Milwaukee Open Invitational

The Milwaukee Open Invitational was a professional golf tournament in Wisconsin on the PGA Tour. It was played seven times from 1955 through 1961 at different courses in the Milwaukee area.

Milwaukee Open Invitational
Tournament information
LocationMilwaukee metro area,
Wisconsin, U.S.
Established1955
Course(s)North Hills Country Club
(1960–1961)
Tripoli Country Club
(1956–1959)
Blue Mound Country Club
(1955)
Par70
Length6,410 yards (5,861 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$30,000 [2]
Month playedJuly - August
Final year1961
Tournament record score
Aggregate264 Cary Middlecoff (1958)
To par–16 as above
Final champion
Bruce Crampton, 272 (–8)
Milwaukee
Location in the United States
Milwaukee
Location in Wisconsin

During its final year, Arnold Palmer skipped the tournament to prepare for the British Open,[3] which he won. The field at North Hills Country Club in Menomonee Falls did include 21-year-old Jack Nicklaus of Ohio State,[1] already a veteran of eight majors and the reigning NCAA champion, he won his second U.S. Amateur a month later.[4] The purse was $30,000 and Bruce Crampton won by a stroke; his winner's share was $4,300.[2] Nicklaus was three strokes back at 275 (−5), tied for sixth.

Two won the event twice, both at different courses: Cary Middlecoff (1955, 1958) and Ken Venturi (1957, 1960).

Miller Brewing Company was the title sponsor for the first five editions; the tournament was initiated in 1955 with a five-year agreement, part of the company's centennial celebration.[5][6]

The tournament was played at three courses in the Milwaukee area:

Venue City Events Years Coordinates
Blue Mound Country ClubWauwatosa1195543.068°N 88.041°W / 43.068; -88.041
Tripoli Country ClubMilwaukee41956–195943.153°N 87.967°W / 43.153; -87.967
North Hills Country ClubMenomonee Falls21960–196143.151°N 88.077°W / 43.151; -88.077

Blue Mound hosted the PGA Championship in 1933. The PGA Tour returned in 1968 with the Greater Milwaukee Open, which was played for 42 years, through 2009; it was played twice at Tripoli (1971, 1972).

Winners

Milwaukee Open Invitational

Miller Open Invitational

Miller High Life Open

  • 1957 Ken Venturi
  • 1956 Ed Furgol
  • 1955 Cary Middlecoff

See also

Other former PGA Tour events in Milwaukee

References
  1. "Massengale, Hawkins knotted". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 21, 1961. p. 2B.
  2. "Aussie wins Milwaukee with 272". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. (Florida). Associated Press. July 24, 1961. p. 9.
  3. "Palmer bypasses Milwaukee event". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. (Florida). Associated Press. July 19, 1961. p. 7.
  4. "Nicklaus-Nicklaus set to compete in Milwaukee Open". Ocala Star-Banner. (Florida). Associated Press. September 11, 1985. p. 4C.
  5. "Miller to quit Open golf meet". Milwaukee Sentinel. September 23, 1959. p. 2 part 2.
  6. "Miller Open golf tourney dropped by brewery". Milwaukee Journal. September 23, 1959. p. 17, part 2.

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