BC Open

BC Open. The BC Open was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour that was played annually from 1971 through 2006. Held primarily in the Southern Tier region of New York, it was a staple of the summer schedule, often positioned around the Fourth of July holiday. The event was known for its community-focused atmosphere and for providing a competitive platform for both established stars and rising talents on tour.

History

The tournament was founded in 1971, with its inaugural champion being Miller Barber. For most of its existence, it was hosted at the En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York, a course designed by Ernie Banks' architectural firm. The event's name was derived from its longtime title sponsor, the B.C. Open charity organization, which supported various causes in Broome County, New York. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it attracted notable winners like Hal Sutton and Wayne Levi, solidifying its place on the PGA Tour calendar. The tournament faced significant challenges after the 2006 season, including sponsorship difficulties and scheduling conflicts following the PGA Tour's restructuring around the FedEx Cup, leading to its discontinuation.

Tournament format

The BC Open was conducted as a standard 72-hole stroke play event, with an 18-hole cut after the second round to reduce the field. It was typically played as an opposite-field event when a more prestigious tournament, such as The Open Championship or the WGC-American Express Championship, was held concurrently. This format often allowed players lower on the PGA Tour priority rankings or those seeking FedEx Cup points a valuable opportunity to compete. The En-Joie Golf Club course, a par-72 layout, presented a classic parkland test with tree-lined fairways and small greens, requiring precise iron play.

Winners

The tournament's list of champions includes several major championship winners and prominent figures in golf. Early notable winners include Miller Barber and Howard Twitty. Fred Couples claimed victory in 1981, early in his illustrious career that would include a Masters Tournament title. Other multiple major winners who triumphed include John Daly, who won in 1992, and Lee Janzen, a two-time U.S. Open champion who won in 1995. The final edition in 2006 was won by John Rollins, who held off challenges from Bob May and Ryan Palmer.

Records and statistics

The tournament record for lowest winning score is 261, set by Craig Stadler in 1981 and later matched by Fred Funk in 1996. Hal Sutton holds the record for largest margin of victory, winning by eight strokes in 1985. In terms of multiple victories, only two players have won the event more than once: Joey Sindelar, a popular local favorite from nearby Horseheads, New York, who won in 1985 and 1987, and Fred Funk, who captured titles in 1996 and 2004. The lowest single-round score of 61 was posted by several players, including Blaine McCallister and Stephen Ames.

Economic and community impact

The BC Open was a significant economic and charitable driver for the Southern Tier region, often generating millions of dollars in local revenue from tourism and hospitality. The event was operated by the B.C. Open charity, which distributed proceeds to numerous organizations, including the Children's Miracle Network and local hospitals like United Health Services. Its volunteer corps, drawn from the community, was one of the largest on the PGA Tour. The tournament's disappearance left a notable void in the regional summer sporting landscape, though its charitable legacy endures through the organizations it supported.

Category:Golf tournaments in New York (state) Category:PGA Tour events Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1971 Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2006