| 1967 |
| May 7 |
Frank Beard's closing 67 gave him a one-shot victory over Arnold Palmer in the second event played at Champions Golf Club. The pros loved the Cypress Creek Course at Champions and co-founders Jimmy Demaret and Jack Burke hoped to build on that reputation later that fall when it would be the host venue of the Ryder Cup Matches. |
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| October 22 |
The HGA and Champions were persuaded by the PGA of America to host the Ryder Cup Matches in October. Ben Hogan captained the team composed of Julius Boros, Gay Brewer, Billy Casper, Gardiner Dickinson, Al Geiberger, Gene Littler, Bobby Nichols, Arnold Palmer, Johnny Pott and Doug Sanders. The U.S. Team won the Ryder Cup but HGA's already depleted treasury took another infusion of red ink. There were no lucrative sponsorship contracts in those days. |
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| 1968 |
| May 5 |
Roberto de Vicenzo, only weeks after signing an incorrect scorecard and costing himself a chance for a green jacket at The Masters, won in Houston. The affable Argentinean shot 10-under-par to beat a young Texan named Lee Trevino by a shot. In the meantime Jimmy Demaret and Jack Burke continued to lobbying the USGA for the 1969 U.S. Open Championship. |
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| 1969 |
| June 15 |
Badly in need of funds, the Houston Golf Association officials had agreed to cancel their tournament in 1969 and work in tandem with the United States Golf Association to host the U.S. Open at Champions. Retired Army Sergeant Orville Moody shot 1-over-par 281 to win by a stroke over Deane Beman, Bob Rosburg and Al Geiberger. The U.S. Open erased HGA's debts and gave it some much needed funding. |
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| 1970 |
| May 10 |
The Houston Champions International returned to the PGA TOUR schedule in May and Gibby Gilbert triumphed over Australian Bruce Crampton in a playoff. Both shot 2-under-par 282 in regulation. Gilbert's par gave him his first victory on the third hole of sudden-death. |
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| 1971 |
| May 16 |
Another first-timer entered the winner's circle. Hubert Green made the final Houston Champions International at Champions Golf Club his initial PGA TOUR victory with a birdie on the first playoff hole against veteran Don January of Dallas. Green and January finished regulation play at 4-under-par 280. HGA would later announce it was moving the tournament to the far southwest part of town at Westwood Country Club. |
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| 1972 |
| May 8 |
Houston Golf Association began its nomadic period by moving the Houston Open to Westwood Country Club. The rain-plagued $125,000 concluded on Monday. Australian-turned-Texan Bruce Devlin, worried because his son Kel was to undergo a hernia operation, went on to post a two-stroke victory with a 10-under-par 278 total. |
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| 1973 |
| May 6 |
The developers of Quail Valley Golf Club paid the Houston Golf Association a handsome $25,000 fee to move the Houston Open to Missouri City. The HGA boosted the purse to $205,000 and the tournament got its second consecutive Australian champion. Bruce Crampton shot 11-under-par 277 for a stroke victory over Dave Stockton. |
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| 1974 |
| May 12 |
Disappointed that the $205,000 purse didn't attract a star-studded field, the HGA cut the purse to $150,000. That enabled the HGA to write a check to Boys Harbor for $20,000, marking the beginning of a focus on youth-oriented charities. Dave Hill won by a shot with a 12-under-par 276 total, a shot better than Andy North, Steve Melnyk and Rod Curl. HGA officials were about to make a bold decision to move the tournament to a barely begun development far north of town. It was called The Woodlands. |
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| 1975 |
| May 4 |
A CBS Television contract and a new facility seemed the right mix for an upscale start at The Woodlands. Unfortunately, the weatherman didn't cooperate. The Pro-Am was rained out. Australian Bruce Crampton made the first Houston Open played in The Woodlands his second Houston victory with a 15-under-par 273 total. |
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| 1976 |
| May 2 |
Thursday's round was rained out, forcing a 36-hole finale on Sunday. Lee Elder shot 67-69 on Sunday and had finished his round before the CBS Television Coverage began. His 10-under-par 278 total earned him $40,000 from a $200,000 purse. |
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