The New England Classic was a
golf tournament on the
PGA Tour from 1969 through 1998. It was held under various names at
Pleasant Valley Country Club in
Sutton, Massachusetts.
Tournament highlights
*1975:
Roger Maltbie wins for the second consecutive week on the PGA Tour. He beats
Mac McLendon
Benson Rayfield McLendon Jr. (August 10, 1945 – July 4, 2022) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.
McLendon was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Louisiana State University in Bato ...
by one shot. Afterwards, Maltbie left his $40,000 winner's check behind in a bar.
*1977: Due to the PGA Tour labeling it a 'designated event', Jack Nicklaus plays in the tournament for the first and only time. He finishes in second place two shots behind winner
Raymond Floyd
Raymond Loran Floyd (born September 4, 1942) is an American retired golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour, including four majors and four senior majors. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame ...
.
*1978: One week after winning the
PGA Championship,
John Mahaffey
John Drayton Mahaffey Jr. (born May 9, 1948) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including 10 PGA Tour events.
Mahaffey was born in Kerrville, Texas. He attended the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. He turn ...
also takes home the American Optical Classic title. He beats defending champion Raymond Floyd and the PGA Tour's only
optometrist
Optometry is a specialized health care profession that involves examining the eyes and related structures for defects or abnormalities. Optometrists are health care professionals who typically provide comprehensive primary eye care.
In the Uni ...
,
Gil Morgan, by two shots.
*1986:
Gene Sauers defeats
Blaine McCallister on the third hole of a sudden death playoff for his first ever PGA Tour title after having to hole a par chip on the first playoff hole to avoid elimination.
*1989: Three years after suffering a tough luck playoff loss at Pleasant Valley, Blaine McCallister birdies the final two holes to win the 21st edition of the tournament by one shot over
Brad Faxon.
*1998:
Steve Pate
Stephen Robert Pate (born May 26, 1961) is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour, the Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.
Career
Pate was born in Ventura, California. He attended UCLA and was a member of the golf te ...
wins the last edition of the tournament. He beat
Scott Hoch
Scott may refer to:
Places Canada
* Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec
* Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380
* Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saska ...
and
Bradley Hughes by one shot.
Car crash, bad hole can't stop Steve Pate
/ref> For Pate it was his first victory since a 1996 car accident.
Winners
See also
* CVS Caremark Charity Classic - an unofficial PGA Tour event that used the CVS Charity Classic name
* Deutsche Bank Championship - a PGA Tour event held in greater Boston since 2003.
Notes
References
External links
Pleasant Valley Country Club official site
{{CVS Health
1969 establishments in Massachusetts
1998 disestablishments in Massachusetts
Former PGA Tour events
Golf in Massachusetts
History of Worcester County, Massachusetts
Recurring sporting events established in 1969
Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1998
Sports competitions in Massachusetts
Sports in Worcester County, Massachusetts
Sutton, Massachusetts
Tourist attractions in Worcester County, Massachusetts