Eastern Open Invitational
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Open Invitational, first played as the Eastern Open, was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour
that was played in Maryland
in the 1950s and early 1960s. The first nine events were played at Mt. Pleasant Municipal Golf Club in Baltimore
, an 18-hole par-71 public course designed by Gus Hook and opened in 1933. For the next three years beginning with the 1959 event, the tournament moved to the new Pine Ridge Golf Club in Lutherville, three miles north of downtown Towson
. This course, which overlooks the Loch Raven Reservoir
, was built by Gus Hook in 1958. The tournament moved back to Mt. Pleasant after the 1961 event.
Eastern Open
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
that was played in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in the 1950s and early 1960s. The first nine events were played at Mt. Pleasant Municipal Golf Club in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, an 18-hole par-71 public course designed by Gus Hook and opened in 1933. For the next three years beginning with the 1959 event, the tournament moved to the new Pine Ridge Golf Club in Lutherville, three miles north of downtown Towson
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
. This course, which overlooks the Loch Raven Reservoir
Loch Raven Reservoir
The Loch Raven Reservoir is a reservoir that provides drinking water for the City of Baltimore and most of Baltimore County, Maryland. Originally built in 1881 as a dam and water tunnel to channel water to Lake Montebello and Lake Clifton, the new dam was constructed in 1914 in efforts to increase...
, was built by Gus Hook in 1958. The tournament moved back to Mt. Pleasant after the 1961 event.
Winners
Eastern Open Invitational- 1962 Doug FordDoug Ford (golfer)Douglas Michael Ford, Sr. born Fortunato is an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion.Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one...
- 1961 Doug SandersDoug SandersGeorge Douglas Sanders is a former American professional golfer who won twenty PGA Tour events during his career.-Early years:Sanders was born in Cedartown, Georgia. He grew up in a poor family, and picked cotton as a teenager...
- 1960 Gene LittlerGene LittlerGene Alec Littler is an American professional golfer. Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth rhythmical swing, he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the best misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes."-Early years...
- 1959 Dave RaganDave RaganDavid William Ragan, Jr. is a former American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.Ragan was born in Daytona Beach, Florida. He attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for the Florida Gators men's golf team in National...
- 1958 Art Wall, Jr.Art Wall, Jr.Arthur Jonathan Wall, Jr. was an American golfer.Wall was born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He attended Duke University, graduating in 1949 with a business degree....
- 1957 Tommy BoltTommy BoltThomas Henry Bolt was an American professional golfer.Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army during World War II and turned professional in 1946. He worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana...
Eastern Open
- 1956 Arnold PalmerArnold PalmerArnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
- 1955 Frank StranahanFrank StranahanFrank Richard Stranahan was a successful amateur golf champion. Stranahan was also the number one power lifter in his weight class from 1945 to 1954 and he became known on the golf course and off as the "Toledo strongman" long before the modern game of golf and fitness...
- 1954 Bob ToskiBob ToskiRobert John Toski, born Algustoski , is an American golfer and teacher.He was born in Haydenville, Massachusetts of Polish descent. He learned to play at Northampton Country Club, where he caddied and two of his elder brothers were assistant professionals...
- 1953 Dick MayerDick MayerAlvin Richard Mayer was an American professional golfer.Mayer was born in Stamford, Connecticut. He apprenticed with renowned player and teacher Claude Harmon at the Winged Foot Golf Club in suburban New York City....
- 1952 Sam SneadSam SneadSamuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
- 1951 Cary MiddlecoffCary MiddlecoffEmmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s....
- 1950 Lloyd MangrumLloyd MangrumLloyd Eugene Mangrum was an American professional golfer. He was known for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanour on the course, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Icicle".Mangrum was born in Trenton, Texas...