This week, 25 years ago, the Champions Tour was officially launched with the playing of the Atlantic City Senior International. On Sunday, June 22, 1980, Don January won the first official event by two strokes over Mike Souchak and took home a $20,000 first-place check.
"The Champions Tour came along at the right time in my career. I don't think any of us had an idea what the Tour could be," said January, an eventual 22-time winner on the circuit.
Leo Fraser, president of the PGA of America and owner of the Atlantic City Country Club at the time, opened his course to history during the third week of June that year, welcoming the idea of legends of the game playing tournament golf on his course. Bally's Park Place Hotel sponsored the $125,000 tournament that benefited the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Sam Snead and Julius Boros put on a mid-week clinic, and both players hurt their backs in the process. Once the tournament began, January, the youngest player in the 63-man field, dueled with Souchak throughout the 54-hole event, eventually overcoming a two-stroke deficit in the final round to win.
That same week, Charlie Sifford opened with rounds of 77 and 75, leaving him tied for 30th entering the final day. Sifford rallied on Sunday, recording six birdies and an eagle for an eight-under 63, the low round of the tournament. His sixth-place finish earned him $3,800.
"All I was trying to do was finish in the top 10. There wasn't too much money in those days, but more for a top-10 finish, obviously," Sifford said. "I remember I had a really good putting round."
The Atlantic City Senior International was not only a success for players like January and Sifford, but also for guys like Toney Penna and Stan Dudas. Penna, the oldest player in the field at 74, was able to play competitively again and Dudas, confined to a wheelchair a month earlier after double-hip replacement surgery, was also able to tee it up.
This tournament near the Boardwalk on the eastern shore of the United States started it all and 776 events later, the Champions Tour is still going strong.
25th Anniversary To Be Featured At
Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Writers Dinner on Tuesday
The Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Writers Association will recognize the Champions Tour's 25th Anniversary on Tuesday night (June 21st) during its annual National Awards Dinner held in conjunction with the PGA TOUR's Barclays Classic.
The Hilton Rye Town in Westchester County, N.Y. will host the Dinner. A number of individuals and organizations will be honored. President Rick George will represent the Champions Tour and make a few briefs remarks about the Tour's 25th Anniversary.
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Jeff Adams
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