Sahara Invitational

The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event in Nevada from 1958 through 1976, played 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.

Sahara Invitational
Tournament information
LocationLas Vegas, Nevada
Established1958
Course(s)Sahara Nevada Country Club
Par71
Length6,800 yards (6,200 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$135,000
Month playedSeptember/October
Final year1976
Tournament record score
Aggregate269 Billy Casper (1965)
To par−15 as above
Final champion
United States George Archer
Location Map
Sahara Nevada CC is located in the United States
Sahara Nevada CC
Sahara Nevada CC
Location in the United States
Sahara Nevada CC is located in Nevada
Sahara Nevada CC
Sahara Nevada CC
Location in Nevada

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
YearTour[lower-alpha 1]WinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ($)
Sahara Invitational
1976PGATUnited States George Archer271−132 strokesUnited States Dave Hill
United States Don January		27,000
1975PGATUnited States Dave Hill270−14PlayoffUnited States Rik Massengale27,000
1974PGATUnited States Al Geiberger273−113 strokesUnited States Wally Armstrong
United States Jerry Heard
United States Dave Hill
United States Mike Hill		27,000
1973PGATUnited States John Mahaffey271−133 strokesUnited States Dave Eichelberger27,000
1972PGATUnited States Lanny Wadkins273−111 strokeUnited States Arnold Palmer27,000
1971PGATUnited States Lee Trevino280−81 strokeUnited States George Archer27,000
1970PGATUnited States Babe Hiskey276−121 strokeUnited States Miller Barber
United States Terry Dill
United States Bob Goalby		20,000
1969PGATUnited States Jack Nicklaus (4)272−124 strokesUnited States Frank Beard20,000
1968PGATUnited States Chi-Chi Rodríguez274−10PlayoffUnited States Dale Douglass20,000
1967PGATUnited States Jack Nicklaus (3)270−141 strokeUnited States Steve Spray20,000
1966PGATUnited States Jack Nicklaus (2)282−23 strokesUnited States Miller Barber
United States Arnold Palmer		20,000
1965PGATUnited States Billy Casper269−153 strokesUnited States Billy Martindale20,000
1964PGATUnited States R. H. Sikes275−93 strokesUnited States Jack McGowan
United States Jack Nicklaus
United States Phil Rodgers		12,000
1963PGATUnited States Jack Nicklaus276−81 strokeUnited States Gay Brewer
United States Al Geiberger		13,000
1962PGATUnited States Tony Lema270−143 strokesUnited States Don January2,800
Sahara Pro-Am
1961United States Phil Rodgers
1960United States Bob Duden
1959United States Doug Sanders
1958United States Bill Johnston

Notes
  1. PGAT − PGA Tour.

References
  1. "Sahara victory surprises Archer". The Day. New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. October 4, 1976. p. 29.
  2. "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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