Rain Fails to Dampen Southern Hospitality
Despite rain delays, the Magnolia Classic goes on with a display of Southern hospitality
The PGA Tour returns to the FedExCup Fall schedule with the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, MS. This tournament shares DNA with the Magnolia Classic that was played, at the same course, from 1968 to 1985. Join us on a journey through the past back to 1969 when Larry Mowry won the event that was interuppted with multiple rain delays. This tournament, a “Second Tour” event played opposite the Masters, was beloved by the pros as the town of Jackson rolled out the red carpet and showered the players with Southern hospitality. Scroll down to learn more.
We wrote about the 1973 Magnolia Classic won by Dwight Nevil HERE, the 1978 event won by Craig Stadler HERE, and the 1979 event, which also had rain, and flooding, to contend with HERE.
We lost another World Golf Hall of Fame member on Wednesday when Susie Maxwell Berning passed away. Susie won on the LPGA Tour 11 times and won three U.S. Women’s Opens. Susie was 83. Listen to her great interview with Bruce Devlin and Mike Gonzales on their excellent podcast, Fore The Good Of The Game, HERE.
The Presidents Cup was filled with action, and drama, as the U.S. team extended its winning streak in the event to ten straight. Scroll down as I provide a few of my thoughts, as well as the Clips You Might Have Missed.
We’ve got a question for you to weigh in on with the Tour Backspin Poll. This week’s Music Clip features Crosby, Stills, and Nash doing “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” at Woodstock in 1969, and Tour Backspin Goes to The Movies, has the theatrical trailer for “Easy Rider” also in 1969. Scroll down to listen and watch.
The Swing Like a Pro features vintage color footage of Charlie Sifford’s swing, and we have a great hole for the WHAT HOLE IS IT? Presented by Rota Golf this week. Submit your answer and you may just win a golf swag prize pack which includes our new 19th Hole Hot Sauce. Rota Golf has a cool way to map out your bucket list journey of playing the top 100 courses in the U.S. We’ve got some links for you in the Check it Out section and an ad about the #1 ball in golf 1969 Vintage Ad. Scroll down to view.
Last week we wanted to know how you felt about the occasional week off from the PGA TOUR schedule. There were 80% of respondents who liked the breaks feeling that it enhances the events still on the schedule, while 20% hate the breaks because they are true addicts.
We’ve asked this question before, but it will be interesting to see what the results will be if we ask it again. Does the Presidents Cup need to be changed to a mixed event to make it more competitive? Let us know in this week’s Tour Backspin Poll.
We’re playing 1969 PGA TOUR Trivia in this week’s Tour Backspin Quiz. Scroll down to play.
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Okay, we're on the tee, let's get going.
Enjoy!
Larry Baush
Southern Hospitality Shines Through Damp Conditions
There are two things you can be certain about when the PGA TOUR visits Hattiesburg, MS, for a “Second Tour” event known as the Magnolia Classic and played opposite the Masters. The first is that you can expect rain, and the second is that the citizens of Hattiesburg will roll out a red carpet and enthusiastically welcome players to their town. The tournament was not only a chance to show off their town, but it was also an economic boon that brought in tens of thousands of dollars to the coffers of the city’s businesses.
One way the newspaper’s editors highlighted as a way of support was purchasing sponsorships.
While this may have been a “Second Tour” event, it was not a second-tier event to the town which was intent on providing a week that showcased southern hospitality and a welcoming environment to the families of the players. The local newspaper, The Hattiesburg American, began its boosterism of the second annual Magnolia Classic, scheduled to be played the second week of April, in the February 26th, 1969, edition with an editorial that emphasized the economic benefits and the prestige that the event would bring to the town.
The editorial urged that “the cooperation of the entire community—not just the hard-working tournament committee members and other golf addicts—in making certain that the Magnolia Classic is right on target again.” One way the newspaper’s editors highlighted as a way of support was purchasing sponsorships.
A $250 sponsorship included a spot in the pro-am preceding the first round, a pair of Footjoy golf shoes in the tournament colors of green and white, five season tickets, a special parking permit, clubhouse privileges, and an invitation to all related social events including a shrimp dinner with live entertainment that the professional players would also be attending. A $100 sponsorship entitled the buyer to five season tickets, club privileges, and a regular parking permit. The editors urged readers to purchase these sponsorships “right now” as preparations were already underway and needed the support. Daily regular tickets sold for $3 for the pro-am and the weekend while Thursday and Friday tickets sold for $2. Season tickets were on sale for $7.
The pros who did not qualify for the Masters began pouring into Hattiesburg on Monday, April 7th, hot off an exciting finish at the Greater Greensboro Open that saw Gene Littler beat Orville Moody, Julius Boros, and Tom Weiskopf in a playoff. Moody would be one of the bigger names in the Magnolia Classic, as was Chi Chi Rodríguez. Mac McLendon, a rookie who was the winner of the 1968 Magnolia Classic, went on to have an outstanding year and qualified for the Masters so he would not be in Hattiesburg to defend his title, although the man he beat in a playoff that year, Pete Fleming, was in the field.
Monday qualifying was open to amateurs only, and there were 13 players vying for two spots in the field. Tuesday featured official practice rounds and a clinic that would include a long drive contest. Wednesday, the pro-am would be played before the first round commenced on Thursday. The pro-am field featured Dizzy Dean, Mickey Mantle, and Dale Robertson.
The Hattiesburg Country Club measured 6,730 yards for the pros and played to a par of 70. The course featured tree-lined fairways putting a premium on driving accuracy. The weather forecast for the week was cloudy and warm with a chance of thundershowers.
Dewitt Weaver won the long driving contest during Tuesday’s clinic with a blast that traveled 326½ yards winning $100. Chi Chi was the star of the clinic with his antics exhibiting swing imitations of his fellow pros, and trick shots including hitting a 200-yard shot out of a cup and hitting shots while sitting in a chair.
“This was a real boost to us and has to be the best crowd we’ve had both financially and number wise. We just couldn’t be happier.”
The weather looked threatening on Wednesday morning before clearing after noon. A crowd of 6,000 watched the action in the pro-am where Larry Mowry, Mike Hadlock and Bunky Henry tied for the low pro honors with scores of four-under-par 66. The large attendance figure was the best in the two-year history of the event.
“This was a real boost to us and has to be the best crowd we’ve had both financially and number wise,” Robert Morgan, president of Hattiesburg Country Club, told Regiel Napier of the Hattiesburg American newspaper. “We just couldn’t be happier.”
The stage was set to get the 2nd Annual Magnolia State Golf Classic underway, but the weather did not cooperate on Thursday. Play was delayed for 30 minutes by heavy rains before the first players teed off and began their rounds only to have the rain return, in force, a short time later. The round was cancelled at 8:35 am and was scheduled to re-start at 7:30 am Friday morning. Officials stated that only 18 holes would be played on Friday and Saturday with the cut coming after the Saturday round. Officials would then decide if play would wrap-up with 36 holes on Sunday, or if the final round would be played on Monday.
“The course is in much better shape than it was a year ago and these people here have done everything humanly possible to make this tournament a success. Just hope the weather holds.”
It was very disappointing that the weather had interrupted what had been such a successful start to the tournament. Along with the record crowds for the pro-am, concession stands did a booming business and officials were looking to keep the excitement level building up for the rest of the week.
“Everything is as near perfect as it could possibly be and it should be a great tournament,” PGA TOUR director Wade Cagle said. “The course is in much better shape than it was a year ago and these people here have done everything humanly possible to make this tournament a success. Just hope the weather holds.”
Once it was obvious that the weather would not hold, officials had to figure out how to fit in the 18 holes that the rain washed out on Thursday. The sun came out Thursday afternoon, but PGA rules during this era required that the whole field be able to finish a complete round for it to be official, and there was no way the large, field would all be able to complete their rounds.
The rain did not dampen the enthusiasm for the shrimp party held for the players and officials that Hattiesburg Country Club put on Thursday night. Attendees stuffed themselves with shrimp while enjoying live music and the southern hospitality.
The sun came out on Friday and play resumed on a course that played extremely long due to the wet turf conditions from Thursday’s heavy rain. Rookie Jim Bullard, who had graduated from the PGA Tour School in October and had only five tournaments, where he picked up small checks, finished his round late in the day playing in front of his wife and a couple of fans. He hit 16 greens in regulation and made six birdies on his way to a five-under-par 65 and a one-stroke lead over Rives McBee. Jacky Cupti was another stroke back at 67 while Bunky Henry, winner of the National Airlines Open two weeks prior to the Magnolia, was at 68. Pre-tournament favorites Chi Chi Rodríguez and Orville Moody had rounds of 73 and had their work cut out for them to make the 36-hole cut. Larry Mowry opened with a round of 71.
Jerry Abbott, in his second year on the tour, surprised everyone by shooting a course record 63 and took a one-stroke lead after the second round. He was followed on the leaderboard by McBee who followed his first round 66 with a 68. First round leader, Bullard, fired an even-par round and was at 135, two shots off the lead. Larry Mowry moved up the leaderboard after a second round 67 for a two-round total of 138.
It took a 143, just three-over-par, to make the 36-hole cut. Both Rodríguez and Moody missed the cut by one stroke.
With a wary eye on the weather, officials were hopeful that they would be able to get in 36 holes on Sunday. The first groups were scheduled to tee off early at 7:30. Showers delayed the start by 20 minutes and another delay of 50 minutes occurred around 8:30. The first group was able to get in 15 holes before a real deluge hit the course and forced a halt in play. Cagle made the announcement that the round was cancelled at 12:48. Play would resume on Monday with the hope of getting in 36 holes.
Larry Hinson and Alvin Odom arrived at the final hole with a chance to tie Mowry with birdies, but neither man knew of Mowry’s score.
Play resumed Monday morning, in front of a surprisingly large crowd of 3,000 despite the weather and Jim Bullard regained the lead with a round of 67. Left-handed Alvin Odom had a round of 66 that gave him a three-round total of 203, one-shot behind Bullard. Abbott fell back with a two-over 72 for a total of 205 while Larry Mowry made a move up the leaderboard with a 66 to sit at 204, tied with Larry Hinson who had a third-round 67. Rives McBee stumbled with a 73 and was at 207.
Larry Mowry, playing early, had a very consistent round and finished with a final round 68 for a total of 272 and then sat back to watch the rest of the field try to catch him. Larry Hinson and Alvin Odom arrived at the final hole with a chance to tie Mowry with birdies, but neither man knew of Mowry’s score. Both players hit the green and had reasonable putts for their birdies. Hinson putted first and missed and then Odom, thinking he needed to make the putt to win, was aggressive with his birdie putt that was dead on target, but he was too aggressive. The ball hit the back of the cup and bounced up and landed two inches away from the cup.
Bullard ran into a stretch of bogeys on his final nine holes and finished with a 72 and a four-round total of 274, tied with Abbott who finished with a 69.
“The people are just the greatest.”
Mowry accepted the $5,000 winner’s check, and the trophy, from club president Robert Morgan and tournament co-chair John Betha and then addressed reporters.
“These people, like Morgan and Betha, plus many others here, make this a real worthwhile tournament, one of the best I have ever played in. The people are just the greatest,” he said.
Hinson and Odom won $2,900 for their tie for second-place while Bullard and Abbott won $1,975 for finishing in a tie for fourth-place.
This would be Lowry’s biggest win on the PGA TOUR, albeit a “Second Tour” event. His other wins before playing on the Senior PGA TOUR, where he won five times including the General Foods PGA Seniors Championship in 1989, were the Rebel Yell Open in 1968, the 1979 Florida and Colorado Opens, and the Florida Open again in 1983.
Hattiesburg again rolled out the red carpet in 1969 providing a special week for players who did not receive a Masters invitation, despite Mother Nature’s intrusion. The rain did little to diminish the player’s appreciation of the level of Southern hospitality that they always received in Mississippi.
Next Week: Tommy Jacobs wins the 1963 Utah Open
BONUS STORY
Pete Brown, one of the few Black players on the tour in 1969, was a native of Mississippi and a crowd favorite at the Magnolia Classic. Wayne Thompson, the Sports Editor of The Clarion-Ledger in Hattiesburg, MS, did a long feature on the hometown hero on the Friday of the Magnolia Classic.
“You take this year, for instance, at the Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs. There were 220 of us qualifying for only four spots.”
Thompson chronicled the play of Brown since being allowed to play the tour after the “whites only” clause was removed from the PGA bylaws in 1961. Although the clause was removed in 1961, it wasn’t until 1963 that Brown, and other Black players such as Curtis Sifford, were able to play the tour fulltime.
Thompson also spoke to Brown about a second tour for aspiring PGA Tour players as it was getting tougher to qualify for events on the regular tour.
“You take this year, for instance, at the Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs,” Brown explained. “There were 220 of us qualifying for only four spots.”
Brown finished out of the money in Hattiesburg while Sifford finished at 275 and won $1,450.
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Congratulations to John Lewis III, who correctly identified #14, at Bandon Trails at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, OR in last week’s WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest. John beat out five other correct answers in the random drawing. We’re sending a prize pack of golf swag, including the new Tour Backspin 19th Hole Hot Sauce, to John.
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PGA TOUR Wrap-Up | The Presidents Cup
What a wild Presidents Cup, but in the end, one that ended up just as the last nine did with a U.S. victory. For the first time in any professional team match play event, the proceedings got started with two straight sessions where the matches were swept. The U.S. team swept the first session on Thursday, consisting of four-ball, or best ball, matches before the International team came back to sweep the second session on Friday in the foursome, or alternate shot matches.
While the International team had numerous putts that lipped out on Thursday, it seemed that all of their putts went in on Friday. The team of Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im scored six birdies in row to close out their match with Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele by a score of 7 & 6 tying the record for widest margin of victory in a Presidents Cup match.
The U.S. team was able to regain the lead by winning three matches in Saturday’s four-ball play and added another three wins in the foursome matches. On Sunday, the depth of the U.S. team was just too much for the International team and Keegan Bradley, the captain for next year’s Ryder Cup, secured the winning point by defeating Si Woo Kim.
International matches need a character, or a villian, and Tom Kim played the part during these matches. His celebrations after sinking putts seemed to get under the U.S. player’s skin and he made comments about poor sportsmanship from the U.S. team that he couldn’t really back up.
Pundits and experts will now continue to debate how to make this competition more competitive.
Clips You Might Have Missed
Best friends battle it out.
Crazy good pitch shot.
This led to . . .
This! Good time to remind you to only bet what you can afford to lose.
Behind the scenes.
Last man in and needs to catch up.
Tour Backspin Quiz | 1969 PGA TOUR Trivia
Who was the leading money winner, the PGA Player of the Year, and the Vardon Trophy (given to the scoring leader) winner in 1969?
Scroll down for answer
Swing Like a Pro
Charlie Sifford’s golf swing.
Blind Shot
Click for something fun. 👀
Bill Fields remembers the great Ron Green, Sr., in his Substack called The Albatross.
Tour Backspin Music Clip
Crosby, Stills, and Nash do “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” at Woodstock in 1969
Tour Backspin Quiz Answer:
Frank Beard was the leading money winner with $175,223, Orville Moody was the PGA Player of the Year, and Dave Hill won the Vardon Trophy for being the scoring leader in 1969.
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Final Thoughts
How cool was it that Keegan Bradley, the current Ryder Cup captain, secured the winning point in the Presidents Cup?
Tom Kim as the villian in the Presidents Cup? Didn’t have that on my bingo card.
For the time being, you can only get theTour Backspin 19th Hole Hot Sauce by winning the What Hole Is It? contest. This week’s hole is easy, scroll back up and answer for your chance to win.
What would you do to make the Presidents Cup more competitive? Let us know in the comments.