TOURNAMENT HISTORY

How it all Began

The Dana Open has made the hopes and dreams come true for many Northwest Ohio children. The tournament was first held in 1984 at Glengarry Country Club (presently Stone Oak Country Club) until 1988 when it moved to Highland Meadows Golf Club. In 1984 the purse was only $175,000 and 100 golfers played in the tournament. Since that first tournament, the growth of the event has been due to the support of many local businesses and strong community support.

The tournament began as a dream of Toledo native, Judd Silverman. He was living the life of a PGA caddie in 1982 when his aspirations to bring a ladies' professional golf tournament to Toledo became a reality. Silverman contacted John Laupheimer, the 1984 LPGA commissioner and received approval to host an LPGA tournament in Toledo. He returned home and secured the tournament's first 12 founding sponsors, who covered the purse that first year. Jamie Farr agreed to lend his name to the event and brought his celebrity friends to the tournament. The Toledo McDonald's franchises underwrote the operating expenses with the agreement that a portion of the money raised would benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

The tournament has become a highlighted stop on the LPGA tour. It was voted 5th favorite of all the stops. The purse has grown substantially from that first year to $1,750,000.  The tournament has become a huge event in Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan attracting thousands of spectators. The community support has grown significantly over the years and is one of the largest sporting events in the area. The tournament attracts all ages to watch the greatest women golfers in the world compete.   

Since 1984, the tournament has donated millions of dollars to local children's charities. Through the teamwork of over 1,000 volunteers and 400 local businesses, The Dana Open is making a difference for children in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.