"There's nothing like ending a nice day on a good game of golf with a little taste of the bubbly".
Golfer Johnny Miller has stated that at the time of his death in 1966, Lema was second only to Arnold Palmer in fan popularity. From then on he was known as Champagne Tony, and his handsome looks and vivacious personality added to his appeal. Four weeks later, on the eve of his playoff victory at the Orange County Open Invitational in Costa Mesa, California, Lema joked he would serve champagne to the press if he won the next day. His first tour win came in late September at Las Vegas, three strokes ahead runner-up Don January. While Lema's struggles continued in 1962, along with his debt to Lowery reaching over $11,000, his luck changed that autumn. A raucous off-the-course lifestyle was taking its toll until he began talking with television producer Danny Arnold, who helped him improve his composure and bolster his confidence. The following year, Lema's winnings dropped to $5,900, followed by an even worse year in 1960, when he collected a mere $3,060. During 11 tournaments in 1958, Lema finished in the top 15, winning $10,282 for the year. The following year, he began developing friendships with a trio of fellow golfers, Johnny Pott, Tommy Jacobs, and Jim Ferree. Told that he would face Paul Harney in a sudden-death playoff, a relaxed Lema won the tournament on the second extra hole. PGA Tour īy 1957, Lema had developed his skills sufficiently to earn his way onto the PGA Tour, winning the Imperial Valley Open in memorable fashion: Assuming he was out of contention, Lema headed to the clubhouse bar, where he drank three highballs. In return for loaning Lema $200 a week in expense money, Lowery received one-third of all Lena’s winnings. Lowery is best known as the 10-year-old caddy of champion Francis Ouimet at the 1913 U.S.
Tony lama americana professional#
After his discharge from the military in 1955, he obtained work as an assistant to the club professional at a San Francisco golf club.Įddie Lowery, a wealthy San Francisco businessman, who invested in talented amateur players in the area, helped to sponsor and encourage Lema. The golf pros at Lake Chabot, Dick Fry and Bill Burch, trained him on basic golf fundamentals, including the use of a square stance.
Noted African-American golf coach Lucius Bateman helped develop his swing and Oakland policeman Ralph Hall taught him course strategy.
He began playing golf as a boy at Lake Chabot municipal golf course and learned different aspects of the game from a variety of people. His father died of pneumonia when Tony was three years old, and his widowed mother struggled to raise the family of four children on welfare. Lema, née Silva (1910–2000), both of Portuguese ancestry. Lema was born in Oakland, California, to Anthony H. He died two years later at age 32 in an aircraft accident near Chicago. Anthony David Lema (Febru– July 24, 1966) was an American professional golfer who rose to fame in the mid-1960s and won a major title, the 1964 Open Championship at the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland.
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