The Milwaukee Open Invitational was a professional golf tournament in Wisconsin on the PGA Tour. It was played seven times from 1955 through 1961 at different courses in the Milwaukee area.
During its final year, Arnold Palmer skipped the tournament to prepare for the British Open, which he won. The field at North Hills Country Club in Menomonee Falls did include 21-year-old Jack Nicklaus of Ohio State, already a veteran of eight majors and the reigning NCAA champion, he won his second U.S. Amateur a month later. The purse was $30,000 and Bruce Crampton won by a stroke; his winner's share was $4,300. Nicklaus was three strokes back at 275 (−5), tied for sixth.
Two won the event twice, both at different courses: Cary Middlecoff (1955, 1958) and Ken Venturi (1957, 1960).
Miller Brewing Company was the title sponsor for the first five editions; the tournament was initiated in 1955 with a five-year agreement, part of the company's
Venues The tournament was played at three courses in the Milwaukee area: VenueCityEventsYearsCoordinatesBlue Mound Country Club Wauwatosa 1 1955 Tripoli Country Club Milwaukee 4 1956–1959 North Hills Country Club Menomonee Falls 2 1960–1961
Blue Mound hosted the PGA Championship in 1933. The PGA Tour returned in 1968 with the Greater Milwaukee Open, which was played for 42 years, through 2009; it was played twice at Tripoli (1971, 1972).
Winners YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upMilwaukee Open Invitational 1961 Bruce Crampton 272 −8 1 stroke Gay Brewer Bob Goalby 1960 Ken Venturi (2) 271 −9 2 strokes Billy CasperMiller Open Invitational 1959 Gene Littler 265 −15 1 stroke Bob Rosburg Bo Wininger 1958 Cary Middlecoff (2) 264 −16 2 strokes Bob RosburgMiller High Life Open 1957 Ken Venturi 267 −13 5 strokes Al Balding Sam Snead 1956 Ed Furgol 265 −15 4 strokes Gene Littler 1955 Cary Middlecoff 265 −15 4 strokes Julius Boros Ted Kroll Mike Souchak
See also Other former PGA Tour events in Milwaukee Greater Milwaukee Open, 1968–2009 Blue Ribbon Open, 1951 Milwaukee Open, 1940
References
External links North Hills Country Club – 1960–61 host Tripoli Country Club – 1956–59 host Blue Mound Golf and Country Club – 1955 host