LPGA St. Louis Women's Invitational Tournament

The St. Louis Women's Invitational (also known as the St. Louis Open) was a pro golf tournament on the LPGA Tour. It was first played in the 1950s, then resumed in the 1960s, and took place in Missouri.

First played: 1954

Last played: 1970

Of the six times this tournament was played during the 1960s, Kathy Whitworth won it three times. And she finished second two other times. ... Carol Mann was a hard-luck loser in St. Louis, never winning but finishing runner-up four different years. Mann was runner-up to Whitworth in all three of Whitworth's wins.

The tournament's 54-hole scoring record (it was played over four rounds only twice, in the 1950s) is Whitworth's 206 in 1968. The largest margin of victory was 12 strokes, by Betsy Rawls over Beverly Hanson in Year 1, 1954. That is also the LPGA's all-time record for largest margin of victory in a 54-hole tournament.

Also known as: This tournament began life as the St. Louis Open the three times it was played in the 1950s. In the 1960s, it was called the Squirt Open, St. Louis Open, Clayton Federal Invitational, St. Louis Women's Invitational and Holiday Inn Classic. In its final year it was the Johnny Londoff Chevrolet Tournament.

Winners of the St. Louis Women's Invitational

1954 — Betsy Rawls, 211
1955 — Louise Suggs, 289
1956 — Fay Crocker, 288
1957-63 — Not played
1964 — Mickey Wright, 215
1965 — Mary Mills, 216
1966 — Kathy Whitworth, 208
1967 — Kathy Whitworth, 209
1968 — Kathy Whitworth, 206
1969 — Sandra Haynie, 208
1970 — Shirley Englehorn, 216

Golf courses: The tournament took place at Glen Echo Country Club three times, and the rest of the time it was played at Norwood Hills Country Club. Both courses are in St. Louis proper.