Tony Holguin (October 18, 1926 – May 14, 2009[1]) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.
| Tony Holguin | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 18, 1926 |
| Died | May 14, 2009 (aged 82) Oak Forest, Illinois |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1948 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 6 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 1 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | T19: 1949 |
| PGA Championship | T17: 1955 |
| U.S. Open | 40th: 1956 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
Holguin learned the game of golf while growing up in San Antonio, Texas during the Great Depression. His family, which was of Mexican descent, had no money and could not afford an automobile.[2] He spent much time at home, practicing his putting.
Holguin served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He won the San Antonio City Championship in 1946 and 1947. He turned professional in 1948.[3][4]
Holguin won the Mexican Open in 1949 and 1950. His best finish in a major championship was T17 at PGA Championship in 1957. The biggest win of his career came in 1953 at the Texas Open. In 1957, Holguin tied Arnold Palmer for third place in the Texas Open. His majors resume consists of three Masters, six U.S. Opens and eight PGA Championships.
At the opening round of the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am in January 1954, Holguin set the course record of 63 at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club, now known as its Dunes Course.[5][6]
Like most professional golfers of his generation, Holguin earned a living primarily as a club professional. He became club pro at Midlothian (Illinois) Country Club in 1952. He also worked at Gleneagles Country Club in Lemont, Illinois and Balmoral Woods Country Club in Crete, Illinois. In 2007, he was inducted into the Illinois Section PGA Hall of Fame.[3][4]
Holguin was the spokesman for Fairwinds, a failed development that included a Holiday Inn and future golf course. He also was to be the teaching professional at Fairwinds. A golf course was built after the development failed, which became Balmoral Woods CC.
Amateur wins
edit- 1946 San Antonio City Championship
- 1947 San Antonio City Championship
Professional wins
editPGA Tour wins (1)
edit- 1953 Texas Open
Other wins
editthis list may be incomplete
- 1949 Mexican Open
- 1950 Mexican Open
- 1954 Illinois PGA Championship
- 1962 Illinois PGA Championship
- 1970 Illinois PGA Championship
References
edit- ^ Kosin, Phil (May 15, 2009). "Tour player, teacher, Illinois Golf Hall of Famer Tony Holguin dies from injuries suffered in fall". Chicagoland Golf. Archived from the original on June 9, 2010.
- ^ Cronin, Tim (May 17, 2009). "Pro golfer was minority pioneer". Chicago Sun-Times. p. A-31.
Tony Holguin, an American of Mexican descent, was a winning pro golfer in an era when it was more likely that a minority would be a caddie.
- ^ a b Houlihan, Mike (June 27, 2004). "Retired golf pro's gripping tales put him in elite club". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ a b "Erfurth, Holguin, Foulis Brothers, Miller elected to Illinois Golf Hall of Fame" (Press release). Illinois Section PGA. Archived from the original on October 22, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ "Holgui's 63 sets mark in Crosby golf". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 16, 1954. p. 8.
- ^ "Monterey Peninsula CC". Northern California Golf Association. Retrieved January 16, 2021.