edit
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Purse ($) | Winner's share ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Apr 20–23 | Lilia Vu | United States | 68-69-73-68 | 278 | −10 | Playoff | 5,100,000 | 765,000 |
| 2022 | Mar 31 – Apr 3 | Jennifer Kupcho | United States | 66-70-64-74 | 274 | −14 | 2 strokes | 5,000,000 | 750,000 |
| 2021 | Apr 1–4 | Patty Tavatanakit | Thailand | 66-69-67-68 | 270 | −18 | 2 strokes | 3,100,000 | 465,000 |
| 2020 | Sep 10–13 | Mirim Lee | South Korea | 70-65-71-67 | 273 | −15 | Playoff | 3,100,000 | 465,000 |
| 2019 | Apr 4–7 | Ko Jin-young | South Korea | 69-71-68-70 | 278 | −10 | 3 strokes | 3,000,000 | 450,000 |
| 2018 | Mar 29 – Apr 2 ^ | Pernilla Lindberg | Sweden | 65-67-70-71 | 273 | −15 | Playoff | 2,800,000 | 420,000 |
| 2017 | Mar 30 – Apr 2 | Ryu So-yeon | South Korea | 68-69-69-68 | 274 | −14 | Playoff | 2,700,000 | 405,000 |
| 2016 | Mar 31 – Apr 3 | Lydia Ko | New Zealand | 70-68-69-69 | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | 2,600,000 | 390,000 |
| 2015 | Apr 2–5 | Brittany Lincicome (2) | United States | 72-68-70-69 | 279 | −9 | Playoff | 2,500,000 | 375,000 |
| 2014 | Apr 3–6 | Lexi Thompson | United States | 73-64-69-68 | 274 | −14 | 3 strokes | 2,000,000 | 300,000 |
| 2013 | Apr 4–7 | Inbee Park | South Korea | 70-67-67-69 | 273 | −15 | 4 strokes | 2,000,000 | 300,000 |
| 2012 | Mar 29 – Apr 1 | Sun-Young Yoo | South Korea | 69-69-72-69 | 279 | −9 | Playoff | 2,000,000 | 300,000 |
| 2011 | Mar 31 – Apr 3 | Stacy Lewis | United States | 66-69-71-69 | 275 | −13 | 3 strokes | 2,000,000 | 300,000 |
| 2010 | Apr 1–4 | Yani Tseng | Taiwan | 69-71-67-68 | 275 | −13 | 1 stroke | 2,000,000 | 300,000 |
| 2009 | Apr 2–5 | Brittany Lincicome | United States | 66-74-70-69 | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | 2,000,000 | 300,000 |
| 2008 | Apr 3–6 | Lorena Ochoa | Mexico | 68-71-71-67 | 277 | −11 | 5 strokes | 2,000,000 | 300,000 |
| 2007 | Mar 29 – Apr 1 | Morgan Pressel | United States | 74-72-70-69 | 285 | −3 | 1 stroke | 2,000,000 | 300,000 |
| 2006 | Mar 30 – Apr 2 | Karrie Webb (2) | Australia | 70-68-76-65 | 279 | −9 | Playoff | 1,800,000 | 270,000 |
| 2005 | Mar 24–27 | Annika Sörenstam (3) | Sweden | 70-69-66-68 | 273 | −15 | 8 strokes | 1,800,000 | 270,000 |
| 2004 | Mar 25–28 | Grace Park | South Korea | 72-69-67-69 | 277 | −11 | 1 stroke | 1,600,000 | 240,000 |
| 2003 | Mar 27–30 | Patricia Meunier-Lebouc | France | 70-68-70-73 | 281 | −7 | 1 stroke | 1,600,000 | 240,000 |
| 2002 | Mar 28–31 | Annika Sörenstam (2) | Sweden | 70-71-71-68 | 280 | −8 | 1 stroke | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2001 | Mar 22–25 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 72-70-70-69 | 281 | −7 | 3 strokes | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2000 | Mar 23–26 | Karrie Webb | Australia | 67-70-67-70 | 274 | −14 | 10 strokes | 1,250,000 | 187,500 |
| 1999 | Mar 25–28 | Dottie Pepper (2) | United States | 70-66-67-66 | 269 | −19 | 6 strokes | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 1998 | Mar 26–29 | Pat Hurst | United States | 68-72-70-71 | 281 | −7 | 1 stroke | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 1997 | Mar 27–30 | Betsy King (3) | United States | 71-67-67-71 | 276 | −12 | 2 strokes | 900,000 | 135,000 |
| 1996 | Mar 28–31 | Patty Sheehan | United States | 71-72-67-71 | 281 | −7 | 1 stroke | 900,000 | 135,000 |
| 1995 | Mar 23–26 | Nanci Bowen | United States | 69-75-71-70 | 285 | −3 | 1 stroke | 850,000 | 127,500 |
| 1994 | Mar 24–27 | Donna Andrews | United States | 70-69-67-70 | 276 | −12 | 2 strokes | 700,000 | 105,000 |
| 1993 | Mar 25–28 | Helen Alfredsson | Sweden | 69-71-72-72 | 284 | −4 | 2 strokes | 700,000 | 105,000 |
| 1992 | Mar 26–29 | Dottie Mochrie | United States | 69-71-70-69 | 279 | −9 | Playoff | 700,000 | 105,000 |
| 1991 | Mar 28–31 | Amy Alcott (3) | United States | 67-70-68-68 | 273 | −15 | 8 strokes | 600,000 | 90,000 |
| 1990 | Mar 29 – Apr 1 | Betsy King (2) | United States | 69-70-69-75 | 283 | −5 | 2 strokes | 600,000 | 90,000 |
| 1989 | Mar 30 – Apr 2 | Juli Inkster (2) | United States | 66-69-73-71 | 279 | −9 | 5 strokes | 500,000 | 80,000 |
| 1988 | Mar 31 – Apr 3 | Amy Alcott (2) | United States | 71-66-66-71 | 274 | −14 | 2 strokes | 500,000 | 80,000 |
| 1987 | Apr 2–5 | Betsy King | United States | 68-75-72-68 | 283 | −5 | Playoff | 500,000 | 80,000 |
| 1986 | Apr 3–6 | Pat Bradley | United States | 68-72-69-71 | 280 | −8 | 2 strokes | 430,000 | 75,000 |
| 1985 | Apr 4–7 | Alice Miller | United States | 70-68-70-67 | 275 | −13 | 3 strokes | 400,000 | 55,000 |
| 1984 | Apr 5–8 | Juli Inkster | United States | 70-73-69-68 | 280 | −8 | Playoff | 400,000 | 55,000 |
| 1983 | Mar 31 – Apr 3 | Amy Alcott | United States | 70-70-70-72 | 282 | −6 | 2 strokes | 400,000 | 55,000 |
^ Play extended one day due to darkness.
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Winners as a non-major edit
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Purse ($) | Winner's share ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Sally Little | South Africa | 76-67-71-64 | 278 | −10 | 3 strokes | 300,000 | 45,000 |
| 1981 | Nancy Lopez | United States | 71-73-69-64 | 277 | −11 | 2 strokes | 250,000 | 37,500 |
| 1980 | Donna Caponi | United States | 71-67-66-71 | 275 | −13 | 2 strokes | 250,000 | 37,500 |
| 1979 | Sandra Post (2) | Canada | 68-70-68-70 | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | 250,000 | 37,500 |
| 1978 | Sandra Post | Canada | 65-75-72-72 | 283 | −5 | Playoff | 240,000 | 36,000 |
| 1977 | Kathy Whitworth | United States | 76-70-72-71 | 289 | +1 | 1 stroke | 240,000 | 36,000 |
| 1976 | Judy Rankin | United States | 74-72-71-68 | 285 | −3 | 3 strokes | 185,000 | 32,000 |
| 1975 | Sandra Palmer | United States | 70-70-70-73 | 283 | −5 | 1 stroke | 180,000 | 32,000 |
| 1974 | Jo Ann Prentice | United States | 71-71-74-73 | 289 | +1 | Playoff | 179,000 | 32,000 |
| 1973 | Mickey Wright | United States | 71-74-71-68 | 284 | −4 | 2 strokes | 135,000 | 25,000 |
| 1972 | Jane Blalock | United States | 71-70-72 | 213 | −3 | 3 strokes | 110,000 | 20,050 |
Multiple champions edit
Multiple winners of the event as a major championship.
| Champion | Country | Total | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Alcott | United States | 3 | 1983, 1988, 1991 |
| Betsy King | United States | 3 | 1987, 1990, 1997 |
| Annika Sörenstam ‡ | Sweden | 3 | 2001, 2002, 2005 |
| Juli Inkster ‡ | United States | 2 | 1984, 1989 |
| Dottie Pepper | United States | 2 | 1992, 1999 |
| Karrie Webb ‡ | Australia | 2 | 2000, 2006 |
| Brittany Lincicome | United States | 2 | 2009, 2015 |
| style="background: #DCDCDC"|Deceased golfer † |
|---|
| Career Grand Slam winners ‡ |
Through 2018, the only successful defense of the title (as a major) was by Sörenstam in 2002.[27]
- As a non-major (1972–1982), the only multiple winner was Sandra Post (1978, 1979).[28]
References edit
- ^ "The Chevron Championship Embarks on New Era at the Club at Carlton Woods". The Chevron Championship. June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ McDermott, Barry (April 29, 1974). "One for the money, two for the show". Sports Illustrated. p. 26.
- ^ Pileggi, Sarah (April 12, 1982). "The way to win a lot with a Little". Sports Illustrated. p. 32.
- ^ a b c d McDermott, Barry (April 24, 1972). "Bracing for a rich breakthrough". Sports Illustrated. p. 26.
- ^ McDermott, Barry (April 11, 1983). "Winning was her just dessert". Sports Illustrated. p. 34.
- ^ "Rankin maintains lead". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. April 16, 1972. p. 3C.
- ^ "Blalock wins title despite back pain". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. April 17, 1972. p. 5B.
- ^ . IMG. November 18, 2014. Archived from the original on December 1, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ a b Levins, Keely (October 5, 2021). "LPGA Tour making major changes to year's first major, with new name, purse, course and sponsor". Golf Digest. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ a b Murray, Ewan (October 5, 2021). "Women's golf major gains sponsor and bigger purse amid venue uncertainty". The Guardian. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ Powers, Shad (April 2, 2022). "Veteran Christina Kim has harsh words for Augusta National as LPGA major is forced to move". The Desert Sun. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "LPGA Top Ten: Leaps into Poppie's Pond". YouTube. (LPGA Tour). 2015. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ "Poppie's Pond". The Chevron Championship. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Alcott takes Dinah Shore, then takes victory plunge". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. April 4, 1988. p. 2C.
- ^ Florence, Mal (April 1, 1991). "Alcott repeats her win and her dive". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times). p. 2C.
- ^ "Bowen's first LPGA victory a major one". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 27, 1995. p. 2B.
- ^ Crouse, Karen (April 2, 2011). "At women's Masters, plunge in Poppie's Pond is victory lap". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ "Win has Hurst taking a plunge". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). wire services. March 30, 1998. p. B10.
- ^ Shipnuck, Alan (April 6, 1998). "Hurst in a burst". Sports Illustrated. p. G38.
- ^ Zullo, Allan (2001). Astonishing but True Golf Facts. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-0740714269.
- ^ . Kraft Nabisco Championship. 2006. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
- ^ a b Mansfield, Stephanie (April 7, 1997). "Major party". Sports Illustrated. p. G6.
- ^ a b . The Observer. May 6, 2001. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- ^ Martin, Brittany (March 12, 2018). "How a Small Party in the Desert Became the Biggest Lesbian Festival in America Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ "Don't Quote Me: Dinah Shore Weekend". AfterEllen.com. 2006. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
- ^ Hall, Carla (March 31, 1996). "Dinah Shore Week: It's Ultimate Girls' Night Out". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Sorenstam holds on for victory". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. April 1, 2002. p. 5C.
- ^ "Lopez succumbs to challenge by Post". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. April 9, 1979. p. 14.
External links edit
- Official website
- LPGA official tournament microsite
- Mission Hills Country Club – golf
- PGA of America – Mission Hills Country Club, Dinah Shore course