Corpus Christi Civitan Open Golf Tournament (LPGA)

The Corpus Christi Civitan Open was a 54-hole, stroke-play golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was played in Corpus Christi, Texas.

First played: 1967

Last played: 1973

In four of the five years it was played, the Corpus Christi Civitan Open ended in a playoff. Kathy Whitworth was twice a loser in those playoffs, first in 1969 to Carol Mann, then in 1972 to Jo Ann Prentice.

In fact, Prentice's playoff win is still in the LPGA Tour record books. Whitworth was eliminated on the third extra hole. But Sandra Palmer, the third player in that playoff, and Prentice kept going ... and going. It wasn't until the 10th sudden-death playoff hole that Prentice bested Palmer — the longest sudden-death playoff in LPGA history.

Aside from that playoff, the other thing this tournament is best-remembered for is that it was the site of Judy Rankin's first career win. Rankin won in 1968, beating Sandra Spuzich in a playoff.

Rankin lost in one of the other playoffs, however, falling to Sharon Miller's first-extra-hole birdie in 1973, the event's final playing.

Winners of the Corpus Christi Civitan Open

1967 — Clifford Ann Creed, 214
1968 — Judy Rankin, 213 (def. Sandra Spuzich in playoff)
1969 — Carol Mann, 212 (def. Kathy Whitworth in playoff)
1970 — No tournament
1971 — No tournament
1972 — Jo Ann Prentice, 210 (def. Kathy Whitworth, Sandra Palmer in playoff)
1973 — Sharon Miller, 210 (def. Judy Rankin in playoff)

Golf course: From 1967 through the 1972 tournament, it was played at Pharaohs Country Club, a golf course that no longer exists, in Corpus Christi. In its final year, 1973, the site was Corpus Christi Country Club.