Who's who: Tony Lema

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Tony Lema

  • Name:

    Anthony David "Tony" Lema
  • Also known as:

    Champagne Tony
  • Country:

    USA
  • Lived:

    [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 golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1955

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): The Open (1964). Ryder Cup player (1963, '65).

Did you know?

Tony Lema and his wife were tragically killed in a plane crash in 1966.

Top tournaments won by Tony Lema

1965
America
Warwick Hills
280 (-8)
$20,000
Buick

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Venue

Warwick Hills

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

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].

1964
America
138 (-2)
$50,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Score

138 (-2)

Prize money

$50,000

Title sponsor

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].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Thunderbird Classic. Second-placed Mike Souchak (USA) finished 1 shot behind Lema (USA). [Westchester CC, Rye, NY].

1964
Majors
279 (-9)
£1,500
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

£1,500

Title sponsor

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].

1964
America
Warwick Hills
277 (-11)
$8,000
Buick

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Venue

Warwick Hills

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$8,000

Title sponsor

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].

1964
America
284 (-4)
$5,800
Bing Crosby

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

$5,800

Title sponsor

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].

1964
America
Highland Park, OH
270 (-14)
$20,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Venue

Highland Park, OH

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

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].

1963
America
Colonial CC, Tenn
270 (-10)
$9,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Venue

Colonial CC, Tenn

Score

270 (-10)

Prize money

$9,000

Title sponsor

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].

1962
America
La Hacienda GC
281
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Venue

La Hacienda GC

Score

281

Prize money

Title sponsor

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].

1962
America
Mesa Verde CC
267 (-17)
$2,800
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Venue

Mesa Verde CC

Score

267 (-17)

Prize money

$2,800

Title sponsor

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].

1962
America
Paradise Valley CC
270 (-14)
$2,800
Sahara Hotel

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Venue

Paradise Valley CC

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

$2,800

Title sponsor

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].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Score

280

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

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].

1961
America
Hesperia G&CC
138 (-6)
$1,200
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lema, Tony

Venue

Hesperia G&CC

Score

138 (-6)

Prize money

$1,200

Title sponsor

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].

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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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