| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kent, Washington, U.S. |
| Established | 1982 |
| Course | Meridian Valley C.C. |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,241 yards (5,707 m) |
| Tour | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play - 72 holes |
| Prize fund | $650,000 |
| Month played | September |
| Final year | 1999 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 270Patty Sheehan (1990) |
| To par | –18as above |
| Final champion | |
 Maria Hjorth | |
TheSafeco Classic (often styled as theSAFECO Classic) was a women's professionalgolf tournament on theLPGA Tour in theSeattle area, sponsored bySafeco Insurance. It was played 18 times, from1982 to1999, atMeridian Valley Country Club inKent,Washington, usually in mid-September, the week following theSafeway Classic inPortland.[1][2]
With the opening of theSeattle Mariners'Safeco Field in Seattle in July1999, Safeco entered a 20-year, $40 million agreement for the naming rights of the newmajor league baseball stadium. Safeco ended its sponsorship of the LPGA event in October 1999 and a new sponsor did not emerge.[3]
Multiple winners of the 72-hole event werePatty Sheehan (1982, 1990, 1995),Juli Inkster (1983, 1988), andKarrie Webb (1996, 1997).
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Purse ($) | 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 |
Three women won this tournament more than once; all three are members of theWorld Golf Hall of Fame.
47°22′41″N122°09′25″W / 47.378°N 122.157°W /47.378; -122.157