1944 PGA Championship

1944 PGA Championship
Tournament information
Dates August 14–20, 1944
Location Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Course(s) Manito Golf and
Country Club
Organized by PGA of America
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Format Match play - 5 rounds
Statistics
Par 72
Field 78 players,[1]
32 to match play
Cut 149 (+5), playoff
Prize fund $14,500[2]
Winner's share $3,500
Champion
United States Bob Hamilton
def. Byron Nelson, 1 up
«1942
1945»
Manito
G & CC
Location in the United States
Manito
G & CC
Location in Washington

The 1944 PGA Championship was the 26th PGA Championship, held August 14–20 at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington. Then a match play championship, Bob Hamilton won his only major title, 1 up in the 36-hole final over heavily favored Byron Nelson;[3] the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500.[4] Hamilton defeated Jug McSpaden 2 & 1 in the quarterfinals[5] and George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinals.[6]

It was Nelson's third runner-up finish (1939, 1941, 1944); he won the title in 1940 and 1945.[7] Nelson was the medalist in the stroke play qualifier with a 6-under 138.[8][9]

This was the first PGA Championship in two years, it was not contested in 1943. Sam Snead won in 1942, but did not defend his title; he was at the naval hospital in San Diego for treatment for his ailing back,[2] and received a medical discharge from the U.S. Navy a month later.[10]

The event was sponsored by the Athletic Round Table, Spokane's notable fun and benevolence organization headed by attorney Joe Albi.[4] Following this event, the ART sponsored the Esmeralda Open, a PGA Tour event in 1945 and 1947, and the first U.S. Women's Open in 1946, all held in Spokane.

The PGA Championship was the sole major played in 1944 (and 1945); the three others returned in 1946.

This was the first major championship played in the Pacific Northwest. The PGA Championship was played in Portland in 1946, and at Sahalee, east of Seattle, in 1998. The first U.S. Open in the region was played in 2015 at Chambers Bay, southwest of Tacoma.

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1944 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[2]

Past champions in the field

Player Country Year won Record Advanced to Finish
Byron Nelson  United States 1940 4–1 Finals 2

Failed to qualify

Player Country Year won R1 R2 Total To par
Olin Dutra  United States 1932 78 74 152 +8

Source:[2][8][9]

Final results

Sunday, August 20, 1944

PlacePlayerCountryMoney ($)
1 Bob Hamilton  United States 3,500
2 Byron Nelson  United States 1,500
T3 Chuck Congdon  United States 750
George Schneiter  United States
T5 Art Bell  United States 500
Ed Dudley  United States
Willie Goggin  United States
Harold "Jug" McSpaden  United States

Final eight bracket

Quarter-finals
August 18 		Semi-finals
August 19 		Finals
August 20
         
Bob Hamilton 2&1
Harold "Jug" McSpaden
Bob Hamilton 1up
George Schneiter
George Schneiter 2&1
Art Bell
Bob Hamilton 1up
Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson 4&3
Willie Goggin
Byron Nelson 8&7
Chuck Congdon
Chuck Congdon 6&5
Ed Dudley

References

  1. 1 2 "Nelson, with 138, takes medal in pro tourney". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. August 16, 1944. p. 2-part 2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Tournament Info for: 1944 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Hamilton surprises Nelson in PGA final". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. August 21, 1944. p. 6-part 2.
  4. 1 2 "Byron Nelson defeated by dark horse Hamilton". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. August 21, 1944. p. 6.
  5. ↑ "Hamilton defeats McSpadden 2 and 1". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. August 19, 1944. p. 10.
  6. ↑ "Hamilton faces Byron Nelson in PGA final". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. August 20, 1944. p. 17.
  7. ↑ Stark, Charles R., Jr. (August 21, 1944). "Hamilton beats Nelson to win P.G.A.". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.
  8. 1 2 "Nelson wins PGA medal with 138". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. August 16, 1944. p. 13.
  9. 1 2 Newland, Russ (August 16, 1944). "Nelson medalist in PGA with 138". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. p. 10.
  10. ↑ "Sam Snead discharged from navy". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. September 13, 1944. p. 6.

External links

Coordinates: 47°36′32″N 117°23′42″W / 47.609°N 117.395°W / 47.609; -117.395

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