# Southern Open

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Golf tournament formerly on the PGA Tour

Not to be confused with [Western & Southern Open](/source/Western_%26_Southern_Open), [Southern (Spring) Open](/source/Southern_(Spring)_Open), or [Columbus Southern Open](/source/Columbus_Southern_Open).

Golf tournament

Buick Challenge Tournament information Location Pine Mountain, Georgia Established 1970 Course Callaway Gardens Resort Par 72 Length 7,057 yards (6,453 m) Tour PGA Tour Format Stroke play Prize fund US$3,700,000 Month played October Final year 2002 Tournament record score Aggregate 261 Jonathan Byrd (2002) To par −27 as above Final champion Jonathan Byrd Location map Callaway Gardens Resort Location in the United States Show map of the United States Callaway Gardens Resort Location in Georgia Show map of Georgia

The **Southern Open** was a [golf](/source/Golf) tournament on the [PGA Tour](/source/PGA_Tour) from 1970 to 2002. It was played at the Green Island Country Club in [Columbus, Georgia](/source/Columbus%2C_Georgia), from 1970 to 1990 and at the [Callaway Gardens Resort](/source/Callaway_Gardens) (Mountain View Course), [Pine Mountain, Georgia](/source/Pine_Mountain%2C_Harris_County%2C_Georgia), from 1991 to 2002. It was founded in 1970 as the **Green Island Open Invitational** but was known for most of its existence as the Southern Open. The purse for the 2002 tournament was $3,700,000, with $666,000 going to the winner.

## Tournament highlights

- 1970: [Mason Rudolph](/source/Mason_Rudolph_(golfer)) wins the inaugural version of the tournament. He finishes two shots ahead of [Chris Blocker](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chris_Blocker&action=edit&redlink=1).[1]

- 1971: Future [World Golf Hall of Fame](/source/World_Golf_Hall_of_Fame) member [Johnny Miller](/source/Johnny_Miller) wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He wins by five shots over [Deane Beman](/source/Deane_Beman).[2]

- 1975: [Hubert Green](/source/Hubert_Green) shoots a final round 64 to win by three shots over [John Schroeder](/source/John_Schroeder_(golfer)).[3]

- 1978: [Jerry Pate](/source/Jerry_Pate) becomes the one and only winner of the tournament to successfully defend his title. He beats [Phil Hancock](/source/Phil_Hancock) by one shot.[4]

- 1981: [Mike Sullivan](/source/Mike_Sullivan_(golfer)) looks poised to win back to back Southern Opens till [J. C. Snead](/source/J._C._Snead) defeats him on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.[5]

- 1983: Scottish golfer [Sam Torrance](/source/Sam_Torrance) who had never made a cut in ten previous PGA Tour appearances, tries tuning up for the [Ryder Cup matches](/source/1983_Ryder_Cup) by participating in the Southern Open. Torrance nearly wins till [Ronnie Black](/source/Ronnie_Black) birdies the fourth playoff hole to take home the title.[6]

- 1986: Columbus, Georgia native and [Monday qualifier](/source/Monday_qualifier) [Fred Wadsworth](/source/Fred_Wadsworth) wins by two shots over [George Archer](/source/George_Archer), [John Cook](/source/John_Cook_(golfer)), [Tim Simpson](/source/Tim_Simpson), and [Jim Thorpe](/source/Jim_Thorpe_(golfer)).[7]

- 1990: [Kenny Knox](/source/Kenny_Knox) who was born in Columbus, Georgia and had lived there till he was sixteen, makes a birdie on the second playoff hole to defeat [Jim Hallet](/source/Jim_Hallet).[8]

- 1993: The tournament has its first ever five-player playoff. [John Inman](/source/John_Inman) makes a birdie on the second extra hole to defeat [Billy Andrade](/source/Billy_Andrade), [Bob Estes](/source/Bob_Estes), [Brad Bryant](/source/Brad_Bryant), and [Mark Brooks](/source/Mark_Brooks_(golfer)).[9]

- 1996: For the second time in four years, the tournament winner is decided in a five-player playoff. [Michael Bradley](/source/Michael_Bradley_(golfer)) birdies the first hole of sudden death to beat defending champion [Fred Funk](/source/Fred_Funk), [Len Mattiace](/source/Len_Mattiace), [Davis Love III](/source/Davis_Love_III), and [John Maginnes](/source/John_Maginnes).[10]

- 2001: Just like in 1981 and 1996, the defending champion loses in a playoff. This time it is [David Duval](/source/David_Duval) who loses to Chris [DiMarco](/source/DiMarco) on the first hole of sudden death.[11]

- 2002: [Jonathan Byrd](/source/Jonathan_Byrd_(golfer)) shoots a final round 63 to win the final edition of the tournament. He beats [David Toms](/source/David_Toms) by one shot.[12]

## Winners

Year Winner Score To par Margin of victory Runner(s)-up Buick Challenge 2002 Jonathan Byrd 261 −27 1 stroke David Toms 2001 Chris DiMarco 267 −21 Playoff David Duval 2000 David Duval 269 −19 2 strokes Jeff Maggert Nick Price 1999 David Toms 271 −17 3 strokes Stuart Appleby 1998 Steve Elkington (2) 267 −21 Playoff Fred Funk 1997 Davis Love III 270 −18 4 strokes Stewart Cink 1996 Michael Bradley 134[a] −10 Playoff Fred Funk Davis Love III John Maginnes Len Mattiace 1995 Fred Funk 272 −16 1 stroke John Morse Loren Roberts Buick Southern Open 1994 Steve Elkington 200[b] −16 5 strokes Steve Rintoul 1993 John Inman 278 −10 Playoff Billy Andrade Mark Brooks Brad Bryant Bob Estes 1992 Gary Hallberg 206[b] −10 1 stroke Jim Gallagher Jr. 1991 David Peoples 276 −12 1 stroke Robert Gamez 1990 Kenny Knox 265 −15 Playoff Jim Hallet Southern Open 1989 Ted Schulz 266 −14 1 stroke Jay Haas Tim Simpson 1988 David Frost 270 −10 Playoff Bob Tway 1987 Ken Brown 266 −14 7 strokes David Frost Mike Hulbert Larry Mize 1986 Fred Wadsworth 269 −11 2 strokes George Archer John Cook Tim Simpson Jim Thorpe 1985 Tim Simpson 264 −16 2 strokes Clarence Rose 1984 Hubert Green (2) 265 −15 6 strokes Rex Caldwell Scott Hoch Corey Pavin 1983 Ronnie Black 271 −9 Playoff Sam Torrance 1982 Bobby Clampett 266 −14 2 strokes Hale Irwin 1981 J. C. Snead 271 −9 Playoff Mike Sullivan 1980 Mike Sullivan 269 −11 5 strokes Dave Eichelberger Johnny Miller 1979 Ed Fiori 274 −6 Playoff Tom Weiskopf 1978 Jerry Pate (2) 269 −11 1 stroke Phil Hancock 1977 Jerry Pate 266 −14 7 strokes Phil Hancock Mac McLendon Johnny Miller Steve Taylor 1976 Mac McLendon 274 −6 2 strokes Hubert Green 1975 Hubert Green 264 −16 3 strokes John Schroeder 1974 Forrest Fezler 271 −9 1 stroke Bruce Crampton J. C. Snead 1973 Gary Player 270 −10 1 stroke Forrest Fezler 1972 DeWitt Weaver 276 −4 Playoff Chuck Courtney Southern Open Invitational 1971 Johnny Miller 267 −13 5 strokes Deane Beman Green Island Open Invitational 1970 Mason Rudolph 274 −6 2 strokes Chris Blocker

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Shortened to 36 holes due to weather.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-54rain_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-54rain_14-1) Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Rudolph claims Green Island title](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5NhFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1r0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4261,5886254&dq=mason+rudolph+green+island&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Hot Miller Wins in Southern Open](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dtBOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2899,5021811&dq=johnny+miller+southern+open&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Hubert Green wins Southern Open](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A4RUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AI8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6942,4144982&dq=hubert+green+southern+open&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Jerry Pate wins Southern Open](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h3k0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=AJ4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4842,3032965&dq=jerry+pate+southern+open&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Snead wins Southern Open](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MtpMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2531,4617504&dq=jc+snead+southern+open&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Torrance Falters; Black Captures Southern Open](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mnsgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t2cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4844,1417228&dq=ronnie+black+southern+open&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Wadsworth wins Southern Open](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kbIvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RNsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3898,6144767&dq=fred+wadsworth+southern+open&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Knox wins Southern Open in playoff duel with Hallet](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kbIvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RNsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3898,6144767&dq=fred+wadsworth+southern+open&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Inman wins in Southern Open playoff](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pMJTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=14wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3905,2062755&dq=john+inman+southern+open&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Bradley Wins Buick Challenge](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tmVAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b1YMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5964,5714177&dq=michael+bradley+buick&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [DiMarco Beats Duval To Win Buick Challenge](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=quoxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qY4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5464,6333900&dq=chris+dimarco+buick+challenge&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Byrd wins Buick Challenge](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ubBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j9AMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5739,4724822&dq=jonathan+byrd+buick+challenge&hl=en)

## External links

- [Tournament results from 1970 to 2002 at GolfObserver.com](http://www.golfobserver.com/new/golfstats.php?style=&tour=PGA&name=&year=&tournament=Buick+Challenge&in=Search) - Click-on a year for scores and earnings of the particular year.

- [2002 Tournament preview](http://www.golftoday.co.uk/tours/2002/buickchall/preview.html) - at GolfToday.co.uk

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Southern Open](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Open) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Open?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.