Eight legends returned to Mission Hills to watch the final major in the desert before Chevron moves the event to Houston next year. In addition, they honored women's golf by participating in the LPGA USGA Girls Golf Legends and Juniors pro-am event.
Amy Alcott, Patty Sheehan, Donna Caponi, Pat Bradley, Sandra Palmer, Donna Andrews, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, and Hollis Stacy teed off Saturday morning with the junior players.
"This is all about junior golf and inspiring the next generation. We are very thankful to Chevron for helping continue this legacy," Alcott said. Before the game, the legends began recounting cherished memories at the golf course.
World Golf Hall of Fame Member, Pat Bradley, won 31 tour events throughout her career, including six majors, said, "The fondest memory I have here was in 1986 when I took that great walk down along the pond." – This walk is now known as Dinah Shore Wall of Champions – "I went over the bridge and Dinah Shore was there to greet me with her big, beautiful smile, welcoming everybody."
Bradley said, "I was in the last group, and she was on the other side of the bridge welcoming me to the 18th green. I will always cherish Dinah. She was a wonderful woman. She loved the LPGA, this area, and Mission Hills. She had her home right by the ninth green."
Sandra Palmer, who won 19 tour events, said, "Without Dinah and David Foster (CEO of Colgate, the original title sponsor), we wouldn't be here. Back in the day, anyone in Hollywood or sports was here. Every pro (was here) and never missed the pro-am."
Sandra is now retired and lives on the course. "This place has been my home. I live here now, I'm a member here, and I love it," she said.
Donna Andrews won the Chevron Championship in 1994 and became the second winner to leap into Poppie's Pond. Andrews said, "When I won, they were all yelling, and I said, ‘I've got to do it for Amy and Dinah’ because Dinah had just passed away. I restarted (Amy's) awesome tradition. But nobody told me you weren't supposed to wear a white shirt on Sunday. You know those robes that they have now? That was probably my fault."
Besides making an ace on the par-3 5th, Patty Sheehan's favorite memories are the friendships made within the LPGA. Sheehan said, "It's just walking the fairways with these great players. We all helped each other get to different levels in our game, and Amy was certainly that player for me. We always battled in many tournaments, and she kept me sharp. If I was going to win, I had to beat Amy."
Hollis Stacy, who won 18 tour events, and four major championships, joked about being the only non-Chevron winner among the group. In 1982, Stacy was runner-up to Sally Little. "I was leading, and my drive on the first tee didn't even make it to the fairway. I was so nervous. I made a bogey, which for me was par on that one. But I hit my drive, and I didn't win,” Stacy said.
Today marks the last time players will compete at the golf course adored by all LPGA icons. Three-time Chevron Champion, Amy Alcott, said that when she started playing, women's golf barely made newspapers, but this place is what put women's golf on the radar.
Alcott said part of her is disappointed to be leaving Mission Hills Country Club because of the history of the course. But she’s excited about the future and to see what Chevron will bring. Since Mission Hills is an integral part of women’s golf history, the LPGA announced that they will host a senior women’s tournament in the desert in the spring of 2023.