Women's Australian Open (golf)
Encyclopedia
The Women's Australian Open is a golf
tournament played in Australia
which is sanctioned by the ALPG Tour
and the Ladies European Tour
(LET). In 2008, it was the second-richest women's golf tournament on the ALPG Tour, with a prize fund of A$
500,000. It is known for sponsorship purposes as the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.
The Australian Ladies Open was originally founded in 1974 as a 54-hole event, but folded after 1978. It was resurrected in 1994 as the Women's Australian Open, this time as a 72-hole event. Annika Sörenstam
won that year, which was her first professional win. It was also Karrie Webb
's professional debut, and she would later win the event four times. Starting in 2000, the Ladies European Tour began co-sanctioning the tournament. Following the 2004 event, sponsorship difficulties caused the tournament to stop once again, but after a two-year hiatus the tournament returned in 2007. The Women's Australian Open usually moves between various courses around Australia, except from 1995 through 2002 when it was held at the Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne
. The 2008 event was held at Kingston Heath Golf Club
.
For several years after its return in 1994, the Women's Australian Open was played early in the ALPG schedule, usually in November. Starting in 2000, it was changed to be played at the end of the schedule in February near the ANZ Ladies Masters
, to allow both tournaments to be part of the Ladies European Tour. Since the Women's Australian Open was played from 12–15 November 1998 during the 1998/1999 ALPG season, it was therefore not played during the 1999 calendar year.
Tournament names through the years:
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament played in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
which is sanctioned by the ALPG Tour
ALPG Tour
The ALPG Tour is a professional golf tour for women which is based in Australia. ALPG stands for "Australian Ladies Professional Golf".The ALPG was founded as the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Australia in 1972, and switched to its current name in 1991. The first events featured twelve...
and the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
(LET). In 2008, it was the second-richest women's golf tournament on the ALPG Tour, with a prize fund of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
500,000. It is known for sponsorship purposes as the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.
The Australian Ladies Open was originally founded in 1974 as a 54-hole event, but folded after 1978. It was resurrected in 1994 as the Women's Australian Open, this time as a 72-hole event. Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer...
won that year, which was her first professional win. It was also Karrie Webb
Karrie Webb
Karrie Ann Webb AM is Australia's most successful female professional golfer, and one of the top players in the history of global women's golf. She currently plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and also turns out once or twice a year on the ALPG Tour in her home country. She is a member of...
's professional debut, and she would later win the event four times. Starting in 2000, the Ladies European Tour began co-sanctioning the tournament. Following the 2004 event, sponsorship difficulties caused the tournament to stop once again, but after a two-year hiatus the tournament returned in 2007. The Women's Australian Open usually moves between various courses around Australia, except from 1995 through 2002 when it was held at the Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. The 2008 event was held at Kingston Heath Golf Club
Kingston Heath Golf Club
Kingston Heath Golf Club is one of the premier golf clubs in Australia located in the world-renowned sandbelt region in the south east suburbs of Melbourne....
.
For several years after its return in 1994, the Women's Australian Open was played early in the ALPG schedule, usually in November. Starting in 2000, it was changed to be played at the end of the schedule in February near the ANZ Ladies Masters
ANZ Ladies Masters
The ANZ Ladies Masters is a golf tournament that is played in Australia. It is one of the leading tournaments on the ALPG Tour and has been co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour since 2001. Between 1997 and 2000 it was an event on the LPGA Tour....
, to allow both tournaments to be part of the Ladies European Tour. Since the Women's Australian Open was played from 12–15 November 1998 during the 1998/1999 ALPG season, it was therefore not played during the 1999 calendar year.
Tournament names through the years:
- 1974: Wills Australian Ladies Open
- 1975-1978: Wills QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
Australian Ladies Open - 1994-1996: HoldenHoldenGM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
Women's Australian Open - 1997: ToyotaToyota AustraliaToyota Motor Corporation Australia, or Toyota Australia, is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, which is based in Japan. TMCA markets Toyota products and manages motorsport, advertising and business operations for Toyota Motor Corporation in Australia...
Women's Australian Open - 1998-2004: AAMI Women's Australian Open
- 2007-2008: MFSMFS LimitedOctaviar Limited is an Australian diversified investment company in the funds management and financial services sectors. The company, once valued at $2.4 billion was forced to sell its main asset, the Stella Group, in February 2008 and in March 2008 the value of the company had fallen to just $480...
Women's Australian Open - 2009: Women's Australian Open
- 2010: HandaHandaHanda may refer to*Handa, Aichi, Japan*Handa, Scotland*Handa, Tokushima, Japan*Handa, local African name for a Katanga Cross-Indian name:Handa is a Punjabi clan and a surname in India.*Sophia Handa , an Indian actress-Japanese name:...
Women's Australian Open - 2011–present: ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open
Winners
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | Venue | Purse (A$) | Winner's Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Yani Tseng Yani Tseng Yani Tseng is a Taiwanese professional golfer currently playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She is the youngest player ever, male or female, to win five major championships and is currently ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings.... |
276 (-16) | The Commonwealth Golf Club | $600,000 | $90,000 | |
| 2010 | Yani Tseng Yani Tseng Yani Tseng is a Taiwanese professional golfer currently playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She is the youngest player ever, male or female, to win five major championships and is currently ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings.... |
283 (-9) | The Commonwealth Golf Club | $600,000 | $90,000 | |
| 2009 | Laura Davies Laura Davies Laura Jane Davies CBE is an English professional golfer.She is considered the most accomplished English female golfer of modern times being the first non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list... |
285 | Metropolitan Golf Club | $500,000 | $75,000 | |
| 2008 | Karrie Webb Karrie Webb Karrie Ann Webb AM is Australia's most successful female professional golfer, and one of the top players in the history of global women's golf. She currently plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and also turns out once or twice a year on the ALPG Tour in her home country. She is a member of... |
284 | Kingston Heath Golf Club Kingston Heath Golf Club Kingston Heath Golf Club is one of the premier golf clubs in Australia located in the world-renowned sandbelt region in the south east suburbs of Melbourne.... |
$500,000 | $75,000 | |
| 2007 | Karrie Webb Karrie Webb Karrie Ann Webb AM is Australia's most successful female professional golfer, and one of the top players in the history of global women's golf. She currently plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and also turns out once or twice a year on the ALPG Tour in her home country. She is a member of... |
278 | Royal Sydney Golf Club | $500,000 | $75,000 | |
| 2005-06: Not played | ||||||
| 2004 | Laura Davies Laura Davies Laura Jane Davies CBE is an English professional golfer.She is considered the most accomplished English female golfer of modern times being the first non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list... |
283 | Concord Golf Club | $550,000 | $82,500 | |
| 2003 | Mhairi McKay Mhairi McKay Mhairi McKay is a Scottish professional golfer who plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and is also a member of the Ladies European Tour.-Amateur career:... |
277 | Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club | $500,000 | $75,000 | |
| 2002 | Karrie Webb Karrie Webb Karrie Ann Webb AM is Australia's most successful female professional golfer, and one of the top players in the history of global women's golf. She currently plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and also turns out once or twice a year on the ALPG Tour in her home country. She is a member of... |
278 | Yarra Yarra Golf Club | $500,000 | $75,000 | |
| 2001 | Sophie Gustafson Sophie Gustafson Sophie Gustafson is a Swedish professional golfer. She is a member of U.S. based LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour. She has five LPGA and 21 international wins in her career... |
276 | Yarra Yarra Golf Club | $400,000 | $60,000 | |
| 2000 | Karrie Webb Karrie Webb Karrie Ann Webb AM is Australia's most successful female professional golfer, and one of the top players in the history of global women's golf. She currently plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and also turns out once or twice a year on the ALPG Tour in her home country. She is a member of... |
270 | Yarra Yarra Golf Club | $350,000 | $52,500 | |
| 1998 | Marnie McGuire | 280 | Yarra Yarra Golf Club | $350,000 | $52,500 | |
| 1997 | Jane Crafter Jane Crafter Jane Crafter is an Australian-American professional golfer and golf broadcster who played on the LPGA Tour. She holds dual citizenship in Australia and the United States .Crafter won once on the LPGA Tour in 1990... |
279 | Yarra Yarra Golf Club | $350,000 | $52,500 | |
| 1996 | Catriona Matthew Catriona Matthew Catriona Isobel Matthew MBE is a Scottish professional golfer who plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and is also a member of the Ladies European Tour.-Amateur career:... |
283 | Yarra Yarra Golf Club | $300,000 | $45,000 | |
| 1995 | Liselotte Neumann Liselotte Neumann Liselotte Maria "Lotta" Neumann is a Swedish professional golfer. She currently plays primarily on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:... |
283 | Yarra Yarra Golf Club | $250,000 | $37,500 | |
| 1994 | Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer... |
286 | Royal Adelaide Golf Club Royal Adelaide Golf Club The Royal Adelaide Golf Club is a private golf club in Adelaide, South Australia. It is widely acknowledged as ranking with the best in Australia, and has a world ranking that fluctuates around 50.... |
$200,000 | $30,000 | |
| 1979-93: Not played | ||||||
| 1978 | Debbie Austin Debbie Austin Debbie Austin is an American professional golfer.Austin was born in Oneida, New York. She first played on the LPGA Tour in 1968 and went on to win seven tournaments, including five in 1977 when she tied with Judy Rankin for most on tour. She won the Wills Qantas Australian Ladies Open in 1978. Her... |
213 | Manly Golf Club | $15,000 | ||
| 1977 | Jan Stephenson Jan Stephenson Jan Lynne Stephenson is an Australian professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1974 and won three major championships and 16 LPGA Tour events in all.... |
145 | Manly Golf Club | $15,000 | ||
| 1976 | Donna Caponi Young Donna Caponi Donna Caponi-Byrnes is an American professional golfer.Caponi was born in Detroit, Michigan. The daughter of a club pro, Caponi began playing golf at the age of eight and joined the LPGA Tour at 20. Caponi captured her first win on the Tour four years later in 1970, winning the U.S. Women's Open... |
206 | Victoria Golf Club | $15,000 | ||
| 1975 | JoAnne Carner JoAnne Carner JoAnne Gunderson Carner is a former American professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Women's Open titles, and was the first person ever to... |
228 | The Australian Golf Club The Australian Golf Club The Australian Golf Club is a golf club located in Rosebery, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Although it survived numerous course location changes, it is arguably the oldest golf club in Australia. To date the course has held 17 Australian Opens, the most recent being from 13–16 December 2007,... |
$15,000 | ||
| 1974 | Chako Higuchi | 219 | Victoria Golf Club | $10,000 | ||