Safeco Classic facts for kids
The Safeco Classic was a big golf tournament for women. It was part of the LPGA Tour, which is like the major league for women's professional golf. The tournament happened every year in the Seattle area, specifically in Kent, Washington.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kent, Washington, U.S. |
| Established | 1982 |
| Course(s) | Meridian Valley C.C. |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,241 yards (5,707 m) |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play - 72 holes |
| Prize fund | $650,000 |
| Month played | September |
| Final year | 1999 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 270 Patty Sheehan (1990) |
| To par | -18 Patty Sheehan (1990) |
| Final champion | |
 Maria Hjorth |
|
Contents
About the Safeco Classic
The Safeco Classic was a professional golf tournament for women. It was held 18 times, from 1982 to 1999. The main sponsor was Safeco Insurance.
The tournament took place at the Meridian Valley Country Club. This golf course is located in Kent, which is near Seattle. The event usually happened in mid-September. It often followed another golf tournament, the Safeway Classic, held in Portland.
Why the Tournament Ended
In 1999, Safeco Insurance made a big deal with the Seattle Mariners baseball team. They paid $40 million to name the Mariners' new stadium Safeco Field. Because of this new agreement, Safeco decided to stop sponsoring the golf tournament in October 1999. No new sponsor stepped up, so the Safeco Classic ended.
Famous Winners of the Tournament
Many talented golfers won the Safeco Classic. Some players won more than once. Patty Sheehan won three times (in 1982, 1990, and 1995). Juli Inkster won twice (in 1983 and 1988). Karrie Webb also won two times (in 1995 and 1996).
Winners of the Safeco Classic
Here is a list of all the golfers who won the Safeco Classic each year. You can see their winning scores and how much money they won.
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Winning score |
To par | Margin of victory |
Purse ($) | Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Sep 16–19 | Maria Hjorth |  Sweden |
271 | −17 | 2 strokes | 650,000 | 97,500 |
| 1998 | Sep 10–13 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden |
273 | −15 | 5 strokes | 600,000 | 90,000 |
| 1997 | Sep 11–14 | Karrie Webb (2) |  Australia |
272 | −16 | 1 stroke | 550,000 | 82,500 |
| 1996 | Sep 12–15 | Karrie Webb | Australia |
277 | −11 | 2 strokes | 550,000 | 82,500 |
| 1995 | Sep 14–17 | Patty Sheehan (3) |  United States |
274 | −14 | 2 strokes | 500,000 | 75,000 |
| 1994 | Sep 15–18 | Deb Richard | United States |
276 | −12 | 1 stroke | 500,000 | 75,000 |
| 1993 | Sep 16–19 | Brandie Burton | United States |
274 | −14 | 1 stroke | 450,000 | 67,500 |
| 1992 | Sep 17–20 | Colleen Walker | United States |
277 | −11 | 2 strokes | 450,000 | 67,500 |
| 1991 | Sep 19–22 | Pat Bradley | United States |
280 | −8 | Playoff | 400,000 | 60,000 |
| 1990 | Sep 13–16 | Patty Sheehan (2) | United States |
270 | −18 | 9 strokes | 300,000 | 45,000 |
| 1989 | Sep 14–17 | Beth Daniel | United States |
273 | −15 | 6 strokes | 300,000 | 45,000 |
| 1988 | Sep 15–18 | Juli Inkster (2) | United States |
278 | −10 | 3 strokes | 225,000 | 33,750 |
| 1987 | Sep 17–20 | Jan Stephenson | Australia |
277 | −11 | 1 stroke | 225,000 | 33,750 |
| 1986 | Sep 11–14 | Judy Dickinson | United States |
274 | −14 | 4 strokes | 200,000 | 30,000 |
| 1985 | Sep 12–15 | Joanne Carner | United States |
279 | −9 | 2 strokes | 200,000 | 30,000 |
| 1984 | Sep 13–16 | Kathy Whitworth | United States |
279 | −9 | 2 strokes | 175,000 | 26,250 |
| 1983 | Sep 15–18 | Juli Inkster | United States |
283 | −6 | 1 stroke | 175,000 | 26,250 |
| 1982 | Sep 23–26 | Patty Sheehan | United States |
276 | −12 | 1 stroke | 175,000 | 26,250 |
