Lucky International Open

The Lucky International Open was a PGA Tour event in the 1960s in San Francisco, California. It was played at Harding Park Golf Club, a public course across Lake Merced from the more glamorous Olympic Club. One of the founders and sponsors of the Lucky International Open was Eugene Selvage, owner of the Lucky Lager Brewing Company.

San Francisco Open Invitational

Tournament information
Location	San Francisco, California
Established	1961
Course(s)	Harding Park Golf Club
Par	71
Length	6,677 yards (6,105 m)^[1]
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Format	Stroke play
Month played	October
Final year	1969
Tournament record score
Aggregate	269 Billy Casper (1968) 269 Steve Spray (1969)
To par	−15 as above
Final champion
Steve Spray
Location map
Harding Park GC Location in the United States Show map of the United States Harding Park GC Location in California Show map of California

Following surgery on his hands the previous summer, San Francisco native Ken Venturi won his 14th and final PGA Tour event here in January 1966, taking the first prize of $8,500 with his parents in the gallery.^[2][3][4] The deteriorating conditions and antiquated facilities at Harding Park caused the PGA Tour to leave at the end of the decade.

The final edition in 1969 was played in late October without the Lucky name and had a winner's share of $20,000. Steve Spray gained his only tour victory, one stroke ahead of runner-up Chi-Chi Rodríguez,^[5][6] the playoff winner in January 1964.^[7]

For its first six years, it was played in late January, the week after the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Not played in 1967, it was held in mid-autumn in 1968 and 1969.

Of the eight winners, six were major champions; five already and George Archer (1965) won his at the 1969 Masters.

Winners

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Winner's share ($)	Ref.
San Francisco Open Invitational
1969	Steve Spray	269	−15	1 stroke	Chi-Chi Rodríguez	20,000	^[5]^[6]
Lucky International Open
1968	Billy Casper	269	−15	4 strokes	Raymond Floyd   Don Massengale	20,000	^[8]
1967: No tournament
1966	Ken Venturi	273	−11	1 stroke	Frank Beard	8,500	^[2]^[3]
1965	George Archer	278	−6	Playoff	Bob Charles	8,500	^[9]
1964	Chi-Chi Rodríguez	272	−12	Playoff	Don January	7,500	^[7]
1963	Jack Burke Jr.	276	−8	3 strokes	Don January	9,000	^[10]
1962	Gene Littler	274	−10	2 strokes	George Knudson	9,000	^[11]
1961	Gary Player	272	−12	2 strokes	George Bayer   Don Whitt	9,000	^[12]

References

1. "George Archer shoots 67 to expand S.F. Open lead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 25, 1969. p. 12.
2. "Venturi fires 5 under 66 to capture 'Lucky' by one". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. February 1, 1966. p. 2, part 2.
3. "Venturi's 273 wins Lucky golf title". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. February 1, 1966. p. 1, section 3.
4. Kroichick, Ron (October 3, 2005). "The Amex at Harding Park". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
5. "Persevering Spray finally lands purse". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. October 27, 1969. p. 35.
6. "Steve Spray's only birdie delivers SF Open victory". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 27, 1969. p. 13.
7. "Rodriguez wins Lucky golf playoff". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 28, 1964. p. 28.
8. "Casper strikes it Lucky with 66". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. November 4, 1968. p. 5C.
9. "Archer captures Lucky tourney". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). UPI. February 1, 1965. p. 9.
10. "Burke's San Francisco win his first since July 1961". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Associated Press). January 28, 1963. p. 3B.
11. "Rally by Littler brings title". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Associated Press). January 29, 1962. p. 2B.
12. "Player captures Bay Area tourney". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Associated Press). January 30, 1961. p. 3B.

37°43′26″N 122°29′35″W / 37.724°N 122.493°W / 37.724; -122.493