The Safeco Classic (often styled as the SAFECO Classic) was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the Seattle area, sponsored by Safeco Insurance. It was played 18 times, from 1982 to 1999, at Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent, Washington, usually in mid-September, the week following the Safeway Classic in Portland.[1][2]

Safeco Classic
Tournament information
LocationKent, Washington, U.S.
Established1982
Course(s)Meridian Valley C.C.
Par72
Length6,241 yards (5,707 m)
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play - 72 holes
Prize fund$650,000
Month playedSeptember
Final year1999
Tournament record score
Aggregate270 Patty Sheehan (1990)
To par-18 Patty Sheehan (1990)
Final champion
Sweden Maria Hjorth
Meridian Valley Country Club is located in the United States
Meridian Valley Country Club
Meridian Valley Country Club

With the opening of the Seattle Mariners' Safeco Field in Seattle in July 1999, Safeco entered a 20-year, $40 million agreement for the naming rights of the new major league baseball stadium. Safeco ended its sponsorship of the LPGA event in October 1999 and a new sponsor did not emerge.[3]

Multiple winners of the 72-hole event were Patty Sheehan (1982, 1990, 1995), Juli Inkster (1983, 1988), and Karrie Webb (1995, 1996).

Winners

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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

References

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  1. ^ "LPGA Tournament Chronology 1980-1989" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  2. ^ "LPGA Tournament Chronology 1990-1999" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  3. ^ Smith, Craig (October 6, 1999). "Safeco ends sponsorship - 18-Year association with LPGA Tour ends". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
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47°22′41″N 122°09′25″W / 47.378°N 122.157°W / 47.378; -122.157