Kathy Whitworth at Pleasant Valley
Kathy Whitworth and Pleasant Valley Country Club.
The two will always be intertwined in the history books.
From Whitworth’s 50-foot putt to walk off with a victory at the 1967 LPGA Championship to a heartbreaking Monday playoff loss at the 1970 LPGA Championship.
The story of Whitworth’s spectacular career can’t be told without Pleasant Valley and the story of Pleasant Valley can’t be told without Kathy Witworth.
Whitworth, owner of 88 career wins, passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 83.
With her in mind, GolfNewsRI looks back at her run at Pleasant Valley.
Kathy Whitworth at Pleasant Valley
1966 Lady Carling Open
Playing at Pleasant Valley for the first time, Whitworth won the Lady Carling Open by one shot over Carol Mann.
At the time, that was the 24th win of her career.
Whitworth won nine times in 1966, including a major.
Whitworth dropped a 50-foot putt on the final hole (18) to win her first LPGA Championship by one shot over Shirley Englehorn.
The two were in the final pairing and tied for the lead when the final round began.
This was the first of seven LPGA Championships at Pleasant Valley over a period of eight years.
Whitworth took home $2,625 for her efforts.
1969 Patty Berg Classic
Following her magical win in 1967, Whitworth returned to Pleasant Valley in 1969 for the Patty Berg Classic.
She finished at five-under over three rounds to beat Sandra Haynie by one shot.
Whitworth lost to rival Shirley Englehorn by four shots in an 18-hole Monday Playoff.
This was the third LPGA Championship held at Pleasant Valley in four years.
Won her third LPGA Championship by four shots over Kathy Ahern.
“I’m very, very happy to win this one on one of my favorite courses. When you think of it, I’ve actually finished in at least a tie here for five straight years. It’s really something. Now, if the Open could only be played here,” Whitworth told the Nashua Telegraph after the victory.
Whitworth finished the tournament at four-under and took home just under $8,000.
Whitworth finished in a tie for 12th in 1972, posting a four round score of 15-over par.
Kathy Ahern won the tournament in what would be the only major championship of her career.
Whitworth entered the final round in a three way tie for the lead, before finishing third at one-under par.
Mary Mills won the tournament at four-under, for her second LPGA Championship.
“I am too strong on the right side and that causes me to hook the ball. I’ve had that problem for the last four years, but it’s been real bad for the last year,” Whitworth told the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
She added, “You’re fighting it all the time. You need to take two or three months off to correct it. But you don’t have that kind of time with the Tour.”
In the last LPGA Championship played at Pleasant Valley, Whitworth finished in a tie for 10th with a score of four-over.
Sandra Haynie won the tournament at four-under.
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