John Schlee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Schlee |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | John H. Schlee |
| Born | June 2, 1939 Kremmling, Colorado |
| Died | June 2, 2000 (aged 61) Costa Mesa, California |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11.8 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| College | Memphis State University |
| Turned professional | 1964 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 1 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 1 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| The Masters Tournament | T8: 1977 |
| U.S. Open | 2nd: 1973 |
| The Open Championship | WD: 1973 |
| PGA Championship | T4: 1976 |
John H. Schlee (born June 2, 1939 – died June 2, 2000) was an American professional golfer. He was known for playing on the PGA Tour during the 1960s and 1970s. He had a successful career, including a big win and strong finishes in major golf tournaments.
Contents
John Schlee: A Golf Star
Early Life and Career Start
John Schlee was born in Kremmling, Colorado. He grew up in Seaside, Oregon, where people knew him as Jack Schlee. Before becoming a golfer, he served two years in the U.S. Army, starting in 1957.
After his time in the Army, Schlee went to Memphis State University. There, he was an important member of the university's golf team. After college, he worked as a club professional. This means he taught golf and managed golf club operations.
In 1965, John Schlee achieved a big step in his career. He was the top player, or "medalist," at the very first PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. This tournament helps golfers earn a spot to play on the PGA Tour. In 1966, he was named the PGA Tour Rookie-of-the-Year. This award goes to the best new player on the tour. That year, he made the cut in 13 events and finished 48th on the money list.
Playing on the PGA Tour
John Schlee played golf full-time on the PGA Tour from 1966 to 1977. During this time, he often finished among the best players. He had more than 30 finishes in the top 10 at PGA Tour events.
His best year was 1973. That year, he won the Hawaiian Open, which was a major victory for him. He also came very close to winning the U.S. Open, one of golf's biggest tournaments. He finished just one stroke behind the winner, Johnny Miller.
Major Moments in Golf
John Schlee also performed well in major golf championships. These are the most important tournaments in professional golf. He had four top-10 finishes in these big events:
- He placed 2nd by himself at the 1973 U.S. Open.
- He tied for 10th place at the 1975 PGA Championship.
- He tied for 4th place at the 1976 PGA Championship.
- He tied for 8th place at the 1977 Masters Tournament.
Life After Full-Time Play
In the mid-1970s, John Schlee had to play less often on the PGA Tour. This was because he faced some health problems. He had back surgery in 1975 and knee surgery in 1976. In 1977, he had another injury, this time to his left thumb.
Because of these health issues, Schlee took a job as a club professional in Rancho Viejo, Texas. His last appearance in a PGA Tour event was at the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic in 1978.
In 1980, Schlee started a new career teaching golf. He worked at the Industry Hills Golf Resort near Los Angeles, California. He even invented tools to help his students learn the game better. In 1986, he wrote a book called Maximum Golf. This book shared his ideas about teaching golf and honored his mentor, the famous golfer Ben Hogan.
After he turned 50 in 1989, Schlee played in some events on the Senior PGA Tour. However, he did not win any of these tournaments. His best finish was tying for 42nd place. He lived in Texas for most of his main golf career and in California during his senior years.
John Schlee passed away in 2000 in a hospital in Costa Mesa, California. He died from health issues related to Alzheimer's disease.
Professional Wins
John Schlee won one professional golf tournament during his career.
PGA Tour Wins
- 1973 Hawaiian Open: He won this tournament on February 4, 1973. He finished with a score of 15 strokes under par, beating his closest competitor by 2 strokes.
He also played in one PGA Tour playoff, which he lost. This happened at the 1973 Kaiser International Open Invitational.
See also
- 1965 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
