Flory Van Donck
Name:
Flory van DonckCountry:
BelgiumLived:
[1912-1992]. Born on June 23, 1912 in Tervuren, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. Died on Jan 14, 1992, aged 79.Original/Home Club:
Royal GC de Belgique (Ravenstein).Occupation:
Professional golfer.Turned Pro:
c.1931Europe
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Second-placed Sam Snead (USA) finished 2 shots behind Van Donck (Belg), who won the International Trophy for best individual score in the Canada Cup. Team winners of the Cup: Sam Snead & Arnold Palmer (USA). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].
Europe
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Played as the Open de France. Defending champion Van Donck (Belg) beat Harold Henning (S Africa) in a 36-hole playoff (Van Donck 137, Henning 141). This was the last of three French Open wins for Van Donck. [Saint Germain GC, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, nr Paris].
Europe
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Played as the Open de France. Second-placed Peter Alliss (Eng) and defending champion Ángel Miguel (Esp) finished 8 shots Van Donck (Belg). This was the second of three French Open wins for Van Donck. [Vert course, Saint Cloud GC, Garches, nr Paris].
America
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Played as the inaugural Caracas Open (in Feb 1957; the first of two Caracas Opens that year) (Caribbean tour event). Second-placed Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) and Joe Conrad (USA) finished 1 shot behind Van Donck (Belg). [Caracas CC, Caracas, Venezuela].
Europe
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Played as the German Open. Van Donck (Belg) and Eric Brown (Scot) tied after 72 holes. They then tied at 71 each in an 18-hole playoff. Van Donck prevailed at the fourth sudden-death playoff hole. [Frankfurter GC, Niederrad, Frankfurt am Main].
Europe
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Played as the Belgian Open (June 8-10). Second-placed Angel Miguel (Esp) finished 8 shots behind Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the last of his five Belgian Open titles. [Royal Latem GC, Sint-Martens-Latem, East Flanders, Belgium].
Europe
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Played as the Italian Open. Henri de Lamaze (Fra) finished in second place behind Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the last of his four Italian Open wins. [Venezia GC, Lido di Venezia, Veneto].
Europe
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Played as the Swiss Open. Won by Flory Van Donck (Belg). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Europe
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Played as the Portuguese Open. Flory Van Donck (Belg) beat defending champion Ángel Miguel (Esp) in a 36-hole playoff (Van Donck 128; Miguel 135). [Estoril GC, Estoril, Portugal].
Europe
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Played as the Open de France. Second-placed Norman Von Nida (Aus) and Aldo Casera (Italy) finished 1 shot behind Van Donck (Belg). This was the first of three French Open wins for Van Donck. [Vert course, Saint Cloud GC, Garches, nr Paris].
Europe
Yorkshire Eve. News
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1550 Tournament (June 17-19). Harry Bradshaw (Ire) finished 1 shot behind Flory Van Donck (Belg), who clinched victory with a final round 66. [Sand Moor GC, Leeds, W Yorks, England].
Europe
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Played as the Swiss Open. Won by Flory Van Donck (Belg). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Europe
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Played as the Dutch Open. Second-placed Piet Witte (Neth) finished 2 shots behind Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the last of his five Dutch Open titles. [Eindhovensche Golf, Valkenswaard, nr Eindhoven].
Europe
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Played as the German Open. Won by Van Donck (Belg). [Frankfurter GC, Niederrad, Frankfurt am Main].
Europe
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Played as the Italian Open. Second-placed Max Faulkner (Eng) and Dai Rees (Wales) finished 6 shots behind Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the third of his four Italian Open wins. [GC Villa d'Este, Montorfano, nr Como, Lombardy].
Europe
Silvertown Co.
Played as the (last) Silver King Tournament. Second-placed Ken Bousfield (Eng), Bill Branch (Eng) and John Pritchett (Eng) finished 6 shots behind Van Donck (Belg). [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Awards
British PGA
Van Donck (Belg) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1953 Order of Merit winner. Award based on lowest scoring average in the season's top professional events. Van Donck's 71.06 average of was based on 29 rounds played.
Europe
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Played as the Belgian Open (Aug 8-10). Second-placed Henri de Lamaze (Fra, amateur) finished 9 shots behind Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the fourth of his five Belgian Open titles. [Royal Waterloo GC, Ferme Blaret, Rhode-Saint-Genese, nr Brussels. This course closed following the Club's move to a new location].
Europe
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Played as the North British-Harrogate 2000 Guineas Tournament (over 90 holes). Second-placed Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 4 shots behind Van Donck (Belg). [Oakdale GC, Harrogate, North Yorkshire].
Europe
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Played as the Dutch Open. Second-placed Eric Brown (Scot) and Reg Horne (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Van Donck (Belg), who recorded his fourth win in this event. [Kennemer G&CC, Zandvoort, Netherlands].
Europe
Silvertown Co.
Played as the Silver King Tournament. Second-placed Jack Hargreaves (Eng) and Wally Smithers (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Van Donck (Belg). [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
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Played as the Italian Open (for the first time since 1938 due to World War II). Aldo Casera (Italy) finished in second place behind defending champion Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the second of his four Italian Open wins. [GC degli Ulivi Sanremo, Sanremo, Liguria].
Europe
Manchester EC
Played as the inaugural Manchester Evening Chronicle £1,400 Tournament. Second-placed Johnny Bulla (USA) finished 3 shots behind Van Donck (Belg), who recorded his first victory in Britain. [The Mere Resort, Mere, Knutsford, Cheshire].
Europe
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Played as the Belgian Open. Won by defending champion Van Donck (Belg), who recorded the third of his five Belgian Open titles. [GC des Fagnes, Spa, Ardennes, Belgium].
Europe
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Played as the Belgian Open. W.S. "Bill" Forrester (Scot) finished second to defending champion Van Donck (Belg). [Royal Waterloo GC, Ferme Blaret, Rhode-Saint-Genese, nr Brussels. This course closed following the Club's move to a new location].
Europe
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Played as the Dutch Open. Second-placed Joop Ruhl (Neth) finished 8 shots behind by Van Donck (Belg), who won this event for the third time. [Hilversumsche GC, Hilversum, nr Amsterdam].
Europe
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Played as the Belgian Open (25th) (Aug 9-11). Max Faulkner (Eng) finished 1 shot behind home-country winner van Donck (Belg), who shot a level par 70 in the final round. [GC des Fagnes, Spa, Ardennes, Belgium].
Europe
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Played as the Italian Open (for the last time until 1947 due to World War II). Pulvio Travaini (Italy) finished in second place behind Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the first of his four Italian Open wins. [GC Villa d'Este, Montorfano, nr Como, Lombardy].
Europe
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Played as the Dutch Open (July 17/18). Second-placed Auguste Boyer (Fra) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Van Donck (Belg). [Utrechtse GC "De Pan," Bosch en Duin, nr Utrecht].
Europe
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Played as the Dutch Open (July 4/5). Second-placed Francis "Frank" Francis (Eng, amateur) finished 4 shots behind Van Donck (Belg). [Hilversumsche GC, Hilversum, nr Amsterdam].
Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).
Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24).
To secure the best rates and ensure availability, it's recommended to book your rental car in advance, especially during peak golfing season.
Car Rental in Belgium, Europe & Worldwide – Avis
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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
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