| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 25–28, 1953 |
| Location | Rochester, New York |
| Course | Country Club of Rochester |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 74 |
| Length | 6,417 yards (5,868 m)[1] |
| Field | 37: 17 pros, 20 amateurs |
| Prize fund | $7,500 |
| Winner's share | $2,000 |
| Champion | |
 Betsy Rawls | |
| 302 (+6), playoff | |
The1953 U.S. Women's Open was the eighthU.S. Women's Open, held June 25–28 at theCountry Club of Rochester inRochester, New York. It was the first U.S. Women's Open conducted by theUnited States Golf Association (USGA),[2][3][4] and the final two rounds were played on Saturday.[5]
Betsy Rawls won an 18-hole playoff on Sunday by six strokes over runner-upJackie Pung, 71 to 77. It was the third of eightmajor championships for Rawls and the second of four U.S. Women's Opens.
Patty Berg set a course record with a 71 on Thursday and was the 36-hole leader on Friday evening, eight strokes ahead of the field.[1][6] Her final two rounds of 80 and 79 on Saturday dropped her to solo third, one stroke out of the playoff.[7]
Notably absent was two-time championBabe Zaharias, who was recovering fromcolon cancer surgery.[2][8][9] She returned in1954 and won by a record twelve strokes in her final U.S. Women's Open.
Saturday, June 27, 1953
| Place | Player | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Betsy Rawls | 75-78-74-75=302 | +6 | Playoff |
| Jackie Pung | 80-72-76-74=302 | |||
| 3 | Patty Berg | 71-73-80-79=303 | +7 | 1,000 |
| 4 | Betty Jameson | 79-76-77-80=312 | +16 | 750 |
| 5 | Marilynn Smith | 78-74-82-79=313 | +17 | 600 |
| T6 | Betty Bush | 80-78-76-81=315 | +19 | 450 |
| Beverly Hanson | 79-80-77-79=315 | |||
| Pat Lesser (a) | 82-75-78-80=315 | 0 | ||
| 9 | Alice Bauer | 83-79-78-76=316 | +20 | 300 |
| 10 | Louise Suggs | 75-81-79-82=317 | +21 | 250 |
Source:[7]
Sunday, June 28, 1953
| Place | Player | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Betsy Rawls | 71 | −3 | 2,000 |
| 2 | Jackie Pung | 77 | +3 | 1,250 |
Source:[3]
43°07′23″N77°32′13″W / 43.123°N 77.537°W /43.123; -77.537