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1946 U.S. Women's Open

Tournament information
Dates	August 26 – September 1
Location	Spokane, Washington
Course(s)	Spokane Country Club
Organized by	WPGA and Spokane Athletic Round Table
Format	Match play
Statistics
Par	74
Length	6,387 yards (5,840 m)
Field	39 players, 32 to match play
Cut	188 (+40)
Prize fund	$19,700
Winner's share	$5,600
Champion
Patty Berg
def. Betty Jameson, 5 and 4
1947 →

The 1946 U.S. Women's Open was a golf tournament contested from August 26 to September 1 at Spokane Country Club, north of Spokane, Washington. It was the first edition of the U.S. Women's Open, and only one to have been played in match play competition. The field of 39 women was reduced to the 32-player match play field by a 36-hole qualifier on Monday and Tuesday. Six professionals and 26 amateurs advanced to match play. The format was 18-hole matches through the quarterfinals, and 36 holes for the semifinals and finals.

Professionals Patty Berg and Betty Jameson reached the Sunday final. Jameson led by three after seven holes, but Berg evened the match and they finished the first 18 holes all square. After lunch, Berg needed only fourteen holes in the afternoon to close out the match at 5 & 4. Berg won $5,600 and Jameson $3,100, all in war bonds. This win was later recognized as Berg's sixth major championship. The winner's share at the U.S. Women's Open was substantially less in succeeding years and was not exceeded until 1972, 26 years later.

Jameson won the title the following year as a 72-hole stroke play event.

Founded in 1898, Spokane Country Club was purchased by the Kalispel Tribe in late 2015 and is now Kalispell Golf and Country Club.

Qualifying scores and final results

• (a) denotes amateur

Bracket

Final match scorecards

Morning

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
Par	4	4	5	5	4	4	3	5	3	3	5	4	5	4	4	5	3	4
Berg	4	4	5	5	4	5	4	5	3	4	4	4	5	4	5	4	3	4
Jameson	4	4	4	5	4	4	3	6	4	3	5	3	6	4	5	5	3	4
Leader	–	–	J1	J1	J1	J2	J3	J2	J1	J2	J1	J2	J1	J1	J1	–	–	–

Afternoon

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
Par	4	4	5	5	4	4	3	5	3	3	5	4	5	4	4	5	3	4
Berg	3	4	5	4	5	4	3	6	3	3	5	4	5	4	Berg wins 5 & 4
Jameson	4	5	4	5	6	6	3	6	3	4	5	3	5	5
Leader	B1	B2	B1	B2	B3	B4	B4	B4	B4	B5	B5	B4	B4	B5

Source:

References

1. ^ "Patty Berg, Babe Zaharias Post One-Under-Par Scores". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). August 27, 1946. p. 13.
2. ^ "Patty Berg Gets Medalist Honor". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). August 28, 1946. p. 10.
3. Prize money was paid in war bonds.
4. ^ Fowler, Gail (September 2, 1946). "Patty Berg Captures Women's Open Golf Crown at Spokane". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. p. 2. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
5. "Women's golf Open reaches semi-finals". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. August 31, 1946. p. 3.
6. ^ "Berg, Jameson clash for golf title today". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. September 1, 1946. p. 19.
7. ^ Ashlock, Herb (September 2, 1946). "Patty Berg winner of Women's Open". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 13.
8. "Patty Berg hits $5,600 jackpot". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. September 2, 1946. p. 1, sec.3.
9. Stucke, John (December 10, 2015). "The Kalispel Tribe will open the Spokane Country Club to some public play". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Retrieved April 6, 2017.
10. "Mrs. Zaharias Eliminated in Women's Open". Schenectady Gazette. New York. United Press. August 29, 1946. p. 23. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
11. "Women Enter Quarter-Finals Of Golf Play". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. August 30, 1946. p. 31. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
12. Patterson, W. (August 31, 1946). "Rucker Scores 5 And 4 Win Over Hicks to Meet Berg in Semi-Finals". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 9. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
13. "Betty Hick Eliminated in Spokane Golf". Schenectady Gazette. New York. United Press. August 31, 1946. p. 15. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
14. "Spokane Girl Loses Match In Semi-Finals". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. September 1, 1946. p. 10. Retrieved July 3, 2013.

External links

• USGA final leaderboard
• U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship
• Kalispell Golf and Country Club

47°46′01″N 117°26′24″W / 47.767°N 117.440°W / 47.767; -117.440

• U.S. Women's Open
• Golf tournaments in Washington (state)
• Sports competitions in Spokane, Washington
• Women's sports in Washington (state)
• 1946 in women's golf
• 1946 in American women's sports
• 1946 in sports in Washington (state)
• August 1946 sports events in the United States
• September 1946 sports events in the United States