Orange County Open Invitational
Encyclopedia
The Orange County Open Invitational was a PGA Tour
event that was played for four years at Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa, California
during the late 1950s
and early 1960s
.
Construction began on the championship course at Mesa Verde Country Club in 1958 under the supervision of golf course designer Billy Bell, and was officially opened in January 1959. Later that same year, the inaugural Orange County Open took place, which was won by Jay Hebert. The first permanent clubhouse was in place for the second event by the time Billy Casper
took the trophy. The fourth and final tournament was held in 1962, and was won by Tony Lema
after a grueling three-hole sudden death playoff with Bob Rosburg
. Lema celebrated his victory by providing free champagne to members of the press in the clubhouse, a promise he had made the day before contingent upon winning. As a result of this and Lema's dashing good looks, the press dubbed him Champagne Tony from that day forth.
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
event that was played for four years at Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
during the late 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
and early 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
.
Construction began on the championship course at Mesa Verde Country Club in 1958 under the supervision of golf course designer Billy Bell, and was officially opened in January 1959. Later that same year, the inaugural Orange County Open took place, which was won by Jay Hebert. The first permanent clubhouse was in place for the second event by the time Billy Casper
Billy Casper
William Earl Casper, Jr. is an American professional golfer who was one of the most prolific tournament winners on the PGA Tour from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s.-Early years:...
took the trophy. The fourth and final tournament was held in 1962, and was won by Tony Lema
Tony Lema
Anthony David "Tony" Lema was an American professional golfer, who rose to fame in the beginning of golf's modern era, but had his young life and career cut short in an aircraft accident. His most prestigious victory was the 1964 British Open.-Biography:Lema was born in Oakland, California, to...
after a grueling three-hole sudden death playoff with Bob Rosburg
Bob Rosburg
Robert Reginald "Rossie" Rosburg was an American professional golfer who later became a sports color analyst for ABC television.-Early years, college:Rosburg was born in San Francisco, California...
. Lema celebrated his victory by providing free champagne to members of the press in the clubhouse, a promise he had made the day before contingent upon winning. As a result of this and Lema's dashing good looks, the press dubbed him Champagne Tony from that day forth.
Winners
- 1962 Tony LemaTony LemaAnthony David "Tony" Lema was an American professional golfer, who rose to fame in the beginning of golf's modern era, but had his young life and career cut short in an aircraft accident. His most prestigious victory was the 1964 British Open.-Biography:Lema was born in Oakland, California, to...
- 1961 Bob McCallisterBob McCallisterRobert McCallister is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.McCallister was born in Toledo, Ohio...
- 1960 Billy CasperBilly CasperWilliam Earl Casper, Jr. is an American professional golfer who was one of the most prolific tournament winners on the PGA Tour from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s.-Early years:...
- 1959 Jay Hebert