The Cajun Classic Open Invitational was a golf tournament in Louisiana on the PGA Tour in the late 1950s and 1960s, played at the Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette, usually in late November. It debuted as the Lafayette Open Invitational in 1958, and in many years was the last tournament on the PGA Tour schedule, which attracted players fighting for position on the money list.
John Barnum, the only man in the history of the PGA Tour to earn his first win after age 50, won this event in 1962 Barnum was also the first player to win on Tour using a Ping putter.
The 1963 tournament began on Thursday, November 21, but during the second round the following day, news of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy swept the course. Saturday's play was postponed in deference to the news, with the tournament finishing on Sunday with the final two rounds being played.
It lost the last tournament slot on the 1969 schedule and the resulting smaller field caused monetary problems that resulted in the tournament folding.
Winners YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upPurse(US$)Winner'sshare ($)Ref.Cajun Classic Open Invitational1968 Ron Cerrudo 270 −18 4 strokes Charlie Sifford 35,000 5,000 1967 Marty Fleckman 275 −13 Playoff Jack Montgomery 35,000 5,000 1966 Jacky Cupit 271 −17 Playoff Chi-Chi Rodríguez 34,500 4,850 1965 Babe Hiskey 275 −13 Playoff Dudley Wysong 32,000 4,250 1964 Miller Barber 277 −7 5 strokes Gay Brewer Jack Nicklaus 25,000 3,300 1963 Rex Baxter 275 −13 2 strokes Bob Shave Jr. 20,000 2,800 1962 John Barnum 270 −14 6 strokes Gay Brewer 17,500 2,400 1961 Doug Sanders 270 −14 6 strokes Ken Still 15,000 2,000 1960 Lionel Hebert 272 −12 2 strokes Jon Gustin Johnny Pott 15,000 2,000 Lafayette Open Invitational1959 Billy Casper 273 −11 4 strokes George Bayer 15,000 2,000 1958 Jay Hebert 275 −11 5 strokes Leo Biagetti Bob Rosburg 15,000 2,000
References
External links Oakbourne Country Club