Shell Houston Open: PGA TOUR Event, Houston, Texas

Past Winners:

Houston Golf Association Historical Moments
Compiled by Burt Darden

[ Intro ][ 1940-1949 ][ 1950-1959 ][ 1960-1969 ][ 1970-1979 ][ 1980-1989 ][ 1990-1999 ][ 2000-2009 ] [ 2010-present ]

1968's Time Line

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

1977
May 1	A contract with The Woodlands provided a 50-50 split of the profits with the HGA. NBC became the broadcasting network. Gene Littler, 46 years, 9 months and 13 days, became the oldest Houston Open champion, marking a successful return to professional golf after a battle with cancer. Littler shot 74 the last round for a 12-under-par 276 total. It was still three shots better than runner-up Lanny Wadkins.

[ Intro ][ 1940-1949 ][ 1950-1959 ][ 1960-1969 ][ 197-1979 ][ 1980-1989 ][ 1990-1999 ][ 2000-2009 ] [ 2010-present ]