Charles Coe

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Charles Robert "Charlie" Coe (October 26, 1923 – May 16, 2001) was an American golfer who is considered by many to be one of the greatest amateur golfers in history.[1] A two-time U.S. Amateur winner, Coe never turned professional, instead choosing to spend time with his wife and family.

Born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Coe served as a pilot during World War II,[2] and later attended the University of Oklahoma from 1946-48. He won the Big Seven Conference championship all three years.[3]

Coe won the United States Men's Amateur Golf Championship in 1949, beating Rufus King 11 & 10 in the finals, and won it again in 1958 with a 5 & 4 victory over Tommy Aaron. He finished runner-up to Jack Nicklaus in the 1959 tournament. Coe won the Western Amateur in 1950, and made the finals of the British Amateur in 1951, losing to Dick Chapman. He played on six Walker Cup teams from 1949 to 1963, including playing captain on the 1959 team, and was non-playing captain on a seventh team in 1957.

Coe made 19 Masters appearances and owns almost every Masters amateur record, including most cuts made (8); top-24 finishes (9); top-10 finishes (3); eagles (6), rounds played (67) and most times low amateur (6).[4] He also holds the amateur records for best finish (2nd in 1961), lowest third round score (67 in 1959), and lowest 72-hole score (281 in 1961).[5] In 1961, Coe rallied in the final round from six shots down to finish one stroke behind Gary Player.

In 1964, Coe received the Bob Jones Award, given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

Coe was posthumously named an honoree at the 2006 Memorial Tournament. When he died, the Rocky Mountain News quoted a Castle Pines golf club member saying, "Charlie Coe was an amateur at everything except life."

The Charlie Coe Golf Center at the University of Oklahoma is named in his honor.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.snponline.com/special_sections/Memorial_5-24-06/5-24_tabmemhonorees.htm
  2. ^ Coe, Charles R. Obit
  3. ^ CNNSI.com - Golf Plus - Former U.S. Amateur champ Coe dies at 77 - Thursday May 17, 2001 05:05 PM
  4. ^ SoonerSports.com. Coe Golf Center. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  5. ^ http://www.i-sportsbook.com/golf/masters-golf-tournaments-records.html

[edit] External links