The 1946 U.S. Women's Open was a golf tournament contested from August 26 to September 1 at Spokane Country Club, north of Spokane, Washington. It was the first edition of the U.S. Women's Open, and only one to have been played in match play competition. The field of 39 women was reduced to the 32-player match play field by a 36-hole qualifier on Monday and Tuesday. Six professionals and 26 amateurs advanced to match play. The format was 18-hole matches through the quarterfinals, and 36 holes for the semifinals and finals.
Professionals Patty Berg and Betty Jameson reached the Sunday final. Jameson led by three after seven holes, but Berg evened the match and they finished the first 18 holes all square. After lunch, Berg needed only fourteen holes in the afternoon to close out the match at 5 & 4. Berg won $5,600 and Jameson $3,100, all in war bonds. This win was later recognized as Berg's sixth major championship. The winner's share at the U.S. Women's Open was substantially less in succeeding years and was not exceeded until 1972, 26 years later.
Jameson won the title the following year as a 72-hole stroke play event.
Founded in 1898, Spokane Country Club was purchased by the Kalispel Tribe in late 2015 and is now Kalispell Golf and Country Club.
Qualifying scores and final results Player Qualifyingscore Seed FinishPatty Berg 145 1 1Betty Jameson 158 6 2Betty Jean Rucker (a) 153 3 T3Dot Kielty (a) 162 12 T3Jackie Pung (a) 157 5 T5Betty Hicks 159 7 T5Clara Sherman (a) 160 8 T5Ellen Kieser (a) 180 26 T5Beverly Hanson (a) 155 4 T9Mary Mozel 160 9 T9Helen Dettweiler 161 11 T9Edean Anderson (a) 164 13 T9Ann Casey (a) 165 14 T9Yola Apostoli (a) 166 15 T9Mrs. Walter Nagel (a) 166 16 T9Grace Lenczyk (a) 167 18 T9Babe Didrikson Zaharias (a) 152 2 T17Hope Seignious 161 10 T17Margaret Spear (a) 166 17 T17Mrs. Frank Kapps (a) 174 19 T17Mrs. J.R. West (a) 174 20 T17Mrs. Jo Pedicord (a) 175 21 T17Barbara Smith (a) 176 22 T17Mary Sargent (a) 178 23 T17Carol Gleason (a) 179 24 T17Jewel Ann Gronley (a) 180 25 T17Betty Frank (a) 181 27 T17Pedee Hosler (a) 184 28 T17Mrs. William May (a) 185 29 T17Grace DeMoss (a) 186 30 T17Mrs. Walter McCarty (a) 187 31 T17Bennye Sellers (a) 188 32 T17 (a) denotes amateur
Bracket
Final match scorecards Morning Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par445544353 354544534 Berg 445545453444545434 Jameson 444544364353645534 Leader ––J1J1J1J2J3J2J1J2J1J2J1J1J1–––
Afternoon Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par445544353 354544534 Berg34545436335454Berg wins5 & 4 Jameson45456636345355 Leader B1B2B1B2B3B4B4B4B4B5B5B4B4B5 Source:
References
External links USGA final leaderboard U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship Kalispell Golf and Country Club