Vic Ghezzi

Victor J. Ghezzi (October 19, 1910 – May 30, 1976) was an American professional golfer.

Vic Ghezzi
Personal information
Full name	Victor J. Ghezzi
Born	(1910-10-19)October 19, 1910 Rumson, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	May 30, 1976(1976-05-30) (aged 65) Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 14 st)
Sporting nationality	United States
Career
Turned professional	1932
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour
Professional wins	17
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	11
Best results in major championships (wins: 1)
Masters Tournament	T6: 1941
PGA Championship	Won: 1941
U.S. Open	T2: 1946
The Open Championship	T18: 1947

Early life

Ghezzi was born in Rumson, New Jersey.^[1]

Professional career

Ghezzi won 11 times on the PGA Tour, including one major title, which was the 1941 PGA Championship, where he defeated Byron Nelson in 38 holes in the finals.^[2][3][4] He was selected for three Ryder Cup teams in 1939, 1941, and 1943, but each selection was canceled due to World War II. During the war, Ghezzi enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his training in early 1942.^[5][6]

At the U.S. Open in 1946, he was in an 18-hole Sunday morning playoff with Lloyd Mangrum and Nelson. It ended in a three-way tie, forcing another 18 holes. Mangrum won that afternoon round by a single stroke over both Ghezzi and Nelson.^[7]

Ghezzi was elected to the PGA of America's hall of fame in 1965.^[8] He died of cancer at the age of 65 in the Miami Heart Institute in Miami Beach, Florida.^[9][10]

Professional wins (17)

PGA Tour wins (11)

• 1935 (2) Los Angeles Open,^[11] Calvert Open
• 1936 (2) Hollywood Open, New Jersey PGA Championship
• 1937 (1) Lake Placid Open
• 1938 (3) North and South Open,^[12] Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Sam Snead),^[13] Hershey Four-Ball (with Ben Hogan)^[14]
• 1941 (1) PGA Championship^[2][3]
• 1947 (1) Greater Greensboro Open^[15]
• 1948 (1) Dapper Dan-Alcoma Tournament^[16]

Major championship is shown in bold.

Other wins (6)

this list may be incomplete

• 1935 Maryland Open
• 1937 New Jersey State Open
• 1939 New Jersey PGA Championship
• 1943 New Jersey State Open
• 1944 New Jersey State Open
• 1949 New Jersey PGA Championship

Major championships

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Runner-up
1941	PGA Championship	38 holes	Byron Nelson

Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958

Results timeline

Tournament	1932	1933	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939
Masters Tournament	NYF	NYF	T25	8	T15	T8	T10	T12
U.S. Open	T45		CUT	20	T18	T20	T11	T29
The Open Championship
PGA Championship	R32	R32	R16	R32	R16	R16		R32

Tournament	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947	1948	1949
Masters Tournament	T39	T6		NT	NT	NT	T12	21	T18	T35
U.S. Open	15	19	NT	NT	NT	NT	T2	T6	T14	T37
The Open Championship	NT	NT	NT	NT	NT	NT		T18
PGA Championship	R32	1	R32	NT		QF	R32	SF	R64

Tournament	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
Masters Tournament	T14	WD	T30	WD	T29	T53	T29	CUT	CUT	CUT
U.S. Open				CUT	CUT			CUT		T38
The Open Championship
PGA Championship	R64	R16	R16	R64		R32	R128	R64	T56

Tournament	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Masters Tournament	CUT	CUT	CUT
U.S. Open			CUT	CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship	CUT	CUT	T57	CUT	WD	T49	WD

Tournament	1970	1971	1972	1973
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship	WD			WD

  Win

  Top 10

  Did not play

NYF = tournament not yet founded
NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	0	0	0	0	4	11	25	17
U.S. Open	0	1	0	1	2	9	19	13
The Open Championship	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
PGA Championship	1	0	1	3	8	16	31	24
Totals	1	1	1	4	14	37	76	55

• Most consecutive cuts made – 36 (1934 PGA – 1950 PGA)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1936 PGA – 1937 PGA)

See also

• List of men's major championships winning golfers

References

1. Van Anda, Robert H. (2015). "Legendary locals of Rumson, New Jersey". Arcadia Publishing. p. 100. ISBN 9781467101769.
2. "Vic Ghezzi Wins PGA Title Dethroning Champion Byron Nelson In 38 Holes". The Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. July 14, 1941. p. 6.
3. Kelly, Loudon (July 14, 1941). "Vic Ghezzi stages brilliant rally to trim Nelson on 38th hole in P.G.A. final". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. Associated Press. p. 9.
4. Nelson, Byron (July 16, 1946). "Vic Ghezzi playing most consistent golf of his career". Pittsburgh Press. p. 23.
5. "Vic Ghezzi ready, willing to serve". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. December 15, 1941. p. 6, part 2.
6. "Vic Ghezzi in Army". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. January 20, 1942. p. 14.
7. Sixty, Billy (June 17, 1946). "Mangrum wins Open title in a playoff in heavy storm". Milwaukee Journal. p. 4-part 2.
8. "Vic Ghezzi picked to golf hall of fame". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. October 16, 1965. p. 13.
9. "Golf hall-of-famer dies Sunday". Boca Raton News. Florida. June 1, 1976. p. 3.
10. "Vic Ghezzi, Golfer, Dead at 65". New York Times. June 1, 1976. Retrieved February 14, 2011. Mr Ghezzi, who was born in Rumson, N.J., was a professional golfer for 25 years before retiring in 1960 to the Bal Harbour section of Miami Beach...
11. "Revolta loses to Vic Ghezzi in golf finals". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. January 16, 1935. p. 4-part 2.
12. "Vic Ghezzi scores win at Pinehurst". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. March 26, 1938. p. 8.
13. "Vic Ghezzi blasts jealousy of New Jersey pro golfers". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. May 30, 1938. p. 11.
14. "Vic Ghezzi, Hogan win". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. September 5, 1938. p. 13.
15. "Vic Ghezzi winner in Greensboro Open". Lewiston (ME) Daily Sun. AP. March 24, 1947. p. 9.
16. "Vic Ghezzi wins Dapper Dan golf by six strokes". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Associated Press. July 19, 1948. p. 7.

External links

• New York Historical Society: Vic Ghezzi
• PGA of America: Golf Professional Hall of Fame member profiles
• New Jersey State Golf Association   When Deal's Ghezzi beat Nelson in playoff for PGA title
• Vic Ghezzi at Find a Grave