Champion Jan Stephenson's 1987 Safeco Classic Rare Dale Chihuly Oyster Glass Trophy
Stephenson vs Lopez, a heavyweight battle for the 1987 Safeco Classic title and perhaps the most stunning of all golf trophies - this one-of-a-kind oyster in shell glass sculpture from world renown Dal Chihuly. The trophy case has transformed into an art gallery. It has it all. Stephenson's 15th victory in 14 years came at the Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent, Washington erasing a 1-shot 54 hole deficit with a 4-under par 68 Sunday final round. Nancy Lopez was three off the lead after the third round, but made noise with a 67 of her own for a second place cumulative 278. It was just one week after Lopez bested Stephenson by a single stroke at the Cellular One-Ping Championship in the nearby Portland, Oregon.
Dale Chihuly was born in Tacoma, Washington, less than a half an hour drive away from each other. Chihuly is viewed as the foremost artist in this area of glasswork, while also creating in the mediums of paint, charcoal, neon and others. Commanding giant figures is commonplace of his work. In June 2015 a glass chandelier of his made in 2004 sold at Rago Auctions for $200,000. Each piece that Chihuly crafts is unique. The name resonates throughout not just the art community, but general society - long viewed as the highest of standard and brining high price tags. This oyster is presented in the display case protecting it as it was awarded that day as shown in the accompanying lot photo for reference only, with '1987 Safeco Classic Champion - Jan Stephenson" just below. 15" x 12" x 9." A signed letter of provenance from Jan Stephenson comes with this lot.
The Jan Stephenson Collection
When Jan got the call she had been waiting for, in October 2018, she was in her office at Tarpon Woods Golf Club in Palm Harbor, FL. "Congratulations Jan, you're a Hall of Famer!" her friend Nancy Lopez, who had been calling for years, exclaimed this time. It's how they both wanted those calls to go from the beginning. The World Golf Hall of Fame had officially recognized her unmeasurable impact on the game of golf. Stephenson amassed an illustrious on-course resume that boasted 43 worldwide wins, 16 LPGA Tour victories, 8 major championships including national opens spanning the globe. In 1976 Commissioner Ray Volpe even went as far as saying that the marketable winner was the new face of the LPGA; and further popularizing women's golf she did.
If there was a Hall of Fame for Hall of Famers, Stephenson would be in it. You can also find her story that started as a young champion in Australia at the age of 9. She was inducted into the: Sport Australia Hall of Fame, LPGA Legends Tour Hall of Fame (first inductee), Australia Golf Hall of Fame, Florida Sports Hall of Fame and many more. Additional golf honors, recognitions and accolades she has received include: GOLF Magazine’s “100 Heroes” during the 1988 Centennial of Golf in America celebration, 8-time Handa Cup participant, and 1974 LPGA Rookie of the Year.
Outside of competition, the highly-accomplished Stephenson with an unmatched drive has been a golf course designer, prestigious 2017 Order of Australia Medal recipient, a model/exercise enthusiast and video producer (selling over 100,000 videos), Dancing w/ the Stars (Australia) contestant in 2011, and Tarpon Woods GC owner through Jan Stephenson's Crossroads Foundation. She was honored in 2017 by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and is passionate as a Winemaker, and Philanthropist. The Golf Auction is humbled to present The Jan Stephenson Collection.
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