New England Classic

(Redirected from AVCO Golf Classic)

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.

CVS Charity Classic
Tournament information
LocationSutton, Massachusetts
Established1969
Course(s)Pleasant Valley Country Club
Par71
Length7,110 yards (6,500 m)
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$1,500,000
Month playedJuly
Final year1998
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Loren Roberts (1997)
To par−18 as above
Final champion
United States Steve Pate
Location map
Pleasant Valley CC is located in the United States
Pleasant Valley CC
Pleasant Valley CC
Location in the United States
Pleasant Valley CC is located in Massachusetts
Pleasant Valley CC
Pleasant Valley CC
Location in Massachusetts

Tournament highlights edit

  • 1975: Roger Maltbie wins for the second consecutive week on the PGA Tour. He beats Mac McLendon by one shot.[1] Afterwards, Maltbie left his $40,000 winner's check behind in a bar.[2]
  • 1977: Due to the PGA Tour labeling it a 'designated event',[3] Jack Nicklaus plays in the tournament for the first and only time. He finishes in second place two shots behind winner Raymond Floyd.[4]
  • 1978: One week after winning the PGA Championship, John Mahaffey also takes home the American Optical Classic title. He beats defending champion Raymond Floyd and the PGA Tour's only optometrist, Gil Morgan, by two shots.[5]
  • 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.[6]
  • 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.[7]
  • 1998: Steve Pate wins the last edition of the tournament. He beat Scott Hoch and Bradley Hughes by one shot.[8] For Pate it was his first victory since a 1996 car accident.

Winners edit

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
CVS Charity Classic
1998   Steve Pate 269 −15 1 stroke   Scott Hoch
  Bradley Hughes
1997   Loren Roberts 266 −18 1 stroke   Bill Glasson
1996   John Cook 268 −16 3 strokes   Russ Cochran
Ideon Classic at Pleasant Valley
1995   Fred Funk 268 −16 1 stroke   Jim McGovern
New England Classic
1994   Kenny Perry 268 −16 1 stroke   David Feherty
1993   Paul Azinger 268 −16 4 strokes   Jay Delsing
  Bruce Fleisher
1992   Brad Faxon 268 −16 2 strokes   Phil Mickelson
1991   Bruce Fleisher 268 −16 Playoff   Ian Baker-Finch
Bank of Boston Classic
1990   Morris Hatalsky 275 −9 1 stroke   Scott Verplank
1989   Blaine McCallister 271 −13 1 stroke   Brad Faxon
1988   Mark Calcavecchia 274 −10 1 stroke   Don Pooley
1987   Sam Randolph 199[a] −14 4 strokes   Wayne Grady
  Gene Sauers
  Ray Stewart
1986   Gene Sauers 274 −10 Playoff   Blaine McCallister
1985   George Burns 267 −17 6 strokes   John Mahaffey
  Jodie Mudd
  Greg Norman
  Leonard Thompson
1984   George Archer 270 −14 6 strokes   Frank Conner
  Joey Sindelar
1983   Mark Lye 273 −11 1 stroke   John Mahaffey
  Sammy Rachels
  Jim Thorpe
1982   Bob Gilder 271 −13 2 strokes   Fuzzy Zoeller
Pleasant Valley Jimmy Fund Classic
1981   Jack Renner 273 −11 2 strokes   Scott Simpson
1980   Wayne Levi 273 −11 Playoff   Gil Morgan
American Optical Classic
1979   Lou Graham 275 −9 1 stroke   Ben Crenshaw
1978   John Mahaffey 270 −14 2 strokes   Raymond Floyd
  Gil Morgan
Pleasant Valley Classic
1977   Raymond Floyd 271 −13 1 stroke   Jack Nicklaus
1976   Buddy Allin 277 −7 1 stroke   Ben Crenshaw
1975   Roger Maltbie 276 −8 1 stroke   Mac McLendon
1974   Victor Regalado 278 −6 1 stroke   Tom Weiskopf
USI Classic
1973   Lanny Wadkins 279 −9 2 strokes   Lee Elder
  Tom Jenkins
  Rik Massengale
1972   Bruce Devlin 275 −13 3 strokes   Lee Elder
Massachusetts Classic
1971   Dave Stockton 275 −13 1 stroke   Raymond Floyd
AVCO Golf Classic
1970   Billy Casper 277 −11 3 strokes   Rod Funseth
  Tom Weiskopf
1969   Tom Shaw 280 −4 1 stroke   Bob Stanton

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

References edit

External links edit