Rubber City Open Invitational

The Rubber City Open Invitational, first played as the Rubber City Open in 1954, was the first PGA Tour event to be held at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. The tournament, last played in 1959, was discontinued as Firestone gained national prominence and attracted bigger events beginning with hosting the 1960 PGA Championship, the American Golf Classic in 1961, and in 1962 the World Series of Golf now known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.[2]

Rubber City Open Invitational
Tournament information
LocationAkron, Ohio
Established1954
Course(s)Firestone Country Club
South Course
Par71
Length6,620 yards (6,053 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play - 72 holes
Prize fund$20,000   (in 1959)
Final year1959, 62 years ago
Final champion
Tom Nieporte
Location Map
Firestone CC
Location in United States
Firestone CC
Location in Ohio

The first edition in September 1954 had a $15,000 purse with a winner's share of $2,400, won by Tommy Bolt.[3] The sixth and final champion in August 1959 was Tom Nieporte, who won $2,800 from a $20,000 purse.[4]

At the time, there were only 18 holes at Firestone, today's "South Course." The North Course was the second course, added in 1969.

Winners
YearPlayerCountryScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ($)		Ref
Rubber City Open Invitational
1959Tom Nieporte United States267−133 strokes Bob Goalby2,800[1]
1958Art Wall Jr. United States269−15Playoff Dow Finsterwald2,800
1957Arnold Palmer United States272−12Playoff Doug Ford2,800
Rubber City Open
1956Ed Furgol United States271−171 stroke Arnold Palmer3,000[5]
1955Henry Ransom United States272−16Playoff Jackson Bradley
Jack Burke Jr.
Doug Ford		2,400[6]
1954Tommy Bolt United States265−235 strokes Fred Hawkins2,400[3]

References
  1. "Nieporte grabs Rubber City Open". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. August 24, 1959. p. 13.
  2. "A Championship Legacy". Firestone Country Club. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2007.
  3. Howell, Fritz (September 6, 1954). "Tommy Bolt wins Rubber City Open". Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. p. 12.
  4. "Nieporte captures Rubber City Open". Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. August 24, 1959. p. 10.
  5. "Furgol Wins With 271". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. September 10, 1956. p. 7.
  6. "Ransom Wins In Playoff". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. August 1, 1955. p. 9.


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