Chevron Championship

The Chevron Championship is a professional women's golf tournament. An event on the LPGA Tour, it is one of the tour's five major championships, and has traditionally been the first of the season since its elevation to major status in 1983. Founded in 1972 by singer and actress Dinah Shore and Colgate-Palmolive chairman David Foster, it was played at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California from its inception through 2022. In 2023, the championship was played in The Woodlands, Texas for the first time at The Club at Carlton Woods - Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.

The Chevron Championship
Tournament information
LocationThe Woodlands, Texas
Established
Course(s)The Club at Carlton Woods
Jack Nicklaus Signature Course
Par72
Organized by
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play - 72 holes
Prize fundUS$5.1 million
Month playedApril
Tournament record score
Aggregate269 Dottie Pepper (1999)
To par−19 Dottie Pepper (1999)
Current champion
United States Lilia Vu
2023 Chevron Championship

Sometimes referred to as The Dinah Shore in deference to its founder, the tournament has had many official sponsored titles, all of which included Shore's name until 2000; since then it has been titled as the Nabisco Championship, Kraft Nabisco Championship, and ANA Inspiration.

The championship's time at Mission Hills is associated with several traditions; in 1988, Amy Alcott established a tradition of the event's champion diving into the pond that surrounds the 18th hole, while an annual women's festival coinciding with the championship has been held since 1991, attracting a large number of female tourists to the Rancho Mirage area for the events annually. In 2022, the championship was held in Mission Hills for the final time; as part of its new title sponsorship agreement with Chevron Corporation, the championship will be moved to a new venue in 2023, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Club at Carlton Woods to coincide with the company's move to the Greater Houston area.[1]

History

Founded in 1972 by Colgate-Palmolive chairman David Foster,[2][3] and entertainer Dinah Shore,[4] the championship has been classified as a major since 1983.[5] Since its inception, it has been held annually at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, southeast of Palm Springs.[4] It is the first major of the year, usually played in late March or early April.

At its debut in 1972 as a 54-hole event, it was the richest event in women's golf;[4][6][7] its purse was more than double that of the LPGA Championship or the U.S. Women's Open. The first edition invited all winners of tour events from the previous ten seasons.[4]

After over twenty years of sponsorship by Nabisco, and parent company Kraft Foods, Japanese airline All Nippon Airways became the title sponsor of the tournament in late 2014, renaming the tournament the ANA Inspiration (in reference to its slogan "Inspiration of Japan").[8]

In October 2021, a six-year sponsorship agreement with energy company Chevron Corporation was announced that would see the tournament renamed The Chevron Championship, with an increased prize fund of $5 million in 2022, up from $3 million in 2021. It was also announced that the tournament will be moved to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Club at Carlton Woods in the Greater Houston area in 2023, with a change of dates. Dinah Shore's daughter Melissa Montgomery established an advisory board to oversee the tournament's transition.[9][10]

Officials intend the date change to allow for network television coverage on NBC,[9][10] it has also been suggested that the tournament was moved in deference to the Augusta National Women's Amateur.[11]

Tournament names
YearsTournament name
1972–1980Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle
1981Colgate-Dinah Shore
1982Nabisco Dinah Shore Invitational
1983–1999Nabisco Dinah Shore
2000–2001Nabisco Championship
2002–2014Kraft Nabisco Championship
2015–2021ANA Inspiration
from 2022The Chevron Championship
Informally, it is commonly referred to as "the Dinah Shore,"
even though her name was removed from the official title in 2000.
The winner's trophy bears Shore's name.

"Poppie's Pond"

From 1988 to 2022, the winner traditionally celebrated her victory by jumping in the pond surrounding the 18th green.[12] The pond is known as Champions Lake or "Poppie's Pond" as it was dubbed in 2006 honor of Terry Wilcox, the tournament director from 1994 through 2008; Wilcox is known as "Poppie" to his grandchildren.[13]

Amy Alcott established the tradition in 1988 to celebrate her second win here,[14] and repeated in 1991, including tournament host Dinah Shore.[15] It was not embraced by others until 1994, when Donna Andrews made the leap, followed by Nanci Bowen the next year, and it became an annual tradition.[16][17] In 1998, winner Pat Hurst waded in only up to her knees, as she could not swim.[18][19][20][21]

Originally a very natural water hazard, the portion near the bridge it is now lined with concrete and has treated water, more like a swimming pool.

With the tournament's new home in The Woodlands, Texas in 2023, the traditional leap into the pond by the winner still remained.

Associated events
Main article: Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend

A women's festival known as the Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend has been held in the city of Palm Springs, California during the week of the tournament, featuring concerts by female musicians, comedy shows, parties, and other events and networking opportunities. The Dinah Shore Weekend was first organized in 1991 by promoter Mariah Hanson, expanding upon afterparties that had become associated with the tournament.[22][23]

A large number of lesbians and bisexual women visit the Palm Springs area for the festival and tournament;[22][23] the Dinah Shore Weekend was described by Los Angeles as the "largest annual gathering of queer women and their female allies",[24] while the tournament as a whole had been described as "spring break for lesbians."[25][26]

Winners
See also: List of Chevron Championship winners
YearDatesChampionCountryScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Purse
($)		Winner's
share ($)
2023Apr 20–23Lilia Vu United States68-69-73-68278−10Playoff5,100,000765,000
2022Mar 31 – Apr 3Jennifer Kupcho United States66-70-64-74274−142 strokes5,000,000750,000
2021Apr 1–4Patty Tavatanakit Thailand66-69-67-68270−182 strokes3,100,000465,000
2020Sep 10–13Mirim Lee South Korea70-65-71-67273−15Playoff3,100,000465,000
2019Apr 4–7Ko Jin-young South Korea69-71-68-70278−103 strokes3,000,000450,000
2018Mar 29 – Apr 2 ^Pernilla Lindberg Sweden65-67-70-71273−15Playoff2,800,000420,000
2017Mar 30 – Apr 2Ryu So-yeon South Korea68-69-69-68274−14Playoff2,700,000405,000
2016Mar 31 – Apr 3Lydia Ko New Zealand70-68-69-69276−121 stroke2,600,000390,000
2015Apr 2–5Brittany Lincicome (2) United States72-68-70-69279−9Playoff2,500,000375,000
2014Apr 3–6Lexi Thompson United States73-64-69-68274−143 strokes2,000,000300,000
2013Apr 4–7Inbee Park South Korea70-67-67-69273−154 strokes2,000,000300,000
2012Mar 29 – Apr 1Sun-Young Yoo South Korea69-69-72-69279−9Playoff2,000,000300,000
2011Mar 31 – Apr 3Stacy Lewis United States66-69-71-69275−133 strokes2,000,000300,000
2010Apr 1–4Yani Tseng Taiwan69-71-67-68275−131 stroke2,000,000300,000
2009Apr 2–5Brittany Lincicome United States66-74-70-69279−91 stroke2,000,000300,000
2008Apr 3–6Lorena Ochoa Mexico68-71-71-67277−115 strokes2,000,000300,000
2007Mar 29 – Apr 1Morgan Pressel United States74-72-70-69285−31 stroke2,000,000300,000
2006Mar 30 – Apr 2Karrie Webb (2) Australia70-68-76-65279−9Playoff1,800,000270,000
2005Mar 24–27Annika Sörenstam (3) Sweden70-69-66-68273−158 strokes1,800,000270,000
2004Mar 25–28Grace Park South Korea72-69-67-69277−111 stroke1,600,000240,000
2003Mar 27–30Patricia Meunier-Lebouc France70-68-70-73281−71 stroke1,600,000240,000
2002Mar 28–31Annika Sörenstam (2) Sweden70-71-71-68280−81 stroke1,500,000225,000
2001Mar 22–25Annika Sörenstam Sweden72-70-70-69281−73 strokes1,500,000225,000
2000Mar 23–26Karrie Webb Australia67-70-67-70274−1410 strokes1,250,000187,500
1999Mar 25–28Dottie Pepper (2) United States70-66-67-66269−196 strokes1,000,000150,000
1998Mar 26–29Pat Hurst United States68-72-70-71281−71 stroke1,000,000150,000
1997Mar 27–30Betsy King (3) United States71-67-67-71276−122 strokes900,000135,000
1996Mar 28–31Patty Sheehan United States71-72-67-71281−71 stroke900,000135,000
1995Mar 23–26Nanci Bowen United States69-75-71-70285−31 stroke850,000127,500
1994Mar 24–27Donna Andrews United States70-69-67-70276−122 strokes700,000105,000
1993Mar 25–28Helen Alfredsson Sweden69-71-72-72284−42 strokes700,000105,000
1992Mar 26–29Dottie Mochrie United States69-71-70-69279−9Playoff700,000105,000
1991Mar 28–31Amy Alcott (3) United States67-70-68-68273−158 strokes600,00090,000
1990Mar 29 – Apr 1Betsy King (2) United States69-70-69-75283−52 strokes600,00090,000
1989Mar 30 – Apr 2Juli Inkster (2) United States66-69-73-71279−95 strokes500,00080,000
1988Mar 31 – Apr 3Amy Alcott (2) United States71-66-66-71274−142 strokes500,00080,000
1987Apr 2–5Betsy King United States68-75-72-68283−5Playoff500,00080,000
1986Apr 3–6Pat Bradley United States68-72-69-71280−82 strokes430,00075,000
1985Apr 4–7Alice Miller United States70-68-70-67275−133 strokes400,00055,000
1984Apr 5–8Juli Inkster United States70-73-69-68280−8Playoff400,00055,000
1983Mar 31 – Apr 3Amy Alcott United States70-70-70-72282−62 strokes400,00055,000

^ Play extended one day due to darkness.
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.

Winners as a non-major
YearChampionCountryScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Purse
($)		Winner's
share ($)
1982Sally Little South Africa76-67-71-64278−103 strokes300,00045,000
1981Nancy Lopez United States71-73-69-64277−112 strokes250,00037,500
1980Donna Caponi United States71-67-66-71275−132 strokes250,00037,500
1979Sandra Post (2) Canada68-70-68-70276−121 stroke250,00037,500
1978Sandra Post Canada65-75-72-72283−5Playoff240,00036,000
1977Kathy Whitworth United States76-70-72-71289+11 stroke240,00036,000
1976Judy Rankin United States74-72-71-68285−33 strokes185,00032,000
1975Sandra Palmer United States70-70-70-73283−51 stroke180,00032,000
1974Jo Ann Prentice United States71-71-74-73289+1Playoff179,00032,000
1973Mickey Wright United States71-74-71-68284−42 strokes135,00025,000
1972Jane Blalock United States71-70-72213−33 strokes110,00020,050

Multiple champions

Multiple winners of the event as a major championship.

Champion Country Total Years
Amy Alcott  United States 3 1983, 1988, 1991
Betsy King  United States 3 1987, 1990, 1997
Annika Sörenstam ‡  Sweden 3 2001, 2002, 2005
Juli Inkster ‡  United States 2 1984, 1989
Dottie Pepper  United States 2 1992, 1999
Karrie Webb ‡  Australia 2 2000, 2006
Brittany Lincicome  United States 2 2009, 2015
style="background: #DCDCDC"|Deceased golfer †
Career Grand Slam winners ‡

Through 2018, the only successful defense of the title (as a major) was by Sörenstam in 2002.[27]

References
  1. "The Chevron Championship Embarks on New Era at the Club at Carlton Woods". The Chevron Championship. June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  2. McDermott, Barry (April 29, 1974). "One for the money, two for the show". Sports Illustrated. p. 26.
  3. Pileggi, Sarah (April 12, 1982). "The way to win a lot with a Little". Sports Illustrated. p. 32.
  4. McDermott, Barry (April 24, 1972). "Bracing for a rich breakthrough". Sports Illustrated. p. 26.
  5. McDermott, Barry (April 11, 1983). "Winning was her just dessert". Sports Illustrated. p. 34.
  6. "Rankin maintains lead". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. April 16, 1972. p. 3C.
  7. "Blalock wins title despite back pain". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. April 17, 1972. p. 5B.
  8. "All Nippon Airways (ANA) Takes Flight as Title Sponsor of LPGA's "ANA Inspiration"". IMG. November 18, 2014. Archived from the original on December 1, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  9. Levins, Keely (October 5, 2021). "LPGA Tour making major changes to year's first major, with new name, purse, course and sponsor". Golf Digest. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  10. Murray, Ewan (October 5, 2021). "Women's golf major gains sponsor and bigger purse amid venue uncertainty". The Guardian. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  11. Powers, Shad (April 2, 2022). "Veteran Christina Kim has harsh words for Augusta National as LPGA major is forced to move". The Desert Sun. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  12. "LPGA Top Ten: Leaps into Poppie's Pond". YouTube. (LPGA Tour). 2015. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  13. "Poppie's Pond". The Chevron Championship. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  14. "Alcott takes Dinah Shore, then takes victory plunge". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. April 4, 1988. p. 2C.
  15. Florence, Mal (April 1, 1991). "Alcott repeats her win and her dive". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times). p. 2C.
  16. "Bowen's first LPGA victory a major one". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 27, 1995. p. 2B.
  17. Crouse, Karen (April 2, 2011). "At women's Masters, plunge in Poppie's Pond is victory lap". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  18. "Win has Hurst taking a plunge". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). wire services. March 30, 1998. p. B10.
  19. Shipnuck, Alan (April 6, 1998). "Hurst in a burst". Sports Illustrated. p. G38.
  20. Zullo, Allan (2001). Astonishing but True Golf Facts. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-0740714269.
  21. "The Ladies of the Lake: the Champion's Leap at the Kraft Nabisco Championship". Kraft Nabisco Championship. 2006. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  22. Mansfield, Stephanie (April 7, 1997). "Major party". Sports Illustrated. p. G6.
  23. "Tee party". The Observer. May 6, 2001. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  24. Martin, Brittany (March 12, 2018). "How a Small Party in the Desert Became the Biggest Lesbian Festival in America Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  25. "Don't Quote Me: Dinah Shore Weekend". AfterEllen.com. 2006. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  26. Hall, Carla (March 31, 1996). "Dinah Shore Week: It's Ultimate Girls' Night Out". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  27. "Sorenstam holds on for victory". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. April 1, 2002. p. 5C.
  28. "Lopez succumbs to challenge by Post". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. April 9, 1979. p. 14.

33.798°N 116.433°W / 33.798; -116.433

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