Who's who: Dow Finsterwald

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Who's who: Dow Finsterwald

  • Name:

    Dow Henry Finsterwald Sr
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    Sept 6, 1929 in Athens, Ohio.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1951

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US PGA Championship (1958). Ryder Cup player (1957, 1969, 1961, 1963); Ryder Cup captain (1977). PGA Tour wins (11).

Did you know?

Former PGA Tour player.

Top tournaments won by Dow Finsterwald

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$10,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the "500" Festival Open Invitational (May 31-Jun 3; held in conjunction with the Indy 500 race week). Second-placed Tommy Aaron (USA), Julius Boros (USA), Tony Lema (USA) and Bobby Nichols (USA) finished 2 shots behind Dow Finsterwald (USA), who recorded the last of his 11 PGA Tour wins. [Brickyard Crossing GC, at the time known as Speedway GC, Indianapolis, IN].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Score

280 (-4)

Prize money

$5,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 9-12; PGA Tour season opener). Second-placed Bill Collins (USA), Jay Hebert (USA) and Dave Ragan (USA) finished 3 shots behind Finsterwald (USA). [Rancho Park GC, Los Angeles, CA].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

$3,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Greater New Orleans Open Invitational (April 21-24). Second-placed Al Besselink (USA) finished 6 shots behind Dow Finsterwald (USA). [Bayou Oaks at City Park, New Orleans, LA. Played on what was known as City Park's No.1 (East) course; now part of the South course).

1959
America
Blue Hills CC, MO
275 (-13)
$2,800
KCGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Venue

Blue Hills CC, MO

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$2,800

Title sponsor

KCGA

Played as the Kansas City Open (Sept 4-7). Finsterwald (USA) beat Don Fairfield (USA) at the first playoff hole. [Blue Hills CC, nr Kansas City, Missouri].

1959
America
Starmount Forest
278 (-6)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Venue

Starmount Forest

Score

278 (-6)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (April 9-12). Second-placed Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 2 shots behind Finsterwald (USA). [Starmount Forest CC, Greensboro, NC].

1958
Majors
Llanerch CC
276 (-4)
$5,500
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Venue

Llanerch CC

Score

276 (-4)

Prize money

$5,500

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (40th) (July 17-20; first year in stroke-play rather than match play format). Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) finished 2 shots behind Finsterwald (USA), who recorded his first and only major championship win. [Llanerch CC, Havertown, nr Philadelphia, PA].

1958
Awards
x
n/a
PGA of America

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Finsterwald (USA) won the PGA of America Player of the Year Award (based on points allocated for PGA Tour wins, money-list position and scoring average).

1957
America
269 (-11)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Score

269 (-11)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tucson Open Invitational (Feb 7-11). Dow Finsterwald (USA) beat Don Whitt (USA) by 4 shots in an 18-hole Monday playoff (Finsterwald 5-under-par 65, Whitt 69). [El Rio G&CC, Tucson, AZ. Now known as El Rio GC].

1957
Awards
70.30
n/a
PGA of America

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Finsterwald, Dow

Venue

Score

70.30

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Finsterwald (USA) won the PGA of America Vardon Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour.

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