West End Classic
Encyclopedia
The West End Classic was PGA Tour
satellite event that was played at the Grand Bahama Hotel and Country Club in West End on Grand Bahama Island.
The tournament was won by Jim Wiechers
, a 25-year-old Californian, by two strokes over Al Besselink
and Johnny Pott. Although the tournament played for only one year (1969), it laid the groundwork and provided much of the infrastructure for a future PGA Tour event, the Bahamas National Open
, which played in 1970 and 1971.
Players were allowed to use the regular-sized American ball and/or the smaller English ball. This may have been the only time that this was ever allowed during a PGA-sanctioned event. The competitors would play the bigger ball down wind, and the small ball into the wind. The purse was $25,000 with $5,000 going to the winner.
The December tournament was played opposite the Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic
, which was won by Arnold Palmer
. The field, however, was better than a normal satellite field because it was the last tournament of the year, and the players were jockeying for position on the Top-60 money list.
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
satellite event that was played at the Grand Bahama Hotel and Country Club in West End on Grand Bahama Island.
The tournament was won by Jim Wiechers
Jim Wiechers
James L. Wiechers is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.Wiechers was born in Oakland, California. He won the 1962 U.S. Junior Amateur while in high school. He then attended Santa Clara University and was a member of the golf team, winning first-team...
, a 25-year-old Californian, by two strokes over Al Besselink
Al Besselink
Albert Cornelius Besselink is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s.Besselink grew up in Merchantville, New Jersey. He attended the University of Miami and was the first UM golfer to win a national tournament. He won the Southern Invitational...
and Johnny Pott. Although the tournament played for only one year (1969), it laid the groundwork and provided much of the infrastructure for a future PGA Tour event, the Bahamas National Open
Bahamas National Open
The Bahamas National Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It was last played in 1971.-Tournament Hosts:This list is incomplete*1971 Lucayan Country Club in Freeport, Bahamas.*1970 Kings Inn & Golf Club in Freeport, Bahamas....
, which played in 1970 and 1971.
Players were allowed to use the regular-sized American ball and/or the smaller English ball. This may have been the only time that this was ever allowed during a PGA-sanctioned event. The competitors would play the bigger ball down wind, and the small ball into the wind. The purse was $25,000 with $5,000 going to the winner.
The December tournament was played opposite the Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic
Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic
The Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour that played from December 4-7, 1969 at south Florida's Diplomat Presidential Country Club located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Arnold Palmer won the tournament, which earned him $25,000. It was the last event of the year,...
, which was won by Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold 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...
. The field, however, was better than a normal satellite field because it was the last tournament of the year, and the players were jockeying for position on the Top-60 money list.