William R. Collins (September 23, 1928 – April 8, 2006) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s and the Senior PGA Tour in the 1980s.
Bill Collins | |
---|---|
Personal information | |
Full name | William R. Collins |
Born | Meyersdale, Pennsylvania | September 23, 1928
Died | April 8, 2006 Woodstock, Georgia | (aged 77)
Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) |
Sporting nationality | |
Career | |
Status | Professional |
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
Professional wins | 7 |
Number of wins by tour | |
PGA Tour | 4 |
PGA Tour Champions | 1 |
Other | 2 |
Best results in major championships | |
Masters Tournament | T7: 1961 |
PGA Championship | T12: 1960 |
U.S. Open | 7th: 1964 |
The Open Championship | DNP |
Life
editCollins was born in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania[1] and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.
Collins joined the PGA Tour in 1958[1] and won four events between 1959 and 1962.[2] His first victory came at the 1959 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational by three strokes (280) over Jack Burke Jr. and Tom Nieporte. In 1960, Collins finished in a three-way tie for first at the end of regulation at the Insurance City Open, which he and Jack Fleck lost in a playoff to Arnold Palmer. His best finishes in major championships were T-7 at The Masters in 1961 and a 7th-place finish at the 1964 U.S. Open.[3] He was a member of the victorious 1961 Ryder Cup team.
Collins was forced to quit the Tour after back surgery in 1963. In 1965, he took a club pro job at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, New York and remained there until December 1981.[1] He joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1982 and won the Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic in his first full season.[2]
Collins died in Woodstock, Georgia at the age of 77.
Professional wins (7)
editPGA Tour wins (4)
editNo. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mar 9, 1959 | Greater New Orleans Open Invitational | −8 (68-72-70-70=280) | 3 strokes | |
2 | May 2, 1960 | Houston Classic | −8 (66-71-68-75=280) | Playoff | |
3 | May 22, 1960 | Hot Springs Open Invitational | −13 (68-70-68-69=275) | 3 strokes | |
4 | Jul 8, 1962 | Buick Open Invitational | −4 (70-71-71-72=284) | 1 stroke |
PGA Tour playoff record (1–3)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1960 | Phoenix Open Invitational | Lost 18-hole playoff; Fleck: −3 (68), Collins: E (71) | |
2 | 1960 | Houston Classic | Won 18-hole playoff; Collins: −3 (69), Palmer: −1 (71) | |
3 | 1960 | Insurance City Open Invitational | Palmer won with birdie on third extra hole Collins eliminated by birdie on first hole | |
4 | 1962 | Hot Springs Open Invitational | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
Other wins (2)
editSenior PGA Tour wins (1)
editNo. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aug 22, 1982 | Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic | +1 (73-71-71-70=285) | 1 stroke |
U.S. national team appearances
editProfessional
References
edit- ^ a b c "Collins, PGA Tour and Champions Tour Veteran, Dies" (PDF). PGA Tour.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Collins Seniors Victor". The New York Times. UPI. August 23, 1982.
- ^ "Bill Collins". Golf Major Championships. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
External links
edit- Bill Collins at the PGA Tour official site