Tony Lema
Name:
Anthony David "Tony" LemaAlso known as:
Champagne TonyCountry:
USALived:
[1934-1966]. Born on Feb 25, 1934 in Oakland, California. Died on July 24, 1966 in Lansing, Illinois (aged 32).Original/Home Club:
Lake Chabot GC, nr Oakland, CA.Occupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1955MAJORS (1): The Open (1964). Ryder Cup player (1963, '65).
Tony Lema and his wife were tragically killed in a plane crash in 1966.
America
Buick
Played as the Buick Open Invitational (June 3-6). Second-placed Johnny Pott (USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Tony Lema (USA), who recorded his tenth PGA Tour win. [Warwick Hills G&CC, Grand Blanc, Michigan].
America
x
Played as the World Series of Golf (Sept 12/13; unofficial four-man 36-hole exhibition event for the season's four major championship winners). First (on 138): Tony Lema (USA; British Open). Second (143): Ken Venturi (USA; US Open). Third (147): Bobby Nichols (USA; US PGA). Fourth (148): Arnold Palmer (USA; Masters). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].
America
x
Played as the Thunderbird Classic. Second-placed Mike Souchak (USA) finished 1 shot behind Lema (USA). [Westchester CC, Rye, NY].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (93rd) (July 8-10). Second-placed Jack Nicklaus (USA) finished 5 shots behind Lema (USA). [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].
America
Buick
Played as the Buick Open Invitational (June 11-14). Second-placed Dow Finsterwald (USA) finished 1 shot behind Tony Lema (USA). This was the second of four PGA Tour wins recorded by Lema in the space of a hugely successful six weeks on the Tour. [Warwick Hills G&CC, Grand Blanc, Michigan].
America
Bing Crosby
Played as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (Jan 16-19). Second-placed Gay Brewer (USA) and Bo Wininger (USA) finished 3 shots behind Lema (USA), who recorded his fifth PGA Tour win. [Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Cypress Point Club and Monterey Peninsula CC].
America
x
Played as the Cleveland Open (June 25-28). Tony Lema (USA) beat defending champion Arnold Palmer (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Highland Park GC, Highland Hills, nr Cleveland, OH].
America
x
Played as the Memphis Open Invitational (May 24-27). Lema (USA) beat Tommy Aaron (USA) with a par at the first playoff hole. [Colonial CC, White Station, Memphis, TN. Club relocated to Cordova, nr Memphis in 1972].
America
x
Played as the Mexican Open (Abierto Mexicano de Golf). Jackson Bradley (USA) finished in second place behind defending champion Lema (USA). [GC La Hacienda, Ciudad López Mateos, nr Mexico City].
America
x
Played as the Orange County Invitational (Oct 25-28). Tony Lema (USA) beat Bob Rosburg (USA) with a birdie at the third playoff hole, to claim his second PGA Tour title. [Mesa Verde CC, Costa Mesa, nr Newport Beach, CA].
America
Sahara Hotel
Played as the Sahara Invitational (Sept 27-30; first year as an official PGA Tour event). Second-placed Don January (USA) finished 3 shots behind 28-year-old Tony Lema (USA), who recorded his first PGA Tour win. [Paradise Valley CC, Henderson, NV; now called Wildhorse GC].
Played as the Mexican Open (Abierto Mexicano de Golf). Antonio Cerda (Arg) finished in second place behind Lema (USA). [Club de Golf Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico].
America
x
Played as the (last) Hesperia Open Invitational (Oct 8; unofficial one-day 36-hole money event). Second-placed Jerry Steelsmith (USA) finished 3 shots behind Tony Lema (USA). [Hesperia G&CC, Hesperia, CA].
Chevron Championship: Carlton Woods near Houston in Texas provides the stage for the first women’s major championship of 2025, where Nelly Korda defends her title. (April 24-27).
Soudal Open: successor to the Belgian Open, the Soudal Open takes place on the quiet, wooded North course of Rinkven Golfclub. Belgian stars Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts will be vying for top honours. (May 22-25).
Rory McIlroy: with his 2025 win in The Masters, Rory joined the pantheon of golfing greats who have achieved a career Grand Slam of men’s majors ... Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only others in this select band.
Bernhard Langer: he may have played in his last Masters Tournament, but the 67-year-old German will be trying to extend his own record, and win a 13th senior major title at the 36th Regions Tradition. (May 15-18).
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.
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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