Who's who: Mike Souchak

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
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  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
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  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
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  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Mike Souchak

  • Name:

    Michael Souchak
  • Country:

    USA
  • Lived:

    [1927-2008]. Born on May 10, 1927 in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Died on July 10, 2008 in Belleair, Florida (aged 81).
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer and club pro.
  • Turned Pro:

    1952

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (1959, '61). Multiple wins on the PGA Tour (15) and numerous other professional wins in the 1950s and 60s.

Did you know?

After serving two years as a gunner in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II, Souchak settled into Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Here he developed his golfing and American football skills. He joined the PGA Tour in the early-1950s, and despite 15 wins on the Tour and 11 top ten finishes in the "majors", a major championship title eluded him.

From the early-1970s Souchak became the head professional at the renowned Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. He played on the Senior PGA Tour from its launch in 1980. His best finish came in his first appearance on the Tour; he placed second in the 1980 Atlantic City Senior International.

Top tournaments won by Mike Souchak

1964
America
Sharpstown CC
278 (-6)
$7,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Venue

Sharpstown CC

Score

278 (-6)

Prize money

$7,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Houston Classic (April 16-19). Second-placed Jack Nicklaus (USA) finished 1 shot behind Mike Souchak (USA). [Sharpstown CC, Houston, TX. Now called Sharpstown Park (Municipal) Golf Course].

1964
America
Colonial CC, Tenn
270 (-10)
$7,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Venue

Colonial CC, Tenn

Score

270 (-10)

Prize money

$7,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Memphis Open Invitational (May 21-24). Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) and Tommy Jacobs (USA) finished 1 shot behind Mike Souchak (USA), who recorded the last of his 15 PGA Tour wins. [Colonial CC, White Station, Memphis, TN. Club relocated to Cordova, nr Memphis in 1972].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Score

276 (-8)

Prize money

$3,200

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (April 13-16). Second-placed and defending champion Sam Snead (USA) finished 7 shots behind Mike Souchak (USA). [Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, NC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Score

269 (-19)

Prize money

$2,800

Title sponsor

x

Played as the San Diego Open Invitational (Jan 28-31). Second-placed Johnny Pott (USA) finished 1 shot behind Mike Souchak (USA). [Riverwalk GC, San Diego, CA; at the time known as Mission Valley CC].

1960
America
Warwick Hills
282 (-6)
$9,000
Buick

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Venue

Warwick Hills

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

$9,000

Title sponsor

Buick

Played as the Buick Open Invitational (July 1-4). Second-placed Gay Brewer (USA) and defending champion Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 1 shot behind Mike Souchak (USA). [Warwick Hills G&CC, Grand Blanc, Michigan].

1959
America
Pittsburgh Field
272 (-8)
$5,000
WGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Venue

Pittsburgh Field

Score

272 (-8)

Prize money

$5,000

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (July 9-12). Second-placed Arnold Palmer (USA) finished 1 shot behind Mike Souchak (USA). [Pittsburgh Field Club, Pittsburgh, PA].

1959
America
Meadowbrook, Mich.
268 (-16)
$3,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Venue

Meadowbrook, Mich.

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$3,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Motor City Open (Aug 13-16; last played in 1956; next played in 1962). Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) and Doug Ford (USA) finished 9 shots behind Mike Souchak (USA). [Meadowbrook CC, Northville, nr Detroit, Mich.].

1959
America
281 (-7)
$10,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

$10,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tournament of Champions (April 23-26). Second-placed Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 2 shots behind Mike Souchak (USA). [Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada; at the time known as Desert Inn CC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Score

280 (E)

Prize money

$5,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Colonial National Invitation (May 3-6). Second-placed Tommy Bolt (USA) finished 1 shot behind Mike Souchak (USA), who recorded his fifth PGA Tour win. [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].

1956
America
Tijuana CC
281 (-7)
$2,200
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Venue

Tijuana CC

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

$2,200

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Agua Caliente Open (Jan 19-22; last played in 1935). Second-placed Tommy Bolt (USA) finished 2 shots behind Mike Souchak (USA). [CS&DC de Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico].

1955
America
273 (-15)
$6,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

$6,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Houston Open (Feb 24-27). Second-placed Jerry Barber (USA) finished 2 shots behind back-to-back PGA Tour winner Mike Souchak (USA), who recorded his second PGA Tour win, coming just one week after his first (in the Texas Open). [Memorial Park GC, Houston, TX].

1955
America
257 (-27)
$2,200
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Souchak, Mike

Score

257 (-27)

Prize money

$2,200

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open (Feb 17-20). Second-placed Fred Haas (USA) finished 7 shots behind 27-year-old Mike Souchak (USA), who recorded his first PGA Tour win. Souchak's 72-hole total of 257 was a PGA Tour record at the time, as was his opening day 60, which included a record front-nine 27. [Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio, TX].

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Tournaments

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). 

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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

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.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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