A Victory Sealed With a Kiss
Glamorous couple run away with the JCPenney Mixed Team Classic
The Tour Backspin journey through the past takes a deep dive into the 1983 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic that featured a very glamorous team in Jan Stephenson and Fred Couples. Stephenson was the much bigger star of the two at this time, but the pair drew huge crowds to see the two play. Those fans were rewarded with some very hot golf. This week’s Valspar Championship replaced the JCPenney in 2000, so there is some DNA that is shared between the two. Scroll down to learn more about this glamorous week on the 1983 schedule.
PAST TOUR BACKSPIN ARTICLES ON LAST EVENT ON THE FLORIDA SWING
Jack Nicklaus wins his first PGA TOUR event played in Florida.
Bob Goalby won the 1961 St. Petersburg Open with a $2 putter he named “Black Maria.”
Enjoy the golf this week from Palm Harbor, FL.
We lost another great one with the passing of sports author John Feinstein last week. He not only wrote about golf, but many other sports as well. He will be missed. Read George Solomon’s memorial of him in The Washington Post.
The Players Championship was fantastic this year with weather conditions, the players in contention, the finish in regulation and a playoff. Too bad the playoff did not live up to the excitement level of the rest of the week. We’ve got some of the action in the Clips I Loved, and I also give my take on the tournament in the PGA TOUR Wrap-Up.
Did you watch the Creator Classic, the event on Wednesday before the start of The Players? Let us know in this week’s The Tour Backspin Poll. We’ve got classic John Cougar Mellencamp in this week’s Music Clip from 1983. Watch the theatrical trailer for the 1983 film, “Scarface” starring Al Pacino, written by Oliver Stone, and directed by Brian De Palma in the Tour Backspin Goes To The Movies.
We’ve got the sweet and silky smooth swing of Fred Couples through the years in this week’s Play Like a Pro. The Vintage Ad has an ad from 1983 that is proof that not all the clubs in the early 1980s were ugly. Scroll down to view.
The latest episode of The Tour Backspin Show has dropped. Host Larry Baush (me!) talks with Bruce Devlin and Mike Gonzalez about their podcast Fore The Good Of The Game. It’s a video podcast and is available on Substack and YouTube. Please subscribe to The Tour Backspin Show on YouTube and help us reach the threshold of subscribers needed to qualify for revenue.
The Tour Backspin Poll
In last week’s Tour Backspin Poll we asked you if you were okay with NBC missing the key shot of the Arnold Palmer Invitational because they were away at a commercial. There were 83% of respondents who hated missing it live and having to settle for a taped highlight while 17% thought the replay was okay.
The Creator Classic came back for the Players. This competition between golf social media influencers was shown on Wednesday. The influencers were put through their paces on the back nine at TPC Sawgrass, including on the 17th green. Did you watch? If you did, were you entertained? Let us know what you think in this week’s Tour Backspin Poll.
We’re playing Valspar Championship trivia in this week’s Tour Backspin Quiz. Scroll down to take the challenge.
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Okay, we're on the tee, let's get going.
Enjoy!
Larry Baush
Glamour Team Takes the JCPenney Mixed Team Classic
It is Thursday, December 8th, 1983, and the first round of the JCPenney Mixed Team Classic, which paired PGA TOUR players with pros from the LPGA in a modified alternate shot format. is about to begin. The setting was the Bardmoor Golf Club in Seminole, FL, which measured 7,015-yards and played to a par 72. It was the time of year on the schedule that some would dub, “the silly season.”
Bobby Coles, and his wife Laura Baugh Coles, are the only married couple to ever enter the mixed event. The two would be celebrating their three-year anniversary on the Sunday of the event, and they would also be looking to turn their respective careers around.
Bobby recently lost his playing card after finishing the season with $16,152 in earnings, good for only the 162nd place on the money list. Laura had turned her attention away from competing on the LPGA Tour to focus on building a family. Having suffered a miscarriage in 1980, she got pregnant just two weeks later before giving birth to the couple’s first child, a daughter named Chelsea. She was now looking at resurrecting her career, and her husband was coaching her.
“I want to play as much as I can for the next couple of years,” she told Steve Lewis of The Tampa Tribune.
While it was not an official event on either tour, the JCPenney offered a $100,000 winner’s check earning each team member $50,000 and attracted many of the top players. Joanne Carner and John Mahaffey were back to defend their 1982 title, as were the runners-up Hollis Stacy and Jay Haas. Tom Kite and Beth Daniel, winners of the event in 1981, were also in the field.
Other teams that could not be written off included Juli Inkster and Tom Purtzer, Alice Ritzman and Mark McCumber, and Jan Stephenson and Fred Couples. Stephenson was the star of the pin-up couple pairing as she was a veteran of the LPGA with 12 titles under her belt while Couples was in his third year on the PGA TOUR and just recently won his first title, the Kemper Open.
An interesting dark horse team was Lee Trevino paired with Amy Benz of Clearwater, FL. Benz came out on the LPGA Tour in August of 1983. The two met in Dallas when Benz was attempting to qualify for the tour. Soon, Albert Salinas, an agent for Trevino, signed Benz to a three-year contract with Lee Trevino Enterprises.
“It was a great confidence builder, them showing confidence in me that early,” Benz said to John D. Harris of The Tampa Bay Times.
The modified alternate shot format has both players hitting tee shots, then both hit their partner’s tee shot for the second shot before choosing which ball to play in alternate shot. This format is used on par fours and par fives, while on par threes, the players select which ball to play after the first shot. Strategy choices included utilizing the power generated by the men, and the short-game touch and prowess of the women.
“It’s important to work out the strategy on this course. This course makes you think.”
In Thursday’s first round, Martha Nause and Larry Mize overcame a shaky start after a bogey on their third hole, the 211-yard, par 3, 13th hole. They then birdied the 14th, 16th and 18th holes before making the turn at 2-under par, 34. They birdied five of their last nine holes and posted a 65, good for a one-shot lead over the Stephensen-Couples, Rose Jones-Dave Eichelberger, and Judy Clark-Gary Koch teams.
“It’s important to work out the strategy on this course,” Eichelberger said after the round. “This course makes you think.”
Before the second round, Australian pro Jane Crafter spoke with Steve Lewis, sportswriter for The Tampa Tribune about the pressure that the women pros felt competing alongside the PGA TOUR pros.
“I just say I’m sorry on the first tee, then I don’t have to apologize anymore,” she said about playing with Pat McGowan.
There wasn’t any need for apologies as the pair toured the Bardmoor course in just 64 strokes in the second round. It was good for a one-shot lead over Jan Geddes and Lon Hinkle, and Stephenson and Couples who were at 133. Geddes and Hinkle had a 65 while Stephenson and Couples came in with a 67.
“Hotter than Cabbage Patch Dolls, and at least as cute.”
First round leaders, Nause and Mize, stumbled to a 70 for a two-day total of 135 and they were tied with the Stacy-Haas team, who had a 66. Five teams were tied one stroke back at 136.
Mark Johnson of the Tampa Bay Times wrote about the Stephenson-Couples team saying they were “hotter than Cabbage Patch Dolls, and at least as cute” after the completion of the third round. The duo had 11 birdies on their way to a 10-under round of 62 and a six-shot lead. But it could have been better. Both missed short birdie putts. Couples missed a six-footer on the 8th hole, while Stephenson missed a 12-footer on the 14th hole.
“We really could have shot lower,” Stephenson told reporters, laughing.
After the team made the turn, they went on a rampage securing eight birdies on the back nine. The Stacy-Haas team shot a fine 66—and lost three shots to the leaders.
“You never know until the last putt.”
Jerilyn Britz and her partner, Tim Simpson, fired a 65 and were tied at 202 with Lon Hinkle and Jane Geddes, who shot 69. Patti Rizzo and Curtis Strange were another stroke back at 203 after a round of 64.
While Stephenson and Couples held a commanding six stroke lead, they didn’t want to take winning for granted.
“You never know until the last putt,” Stephenson told reporters. “It’s nice to have a lead in one of these things, but sometimes when you get behind, it’s so easy to kind of go for everything and make a bunch of birdies.”
Jay Haas spoke about his team’s chances and was not ready to surrender to the leaders saying, “If we could put a little heat on early and close the gap to three with 12 holes to play, or something, we’ll be in there. If we shoot 65, that’ll be 22-under—I guess that should be our target score.”
Stephenson and Couples needed only to shoot even-par to tie the tournament four-round scoring record.
Lee Trevino and his partner, Amy Benz were ten shots off the lead while Laura Baugh Cole, and her husband Bobby, were well down the leader board. At least their 3rd year anniversary on Sunday would be low-stress.
“I knew if we got off to a good start, there was no way they could catch us.”
A record crowd of 17,500 lined the fairways during the windy final round and most were there to see the pin-up, glamour team of Jan Stephenson and Fred Couples. The two heartthrobs breezed their way to victory with a round of 69. They easily broke the tournament scoring record by four strokes.
“I knew if we got off to a good start, there was no way they could catch us,” Stephenson said after the round. “It was fun all the way because I knew we would win. I savored it and it was nice.”
While Stephenson had 12 LPGA titles under her belt, including the U.S. Open in June, this was only the second time that Fred Couples won on tour.
“I’m thrilled,” Couples said after the win. “I’ve had a lot of top 10 finishes this year, but the highlight is winning. That’s what you play for.”
Jane Geddes and Lon Hinkle shot a final round 67 to capture second place at 269. Judy Clark and Gary Koch fired the low round of the day, a 63, and moved into third place. Jane Crafter and Pat McGowan finished fourth at 271 while Beth Daniel and Tom Kite shared fifth place with Hollis Stacy and Jay Haas.
While the event may have occurred during “the silly season” of golf, the $50,000 that both Stephenson and Couples took home was some serious cash and they sealed the victory with a kiss.
Coming Next Week: Arnold Palmer wins the Houston Open the first year it is played at Champions Golf Club in 1966
BONUS STORY
Glamorous or Scandalous?
Many credit Jan Stephenson for saving the LPGA in the 1970s as fans were enamored with not only her golf ability, but also with her attractiveness. The attention she attracted help uplift the women’s tour from near obscurity but it also took a personal toll on the Australian.
In 1977, with two tour wins under her belt, LPGA Tour Commissioner Ray Volpe approached Stephenson and asked her to become the face of a new-look tour. She was more than willing to take on the roll and a cover shoot for Sport Magazine was arranged. The result had a major impact with plenty of controversy.
“Donald was good looking, charming, very accomplished, and wealthy.”
Winning those two titles in 1976 brought her into the limelight and into the national consciousness, and it also attracted the attention of a certain New York real estate magnet who was also a casino owner.
A chance meeting between Stephenson and Donald Trump left the businessman enamored with the golfer and the two soon began dating.
“Donald was good looking, charming, very accomplished, and wealthy,” Stephenson said back in 2018. “He always had a lot of beautiful women who wanted to go out with him. He was not the Donald you see today.”
The two started to get serious and then Trump gave Stephenson an ultimatum. She would have to choose between him and her golf career.
“I’d given up so much to become a tour pro,” Stephenson explained. “My family had given up so much for me. I just couldn’t have that relationship right then. I wanted golf. I felt I would be letting everybody down if I gave that up.”
Later, in 1982, Stephenson’s life was in turmoil, once again over romances, when she married her manager, Larry Kolb. Kolb had convinced her that her longtime boyfriend, Eddie Vossler, son of former touring pro Ernie Vossler, had been unfaithful to her. Stephenson requested an annulment shortly after the wedding and Kolb refused.
In 1982 she ended up in an insane asylum after Kolb committed her, along with arranging for a cult deprogrammer to diagnose her, saying that Stephenson was mentally ill. Stephenson fought back and petitioned for the annulment and a judge quickly ordered her immediate release. She went on to win the 1982 Women’s PGA Championship, her second career major.
Larry,
Great interview with Bruce Devlin. He’s still doing well. I did a clinic in Dallas last year with Randy Smith and Bruce played in the tournament afterwards. I was able to have a really nice conversation with him.
Jim
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WHAT HOLE IS IT?
Congratulations to David Rihm, winner of the WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest. He correctly identified #6 at TPC Sawgrass, in Ponte Vedra, FL. David beat out two other correct answers in the drawing and we’ve got a gift discount code to The Tour Backspin Golf Shop coming his way. We are sending discount codes to the winners of WHAT HOLE IS IT? in 2025 so that they can choose their prize from the offerings in The Tour Backspin Golf Shop, including the Tour Backspin 19th Hole Hot Sauce. Multiple winners can combine their discount codes to use on a single order, and the codes never expire. When the code is redeemed, the prize will be sent with free shipping, so getting your prize will not cost you anything. Check out The Tour Backspin Golf Shop HERE.
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We told you about getting our hands on a treasure trove of film that we are cleaning up and digitizing for the Tony Lema documentary. Some great footage of Tony in action and even home movies. Below is a clip from the Howard Cosell Champagne on the Green interview with Tony. (clicking on link will open this post on the web, scroll down to video player).
Click on image to view on the web.
You can now support the induction of Tony Lema into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Sign the online petition HERE.
Clips I Loved
Did I mention that I’m going to the Masters on Wednesday? If you’ll be there, reach out so we can meet up.
Inside the fortuitous drop for J.J. Spaun on Sunday.
Doing the recon in Rory’s bag may have hurt him, I think.
As if I wasn’t excited enough about the Masters.
Lucky break . . . from a simulator.
Behind the scenes with Rory after his win.
PGA TOUR Wrap-Up | THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
It was a very interesting Sunday at The Players which had a 4-hour weather delay and saw the leader, Rory McIlroy lose a three-shot lead with just five holes to play in regulation.
McIlroy was four shots behind third round leader, J.J. Spaun, at the start of the final round, but opened with a birdie and an eagle. Another eagle on the 11th hole put him at 12-under. J.J. Spaun was 1-over for his round at this point, and one-shot behind McIlroy. Then the rains came.
When play resumed, McIlroy bogeyed the 14th after a bad drive, missed a 5-foot birdie at rhe 15th hole, and failed to birdie the 16th hole. He barely coaxed in his putt at the final hole that he needed to force a playoff against Spaun who came up one revolution short of making the winning birdie putt.
The three-hole aggregate playoff on Monday was over before it really got started. Rory took a one-stroke lead on the 16th hole, the first playoff hole, when Spaun hit into his first greenside bunker of the week and failed to get up-and-down.
At the 17th, McIlroy hit what he called a “three quarter, three quarter,” 9-iron that found the green. Spaun peered into McIlroy’s bag to see what club he was hitting before selecting an 8-iron for his shot. He hit the shot he was trying to hit and watched in horrified amazement as the ball airmailed the green into the water. The resulting triple bogey gave McIlroy a four-shot cushion playing the final hole.
“I was disappointed that I needed to come back this morning, but … I couldn't let that mind frame linger for too long,” McIlroy said. “I had to reset and try to get a good night's sleep and come out this morning committed to get the job done.”
Read more from the PGA TOUR HERE.
Here are the highlights of the final round:
Tour Backspin Quiz | Valspar Championship Trivia
What happened twice to the Valspar Championship (under the various names it was played under) that has never happened to any other PGA TOUR event?
Scroll down for answer
Play Like a Pro
The sweet and smooth swing of Fred Couples through the years.
Blind Shot
Click for something fun. 👀
The Fried Egg takes the temperature of the stars of the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf.
Tour Backspin Music Clip
John Cougar Mellencamp does “Authority Song” live in 1983.
Tour Backspin Quiz Answer:
The Valspar Championship was cancelled due to outside events twice. In 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks when it was known as the Tampa Bay Classic, and again in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thank you for reading this far, I know your time is valuable and choosing to spend some of it on what I’ve created is gratifying. If you want to help support the work we’re doing, please consider upgrading. It’s just $36 a year and you’ll be helping to tell the stories from one of golf’s golden ages.
Vintage Ad
Final Thoughts
I kind of forgot what Jan Stephenson went through in the early 1980s.
It is quite amazing that he has won so many club championships with that putting stroke (see the Blind Shot this week).
We made a lot of progress on the Tony Lema documentary last week. Now, I promise to catch up on sending coupon discount codes to the winners of the last few weeks of WHAT HOLE IS IT?
What do you think about Fred Couples sporting a mustache?