Sports at Lunch, Billy Casper, Gene Littler, Scott Simpson, Mark Woodward and the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines

San Diego U.S. Open champions Billy Casper, Gene Littler and Scott Simpson spoke at Sports at Lunch on Thursday, May 8 at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park. They will recall their U.S. Open titles and talk about the Open coming to their hometown June 12-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

In addition, Mark Woodward, Golf Operations Manager at Torrey Pines, discussed the transformation of the course in preparation for the Open. He will explain how the course will look and play different from the Buick Invitational, the annual PGA Tour stop.

KUSI meteorologist Dave Scott, a golf writer and frequent golfing partner of Billy Casper, served as the moderator. Scott showed videos the wins by Casper, Littler and Simpson and of Torrey Pines then and now.

Casper, a Chula Vista High alumnus, is a two-time U.S. Open champion in 1959 at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y., and in 1966 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco as well as a Masters champion in 1970. Casper won 51 times on the PGA Tour. His titles include the San Diego Open Invitational in 1966, but the San Diego PGA Tour event didn't move to Torrey Pines until 1968.

Littler, a La Jolla High alumnus, won the 1961 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield, Mich. Littler won 29 times on the PGA Tour. He won the San Diego Open as an amateur in 1954, which was before the San Diego PGA Tour stop moved to Torrey Pines in 1968.

Simpson, a Madison High alumnus, won the 1987 U.S. Open victory at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Simpson won seven times on the PGA Tour, including the 1998 Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. He won his first Champions Tour event in the 2006 at the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. Simpson also was a two-time NCAA champion at USC.

Casper is a member of the PGA Hall of Fame and the World Golf Hall of Fame. Casper and Simpson are both members of the Breitbard Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Champions is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and tickets are tax deductible. For reservations, call the HOC events department at 619-699-2309 or sign-up on-line.

WHAT: Sports at Lunch with 1987 U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson.

WHEN: Thursday, May 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check-in begins at 11:15 a.m. and program at noon.

WHERE: Center Court at the Hall of Champions, 2131 Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park.

RESERVATIONS: Admission is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Call the Events Departmant at 619-699-2309.