10 most significant Sacramento-area golf competitions ever

1) 1982 U.S. Women's Open at Del Paso Country Club
The event was one of three USGA championships that Del Paso has hosted. Janet Alex earned her only professional win at the Open in 1982. Above, golf pros Kevin Sutherland, left, Patty Sheehan, Nick Watney and Juli Inkster play an exhibition round in 2006 to commemorate the reopening of the course after a two-year, $10 million renovation.

Carl Costas | Sacramento Bee
2) 1941 Sacramento Pro Invitational at Haggin Oaks
Sam Snead, shown kicking up his leg at golf great Byron Nelson as he is introduced at the 1998 Masters in Augusta, Ga., won the Sacramento event - one of the first competitions limited to PGA Tour winners.

By David J. Phillip | Associated Press
3) 1970s Swing at Cancer at Del Paso
Bob Hurst, above, founded the annual one-day event that attracted the best men's players and was the catalyst for the senior tour.

Sacramento Bee
4) 1942 Red Cross Charity Match at Haggin Oaks
Bing Crosby, Babe Ruth, California Gov. Culbert Olson and Bob Hope, shown reacting to a shot during a pro-am golf tournament in 1979 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, all competed in the one-day exhibition.

Marlin Levison | Miami Herald
5) 1938 Sacramento Open at Haggin Oaks
At this event, Ben Hogan, shown in 1941 at Colonial in Texas, finished third, pocketing $350 for his first paycheck as a pro.

Fort Worth Star Telegram
6) 1996 Twelve Bridges LPGA Classic
Kelly Robbins, who won this inaugural event, gets a hug from her mother Margie Robbins on the 18th green after Kelly sunk a long put to win.

Bryan Patrick | Sacramento Bee
7) 1987 Rancho Murieta Senior Gold Rush
Orville Moody won the inaugural event.

Associated Press
8) 1997 Longs Drugs Challenge at Twelve Bridges
Annika Sorenstram, shown playing the event in Loomis, earned one of her 72 LPGA Tour wins locally in the tournament. She was the leading money winnner on the 1997 tour.

Jay Mater | Sacramento Bee
9) 1957 U.S. Women's Amateur at Del Paso
JoAnne Gunderson (later JoAnne Carner) won as a precursor to a long and successful pro career. Pictured above, Carner reacts to missing a putt for par on the first hole during the third round of the LPGA Rochester International in 1995.

By bill Sikes | Associated Press
10) 1963 U.S. Amateur Public Links at Haggin Oaks
Sacramentan Bob Lunn, who went on to record six PGA Tour wins and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, emerged victorious at this event.

Sheedy & Long

With Del Paso Country Club exploring the possibility of hosting the U.S. Senior Open golf championship, perhaps in 2015, we take a look at the biggest events - and the personalities involved - on area courses over the years. Also, read the story at: http://bit.ly/sxOWGt

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