Life Story

Professional Golfer.  Born in Oakland, California, he was noted as one of the most promising prospects in the beginning of golf's modern era. He began playing golf as a youth and after serving in the US Marine Corps, he obtained work as an assistant to the club professional at a San Francisco golf club. By 1957, he developed his skills enough to qualify for the PGA Tour and won the Imperial Valley Open. From 1962 to 1966, he was the top golfer with twelve PGA Tour wins to include the Sahara Invitational (1962), Memphis Open (1963), British Open Championship (1964), Buick Open (1965) and Oklahoma Open (1966). He also was a winner of the World Series of Golf (1964) and the Open Championship (1964). At age 32 his career cut short in an aircraft accident near Lansing, Illinois.