The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event in Nevada from 1958 through 1976, played in Las Vegas and sponsored by the Sahara Hotel. In the first four years, it was the Sahara Pro-Am and an unofficial tour event. Paradise Valley Country Club hosted in 1970 and 1971, and Sahara Nevada Country Club from 1972–1976.

Jack Nicklaus won Sahara four times in a seven-year span in the 1960s, and three future major champions (Tony Lema,[2] Lanny Wadkins, and John Mahaffey) made Sahara their first tour victory.

A month after the 1976 event,[1] it was announced in early November that the Sahara Invitational was being discontinued. Edward M. Nigro, vice president and general manager of Hotel Sahara, cited rising costs, scheduling conflicts, and a decline in the national promotion benefit as the reasons for the tournament's cancellation.[3]

The Las Vegas Founders returned the PGA Tour to Las Vegas in 1983 with the Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic; since 2007, it has been organized by the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Tournament highlights

Winners

Year Tour[a] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Winner's
share ($)
Sahara Invitational
1976 PGAT United States George Archer 271 −13 2 strokes United States Dave Hill
United States Don January
27,000
1975 PGAT United States Dave Hill 270 −14 Playoff United States Rik Massengale 27,000
1974 PGAT United States Al Geiberger 273 −11 3 strokes United States Wally Armstrong
United States Jerry Heard
United States Dave Hill
United States Mike Hill
27,000
1973 PGAT United States John Mahaffey 271 −13 3 strokes United States Dave Eichelberger 27,000
1972 PGAT United States Lanny Wadkins 273 −11 1 stroke United States Arnold Palmer 27,000
1971 PGAT United States Lee Trevino 280 −8 1 stroke United States George Archer 27,000
1970 PGAT United States Babe Hiskey 276 −12 1 stroke United States Miller Barber
United States Terry Dill
United States Bob Goalby
20,000
1969 PGAT United States Jack Nicklaus (4) 272 −12 4 strokes United States Frank Beard 20,000
1968 PGAT United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez 274 −10 Playoff United States Dale Douglass 20,000
1967 PGAT United States Jack Nicklaus (3) 270 −14 1 stroke United States Steve Spray 20,000
1966 PGAT United States Jack Nicklaus (2) 282 −2 3 strokes United States Miller Barber
United States Arnold Palmer
20,000
1965 PGAT United States Billy Casper 269 −15 3 strokes United States Billy Martindale 20,000
1964 PGAT United States R. H. Sikes 275 −9 3 strokes United States Jack McGowan
United States Jack Nicklaus
United States Phil Rodgers
12,000
1963 PGAT United States Jack Nicklaus 276 −8 1 stroke United States Gay Brewer
United States Al Geiberger
13,000
1962 PGAT United States Tony Lema 270 −14 3 strokes United States Don January 2,800
Sahara Pro-Am
1961 United States Phil Rodgers
1960 United States Bob Duden
1959 United States Doug Sanders
1958 United States Bill Johnston

Notes

  1. ^ PGAT − PGA Tour.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sahara victory surprises Archer". The Day. New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. October 4, 1976. p. 29.
  2. ^ a b "Lema victor at Las Vegas with a 270". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 1, 1962. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Sahara golf no more". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. November 5, 1976. p. 1B.
  4. ^ Dick Sikes breaks in with Sahara golf win
  5. ^ Jack Nicklaus wins Sahara golf tourney
  6. ^ Chi Chi wins Sahara
  7. ^ Nicklaus wins Sahara event
  8. ^ Trevino wins Sahara Open
  9. ^ Geiberger ends drought with Sahara Open victory
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