very first El Paso Open in 1927. Bill Mehlhorn set a world PGA record of 17 under par for four rounds while winning in 1929. Bill Nary not only shot a PGA record-tying 60 in 1952 but set a record of only seven putts on the back nine that was to stand for more than 50 years.
But read on. You’ll find other interesting tidbits.
Professional golf comes to El Paso
The Professional Golf Association of America was formed in 1916. Golf’s popularity had grown so much by the 1920s that a group of El Pasoans decided to put on an El Paso Open at El Paso Country Club.
The first one was held in 1927 with a purse of $2,500, a big amount at the time, and one of the most popular golfers in the history of the sport won it. That was Tommy Armour, who went on to such fame that golf clubs were manufactured with his name on them. He won with an even par score of 288 for the 72 holes. All in all, Armour won 24 PGA tournaments during his career.
An El Paso Open was held again in 1928 and 1929 at El Paso Country Club. Larry Nabholtz was the winner in 1928 with a score of 293 and Bill Mehlhorn created a world-wide sensation when he finished on top in 1929 with what was then a professional record 17-under-par 271. It would be more than 20 years before another El Paso Open was held. — Source: El Paso newspaper accounts and PGA records.
Professional golf returns
The El Paso Open returned in 1952. This time it carried a purse of $10,000. Dr. Cary Middlecoff, considered one of the best professionals in the country, was under par all four rounds and finished with a score of 269. It was a tournament record but not a world record. His first place share was $2000.
The El Paso Open was held again in 1953. Chandler Harper beat Ted Kroll by three strokes in an 18-hole playoff, shooting 70.
The tournament was not held again until 1959, that time with an impressive purse of $20,000. Marty Furgol shot a sensational seven-under par 65 in the final round to beat Jay Hebert by four strokes. His overall score was 273. Although the total purse had doubled, the first place share didn’t keep pace. Furgol took home $2,800, just $800 more than the previous two winners. Most of the rest of the extra money was dedicated to second, third, fourth, etc. — Source: El Paso newspaper accounts and PGA records..
A personal recollection
Although Bill Nary didn’t win the 1952 El Paso Open, he tied the PGA competitive single-round record and set a putting record that was to stand more than 50 years. In the process of shooting a 60 before the final round, he set a world record of having only seven putts on the final nine holes. That wasn’t broken
until 2005 by David Frost with six putts.
I was covering golf for the El Paso Herald-Post in the 1950s and interviewed Nary after his amazing round. I was expecting to see a happy man but when I started talking to him he shook his head, held his fingers about 30 inches apart and grumbled, “Aw, I missed a putt this short. It should have been better.”
I chuckled and said to myself, “Typical golfer; never satisfied.” – Ray Sanchez.