Tony Lema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tony Lema |
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|---|---|
Lema holding the Claret Jug
after his 1964 Open Championship |
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Anthony David Lema |
| Nickname | Champagne Tony |
| Born | February 25, 1934 Oakland, California |
| Died | July 24, 1966 (aged 32) Lansing, Illinois |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Spouse | Elizabeth R. "Betty" Cline |
| Career | |
| College | None |
| Turned professional | 1955 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 22 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 12 |
| Other | 10 |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 1) |
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| The Masters Tournament | 2nd: 1963 |
| U.S. Open | T4: 1966 |
| The Open Championship | Won: 1964 |
| PGA Championship | T9: 1964 |
Anthony David Lema (born February 25, 1934 – died July 24, 1966) was an American professional golfer. He became very famous in the mid-1960s. Tony won a big championship, the 1964 Open Championship, at the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. Sadly, he died two years later at age 32 in a plane crash near Chicago.
Contents
Early Life and Golf Beginnings
Tony Lema was born in Oakland, California. His parents, Anthony and Clotilda Lema, were of Portuguese background. Tony's father died when Tony was only three years old. His mother worked hard to raise their four children.
Tony started playing golf as a boy at the Lake Chabot golf course. He learned from many different people. Lucius Bateman, a golf coach, helped him with his swing. Ralph Hall, a policeman, taught him how to plan his shots on the course. Other golf teachers, Dick Fry and Bill Burch, taught him the basics of the game.
When he was 17, Tony joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in Korea. After leaving the military in 1955, he worked as an assistant golf professional in San Francisco.
A rich businessman named Eddie Lowery helped Tony. Lowery was known for helping talented young golfers. He loaned Tony money each week for his expenses. In return, Tony shared some of his winnings with Lowery.
Becoming a PGA Tour Star
By 1957, Tony was good enough to join the PGA Tour. He won his first tournament, the Imperial Valley Open, in a funny way. Thinking he had lost, Tony went to the clubhouse. He was then told he was in a sudden-death playoff! A relaxed Tony went on to win.
In 1958, Tony became friends with other golfers like Johnny Pott, Tommy Jacobs, and Jim Ferree. He finished in the top 15 in 11 tournaments that year.
Tony had some tough years in 1959 and 1960. He struggled with his focus outside of golf. But then he talked with TV producer Danny Arnold, who helped him improve his calm and confidence.
Tony's luck changed in 1962. He won his first tour event in Las Vegas. Four weeks later, he won the Orange County Open Invitational. Before that win, Tony joked he would serve champagne to the reporters if he won. He did win, and from then on, he was known as Champagne Tony. His good looks and lively personality made him very popular. Golfer Johnny Miller said that Tony was the second most popular golfer after Arnold Palmer when he died.
This win started an amazing four years for Tony. He won 12 official tour events. He also finished second 11 times and third four times. From 1963 until his death in 1966, he often finished in the top ten. He also made the cut in every major tournament he played. Tony was part of the Ryder Cup teams in 1963 and 1965. His record in the Ryder Cup is one of the best ever.
His friend and fellow golfer Jack Nicklaus said Tony's game got much better after he married Betty Cline in 1963. Also, his agreement with Eddie Lowery ended, which helped Tony play more relaxed.
In 1963, Tony finished second at the Masters by just one shot to Jack Nicklaus. He almost made it into a playoff for the U.S. Open. He won the Memphis Open Invitational later that summer.
Tony won two more tournaments that fall. Golf Digest magazine named him the Most Improved Player of 1963. That winter, he wrote a book called "Golfers' Gold" about his journey in golf.
Winning a Major Championship
In 1964, Tony Lema won the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am. Then he won three tournaments in four weeks: the Thunderbird Classic, the Buick Open Invitational, and the Cleveland Open. He won the Cleveland Open in a playoff against Arnold Palmer.
Two weeks later, at St Andrews in Scotland, Tony won his only major championship. This was the 1964 Open Championship. He won by five shots over Jack Nicklaus. Tony had only played nine practice holes before the tournament started. He hired Arnold Palmer's caddy, Tip Anderson, who knew the course very well.
In September 1964, Tony won $50,000 at the World Series of Golf. This was a big prize for golf at the time. He beat other major champions like Arnold Palmer, Ken Venturi, and Bobby Nichols.
Because he was good-looking and successful, Tony appeared on TV shows. He was on Hazel in 1965. Later that year, he was on The Lawrence Welk Show.
In 1965, Tony won the Buick Open again. He also won the Carling World Open. He finished second in prize money that year, only behind Jack Nicklaus. In late 1965, he and Nicklaus played together for the U.S. team in the World Cup of Golf.
Tony's last win was in 1966 at the Oklahoma City Open. He won by six shots. Two weeks later, he almost won his third straight Buick Open.
His Final Days
After the PGA Championship in July 1966, Tony and his wife, Betty, took a small plane. They were flying to a golf event near Chicago. The plane, a twin-engine Beechcraft Bonanza, ran out of fuel. It crashed into a water hazard on a golf course in Lansing. This was very close to their destination airport. The pilot, Doris Mullen, tried to avoid people on the ground.
Tony Lema, his wife Betty (who was 30), the pilot Doris Mullen, and the co-pilot Dr. George Bard all died in the crash.
Tony and Betty were buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward.
In 1983, a public golf course in San Leandro was named the Tony Lema Golf Course in his memory. It is now part of the Monarch Bay Golf Club. There is also a road named Tony Lema Drive in Ludlow, Massachusetts. The clubhouse there has photos and items about Tony Lema.
Major Championship Wins
1964 Open Championship
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Open Championship | 7 shot lead | −9 (73-68-68-70=279) | 5 strokes |  Jack Nicklaus |
U.S. National Team Appearances
- Ryder Cup: 1963 (winners), 1965 (winners)
- Canada Cup: 1965
Images for kids
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Tony Lema holding the Claret Jug after his 1964 Open Championship win.
