American Golf Classic

American Golf Classic
Tournament information
LocationAkron, Ohio
Established1961
Course(s)Firestone Country Club
(North Course)
Par72
Length7,105 yards (6,497 m)[1][2]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$200,000
Month playedAugust
Final year1976
Tournament record score
Aggregate268 Raymond Floyd (1969)
To par−14 David Graham (1976)
Final champion
Australia David Graham
Location map
Firestone CC is located in the United States
Firestone CC
Firestone CC
Location in the United States
Firestone CC is located in Ohio
Firestone CC
Firestone CC
Location in Ohio

The American Golf Classic was a tournament on the PGA Tour from 1961 to 1976 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It was the third event at the storied South course, after the Rubber City Open Invitational (1954–1959) and the PGA Championship in 1960.[3]

The final edition in 1976 was played on the North course, with the World Series of Golf held the following week on the South course.[1][4] The World Series of Golf was succeeded by the current WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, held on the South course.

Tournament highlights

  • 1961: Jay Hebert wins the inaugural version of the tournament by defeating Gary Player on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. To get in the playoff, Hebert had to make a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole.[5]
  • 1963: Johnny Pott leads the second AGC wire to wire. He wins by four shots over Arnold Palmer.[6]
  • 1964: Ken Venturi makes the AGC his third triumph for 1964. He finishes five shots ahead of Mason Rudolph.[7]
  • 1965: Al Geiberger wins for the 3rd time ever on the PGA Tour. He finishes four shots ahead of Arnold Palmer. One year later, Geiberger would also win the PGA Championship at the Firestone Country Club.[8]
  • 1967: Arnold Palmer becomes the first and only multiple winner of the AGC. He finishes three shots ahead of Doug Sanders.[9]
  • 1968: Jack Nicklaus wins in a sudden death playoff over Lee Elder and Frank Beard.[10] Elder, a tour rookie at the time, matched Nicklaus shot for shot for four extra holes before losing on the fifth. The finish of the 1968 American Golf Classic has been called one of the most exciting in televised golf history.[11]
  • 1969: Raymond Floyd shoots a final round 65 to win by four shots over Bobby Nichols.[12]
  • 1973: Bruce Crampton wins by three shots over Lanny Wadkins, Gay Brewer, and Bob Murphy. It is Crampton's 4th win of the year and at the time vaults him to #1 on the money list for the year.[13]
  • 1974: Jim Colbert wins the AGC in a four-way playoff.[2] He defeats Raymond Floyd, Gay Brewer, and Forrest Fezler.[14]
  • 1976: David Graham wins the last edition of the tournament, the only one played on the North course.[1] He finished four shots ahead of Lou Graham.[15]

Winners

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1976 Australia David Graham 274 −14 4 strokes United States Lou Graham
1975: No tournament
1974 United States Jim Colbert 281 +1 Playoff United States Gay Brewer
United States Forrest Fezler
United States Raymond Floyd
1973 Australia Bruce Crampton 273 −7 3 strokes United States Gay Brewer
United States Bob Murphy
United States Lanny Wadkins
1972 United States Bert Yancey 276 −4 Playoff United States Tom Ulozas
1971 United States Jerry Heard 275 −5 3 strokes United States Dale Douglass
1970 United States Frank Beard 276 −4 2 strokes United States Tommy Aaron
Australia Bruce Crampton
United States Jack Nicklaus
1969 United States Raymond Floyd 268 −12 4 strokes United States Bobby Nichols
1968 United States Jack Nicklaus 280 E Playoff United States Frank Beard
United States Lee Elder
1967 United States Arnold Palmer (2) 276 −4 3 strokes United States Doug Sanders
1966: No tournament
1965 United States Al Geiberger 280 E 4 strokes United States Arnold Palmer
1964 United States Ken Venturi 275 −5 5 strokes United States Mason Rudolph
1963 United States Johnny Pott 276 −4 4 strokes United States Arnold Palmer
1962 United States Arnold Palmer 276 −4 5 strokes United States Mason Rudolph
1961 United States Jay Hebert 278 −2 Playoff South Africa Gary Player

References

  1. ^ a b c "Akron ready to play host to 2 in a row". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. August 25, 1976. p. 45.
  2. ^ a b "Colbert wins American Classic in playoff". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 24, 1974. p. 16.
  3. ^ "A Championship Legacy". Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  4. ^ "Jack 'salvages' season". Toledo Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. September 6, 1976. p. 34.
  5. ^ Jay Hebert wins Golf Classic in playoff with Gary Player
  6. ^ Johnny Pott wins Golf Classic title
  7. ^ American Golf Title won by Ken Venturi
  8. ^ Al Geiberger pockets 20,000 for American Golf Classic win
  9. ^ McGowan falters; Palmer wins Classic
  10. ^ Nicklaus wins dramatic playoff with Lee Elder
  11. ^ Nicklaus, Jack; Wind, Herbert Warren (1969). The Greatest Game of All: My Life in Golf. Simon & Schuster.
  12. ^ Ray Floyd proves point
  13. ^ Bruce Crampton triumphs in American Golf Classic
  14. ^ Jim Colbert gets it all in Golf Classic
  15. ^ Harris, Mike (August 30, 1976). "Australian David Graham wins American Golf Classic". Argus-Press. Owosso, Michigan. Associated Press. p. 10.