Jerry Barber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jerry Barber |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Carl Jerome Barber |
| Born | April 25, 1916 Woodson, Illinois |
| Died | September 23, 1994 (aged 78) Glendale, California |
| Height | 5 ft 5+1⁄2 in (1.66 m) |
| Weight | 137 lb (62 kg; 9.8 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Spouse | Lucile Barber |
| Children | 5 |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1942 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 14 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 7 |
| Other | 5 (regular) 2 (senior) |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 1) |
|
| The Masters Tournament | T5: 1962 |
| U.S. Open | T9: 1956, 1960 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
| PGA Championship | Won: 1961 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| PGA Player of the Year | 1961 |
Carl Jerome Barber (born April 25, 1916 – died September 23, 1994) was an American professional golfer. He played on the PGA Tour, which is a top golf competition. Jerry won seven tournaments on the tour. One of his biggest wins was a major championship, the PGA Championship in 1961.
Jerry Barber was born in Woodson, Illinois. He grew up on a farm near Jacksonville with his eight brothers and sisters. He became a professional golfer in 1942. Even though he was not very tall, he was known for being one of the best at putting the golf ball into the hole.
Contents
Golf Career Highlights
Playing on the PGA Tour
Jerry Barber was a full-time player on the PGA Tour from 1948 to 1962. He was also a part of the Ryder Cup team twice. The Ryder Cup is a famous golf competition between teams from the United States and Europe. He played in 1955 and was the team captain in 1961. Both times, his team won!
Like many golfers of his time, Jerry also worked as a "club professional." This means he taught golf and managed golf activities at a club. He worked at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles. In 1961, he was named the PGA Player of the Year. This was a big achievement, as he beat famous golfer Arnold Palmer for the award that year.
Winning the 1961 PGA Championship
One of Jerry Barber's most exciting wins was the 1961 PGA Championship. This tournament took place in Illinois, near Chicago. Heavy rain caused delays, making the tournament schedule very tough. Jerry was leading after the second round.
In the final round, Jerry was four shots behind another golfer named Don January with only three holes left to play. It was very hot and humid. Jerry made an amazing 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole. Then, he saved par with a 40-foot putt on the 17th. Finally, he made a 60-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole! This incredible finish tied him with Don January.
Because of the rain delays, they finished their final rounds very late on Sunday night. They had to play an extra 18-hole playoff round on Monday. Jerry won the playoff by just one stroke when Don January made a mistake on the last hole. At 45 years old, Jerry Barber was the oldest player to win a major golf title at that time.
Oldest Player on Tour
Jerry Barber holds a special record in golf history. In February 1994, he played in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course. He was 77 years, 10 months, and 9 days old! This made him the oldest player ever to play on the PGA Tour. He passed away later that year in September.
Jerry Barber's Family Life
Jerry Barber was married to Lucile Barber. They had five children together: Tom, Nancy, twins Sandra and Sally, and Roger. Lucile passed away in 1968. Jerry Barber died in Glendale, California, when he was 78 years old.
Professional Wins
Jerry Barber won 13 professional golf tournaments during his career.
PGA Tour Wins (7)
Jerry Barber won seven tournaments on the PGA Tour. His biggest win was the 1961 PGA Championship.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 5, 1953 | Azalea Open Invitational | 71-65-72-68=276 | −12 | 1 stroke |  Doug Ford, Ted Kroll, Johnny Palmer |
| 2 | Aug 8, 1954 | All American Open | 68-70-70-69=277 | −11 | 1 stroke | Gene Littler |
| 3 | Jan 18, 1960 | Yorba Linda Open Invitational | 67-70-69-72=278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Billy Maxwell |
| 4 | May 8, 1960 | Tournament of Champions | 69-66-66-67=268 | −20 | 4 strokes | Jay Hebert |
| 5 | Apr 2, 1961 | Azalea Open Invitational (2) | 71-71-71=213 | −3 | Playoff | Chandler Harper |
| 6 | Jul 31, 1961 | PGA Championship | 69-67-71-70=277 | −3 | Playoff | Don January |
| 7 | Mar 31, 1963 | Azalea Open Invitational (3) | 69-68-70-67=274 | −14 | 5 strokes | Larry Beck,  Bruce Crampton, Doug Ford, Billy Maxwell, Jack Rule Jr. |
PGA Tour Playoff Record (1–0) Jerry Barber won his only PGA Tour playoff.
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1961 | PGA Championship | Don January |
Won 18-hole playoff; Barber: −3 (67), January: −2 (68) |
Other Wins (5)
- 1950 Pennsylvania Open Championship
- 1951 Waterloo Open Golf Classic
- 1952 Waterloo Open Golf Classic
- 1959 California State Open
- 1959 Southern California PGA Championship
Other Senior Wins (2)
- 1987 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Doug Ford)
- 1993 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division
Major Championship Wins
Jerry Barber won one major championship.
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | PGA Championship | 2 shot deficit | −3 (69-67-71-70=277) | Playoff1 | Don January |
1He beat Don January in an 18-hole playoff, 67 to 68.
U.S. National Team Appearances
Jerry Barber also represented the United States in several team competitions:
- Ryder Cup: 1955 (winners), 1961 (winners, and he was the captain!)
- Hopkins Trophy: 1954 (winners), 1955 (winners)
- Diamondhead Cup: 1974 (winners)
See also
- List of men's major championships winning golfers
