Stan Leonard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stan Leonard |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 2, 1915 Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Died | December 15, 2005 (aged 90) Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1938 |
| Former tour(s) | Canadian Tour PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 44 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 3 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
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| The Masters Tournament | T4: 1958, 1959 |
| U.S. Open | T25: 1962 |
| The Open Championship | CUT: 1956 |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
Stan Leonard (February 2, 1915 – December 15, 2005) was a Canadian professional golfer. He was a top player on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s. Stan won three PGA Tour events. He also won eight Canadian PGA Championships and 16 other events on the Canadian Tour. He is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
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Stan Leonard's Early Life
Stan Leonard was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He started his golf journey as a caddie. This means he carried golf clubs for players. He became very good at golf in British Columbia.
In 1938, Stan became a professional golfer. For many years, he played mostly on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour. He was very successful there. He also worked at the Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver.
Stan mainly played in western Canada. Traveling to eastern Canada was expensive. In 1946, he played in one of his first big events on the PGA Tour. This was the Crosby Pro-Am in California. He almost won, but lost to another great golfer, Lloyd Mangrum.
A Star in Canadian Golf
Stan Leonard holds a special record in Canadian golf. He won the Canadian PGA Championship eight times. He won this major Canadian tournament between 1940 and 1961.
He was also the best Canadian player in the Canadian Open nine times. This happened between 1945 and 1961. Stan won many other important tournaments in Canada. He won the British Columbia Open five times. He also won the Alberta Open nine times. The Saskatchewan Open was his twice.
In total, Stan won six important amateur tournaments. He also won 40 professional tournaments in Canada. This makes him one of the most successful Canadian golfers ever. Only Moe Norman has won more.
Success on the World Stage
In 1954, Stan Leonard joined the PGA Tour full-time. He was 39 years old then. Even at that age, he quickly found success. He won three PGA Tour events between 1957 and 1960.
Stan also did very well in one of golf's biggest tournaments, The Masters. This event is held at the Augusta National Golf Club. His best finishes were tying for 4th place in 1958 and 1959. He also tied for 8th in 1955 and 9th in 1960.
Other famous golfers respected Stan's game. The legendary golfer Sam Snead once said he was glad Stan didn't join the PGA Tour full-time until he was 40! Stan also won the individual title at the Canada Cup twice, in 1954 and 1959.
Later Years and Legacy
Stan Leonard retired from the PGA Tour in the 1960s. He then worked as a club professional at the Desert Island Golf Club in Palm Springs, California. Eventually, he moved back home to Vancouver.
He continued to play well in senior golf events in Canada. He won the Canadian Senior PGA Championship three times. These wins were in 1967, 1972, and 1975.
Stan also helped design the Redwood Meadows Golf Course. This course is in Bragg Creek, Alberta, near Calgary.
Even though Stan was only 5 feet 6 inches tall, he was known for hitting the ball very far. He was also one of the best at hitting the ball exactly where he wanted it to go. His powerful swing came from his very strong forearms. Other players noticed this and gave him the nickname Popeye.
Stan Leonard was honored for his amazing career. He was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1964. He also joined the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1966. In 1972, he was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Stan passed away in Vancouver at the age of 90.
Team Golf Appearances
Stan Leonard represented Canada in several team golf events:
- Canada Cup: He played for Canada in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 (where he won the individual event), 1960, and 1963.
- Hopkins Trophy: He represented Canada in this event in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, and 1956.
