The Southern Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1970 to 2002. It was played at the Green Island Country Club in Columbus, Georgia, from 1970 to 1990 and at the Callaway Gardens Resort (Mountain View Course), Pine Mountain, Georgia, from 1991 to 2002. It was founded in 1970 as the Green Island Open Invitational but was known for most of its existence as the Southern Open. The purse for the 2002 tournament was $3,700,000, with $666,000 going to the winner.
Tournament highlights 1970: Mason Rudolph wins the inaugural version of the tournament. He finishes two shots ahead of Chris Blocker.Rudolph claims Green Island title 1971: Future World Golf Hall of Fame member Johnny Miller wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He wins by five shots over Deane Beman.Hot Miller Wins in Southern Open 1975: Hubert Green shoots a final round 64 to win by three shots over John Schroeder.Hubert Green wins Southern Open 1978: Jerry Pate becomes the one and only winner of the tournament to successfully defend his title. He beats Phil Hancock by one shot.Jerry Pate wins Southern Open 1981: Mike Sullivan looks poised to win back to back Southern Opens till J. C. Snead defeats him on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.Snead wins Southern Open 1983: Scottish golfer Sam Torrance who had never made a cut in ten previous PGA Tour appearances, tries tuning up for the Ryder Cup matches by participating in the Southern Open. Torrance nearly wins till Ronnie Black birdies the fourth playoff hole to take home the title.Torrance Falters; Black Captures Southern Open 1986: Columbus, Georgia native and Monday qualifier Fred Wadsworth wins by two shots over George Archer, John Cook, Tim Simpson, and Jim Thorpe.Wadsworth wins Southern Open 1990: Kenny Knox who was born in Columbus, Georgia and had lived there till he was sixteen, makes a birdie on the second playoff hole to defeat Jim Hallet.Knox wins Southern Open in playoff duel with Hallet 1993: The tournament has its first ever five-player playoff. John Inman makes a birdie on the second extra hole to defeat Billy Andrade, Bob Estes, Brad Bryant, and Mark Brooks.Inman wins in Southern Open playoff 1996: For the second time in four years, the tournament winner is decided in a five-player playoff. Michael Bradley birdies the first hole of sudden death to beat defending champion Fred Funk, Len Mattiace, Davis Love III, and John Maginnes.Bradley Wins Buick Challenge 2001: Just like in 1981 and 1996, the defending champion loses in a playoff. This time it is David Duval who loses to Chris DiMarco on the first hole of sudden death.DiMarco Beats Duval To Win Buick Challenge 2002: Jonathan Byrd shoots a final round 63 to win the final edition of the tournament. He beats David Toms by one shot.Byrd wins Buick Challenge
Winners YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upBuick Challenge 2002 Jonathan Byrd 261 −27 1 stroke David Toms 2001 Chris DiMarco 267 −21 Playoff David Duval 2000 David Duval 269 −19 2 strokes Jeff Maggert Nick Price 1999 David Toms 271 −17 3 strokes Stuart Appleby 1998 Steve Elkington (2) 267 −21 Playoff Fred Funk 1997 Davis Love III 270 −18 4 strokes Stewart Cink 1996 Michael Bradley 134 −10 Playoff Fred Funk Davis Love III John Maginnes Len Mattiace 1995 Fred Funk 272 −16 1 stroke John Morse Loren RobertsBuick Southern Open 1994 Steve Elkington 200 −16 5 strokes Steve Rintoul 1993 John Inman 278 −10 Playoff Billy Andrade Mark Brooks Brad Bryant Bob Estes 1992 Gary Hallberg 206 −10 1 stroke Jim Gallagher Jr. 1991 David Peoples 276 −12 1 stroke Robert Gamez 1990 Kenny Knox 265 −15 Playoff Jim HalletSouthern Open 1989 Ted Schulz 266 −14 1 stroke Jay Haas Tim Simpson 1988 David Frost 270 −10 Playoff Bob Tway 1987 Ken Brown 266 −14 7 strokes David Frost Mike Hulbert Larry Mize 1986 Fred Wadsworth 269 −11 2 strokes George Archer John Cook Tim Simpson Jim Thorpe 1985 Tim Simpson 264 −16 2 strokes Clarence Rose 1984 Hubert Green (2) 265 −15 6 strokes Rex Caldwell Scott Hoch Corey Pavin 1983 Ronnie Black 271 −9 Playoff Sam Torrance 1982 Bobby Clampett 266 −14 2 strokes Hale Irwin 1981 J. C. Snead 271 −9 Playoff Mike Sullivan 1980 Mike Sullivan 269 −11 5 strokes Dave Eichelberger Johnny Miller 1979 Ed Fiori 274 −6 Playoff Tom Weiskopf 1978 Jerry Pate (2) 269 −11 1 stroke Phil Hancock 1977 Jerry Pate 266 −14 7 strokes Phil Hancock Mac McLendon Johnny Miller Steve Taylor 1976 Mac McLendon 274 −6 2 strokes Hubert Green 1975 Hubert Green 264 −16 3 strokes John Schroeder 1974 Forrest Fezler 271 −9 1 stroke Bruce Crampton J. C. Snead 1973 Gary Player 270 −10 1 stroke Forrest Fezler 1972 DeWitt Weaver 276 −4 Playoff Chuck CourtneySouthern Open Invitational 1971 Johnny Miller 267 −13 5 strokes Deane BemanGreen Island Open Invitational 1970 Mason Rudolph 274 −6 2 strokes Chris Blocker
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References
External links Tournament results from 1970 to 2002 at GolfObserver.com - Click-on a year for scores and earnings of the particular year. 2002 Tournament preview - at GolfToday.co.uk