Don Massengale

Don Massengale
Don Massengale
Personal information
Full name	Donald Ray Massengale Sr.
Nickname	Bugs Bunny
Born	April 23, 1937; Jacksboro, Texas, U.S.
Died	January 2, 2007 (aged 69); Conroe, Texas, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13.9 st)
Sporting nationality	United States
Career
College	Texas Christian University
Turned professional	1960
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour; Champions Tour
Professional wins	8
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	2
PGA Tour Champions	2
Other	4
Best results in major championships;
Masters Tournament	T45: 1968
PGA Championship	2nd: 1967
U.S. Open	T15: 1972
The Open Championship	DNP

Donald Ray Massengale Sr. (April 23, 1937 – January 2, 2007) was an American professional golfer who won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.

Career

Massengale was born in Jacksboro, Texas. He won the 1958 Texas Amateur Championship. He played collegiately at Texas Christian University and turned pro in 1960.

Massengale's two wins on the PGA Tour came in 1966 and he finished that year 26th on the money list. He finished among the top-60 money winners on the PGA Tour in 1962, 1966 and 1967. His best finish in a major was a 2nd at the 1967 PGA Championship where he lost to Don January in an 18-hole playoff (69-71).^[2]

Massengale worked as a club pro in the Houston area in his 40s – between his PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour careers. He won twice on the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour), the 1990 Greater Grand Rapids Open and the 1992 Royal Caribbean Classic.

Massengale and wife Judy had two sons, Donnie and Mark, both of whom are golf teaching professionals. He also had a younger brother, Rik, who played 13 years on the PGA Tour.

Massengale died of a heart attack in Conroe, Texas.^[3]

Amateur wins

1958 Texas Amateur Championship

Professional wins (8)

PGA Tour wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Jan 23, 1966	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am	−5 (70-67-76-70=283)	1 stroke	Arnold Palmer
2	Oct 2, 1966	Canadian Open	−4 (70-70-70-70=280)	3 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez

PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1967	PGA Championship	Don January	Lost 18-hole playoff; January: −3 (69), Massengale: −1 (71)

Other wins (4)

Senior PGA Tour wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Sep 16, 1990	Greater Grand Rapids Open	−8 (69-65=134)*	1 stroke	Terry Dill, Dave Hill, Larry Laoretti
2	Feb 2, 1992	Royal Caribbean Classic	−8 (70-70-65=205)	1 stroke	Gary Player

*Note: The 1990 Greater Grand Rapids Open was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponents	Result
1	1988	Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am	Bob Charles, Orville Moody, Bobby Nichols	Moody won with birdie on first extra hole

Results in major championships

Tournament	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Masters Tournament			T49	T45
U.S. Open	CUT	T36			CUT
PGA Championship		T28	2	CUT

Tournament	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976
Masters Tournament		55
U.S. Open	T15	CUT
PGA Championship		CUT	T24	CUT	T22

Tournament	1980	1981	1982
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
PGA Championship			CUT

Note: Massengale never played in The Open Championship.

Top 10

Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

U.S. national team appearances

Diamondhead Cup/PGA Cup: 1973 (winners), 1982 (winners)

References

^ Desmith, David. "Golf's Animal Kingdom of Player Nicknames". Links Magazine. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
^ "Don Massengale". Golf Major Championships.
^ "Don Massengale, 69, Professional Golfer, Is Dead". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 11, 2007.

External links

Don Massengale at the PGA Tour official site
Obituary at PGA Tour.com

[1] Desmith, David. "Golf's Animal Kingdom of Player Nicknames". Links Magazine. Retrieved November 17, 2020.

[2] "Don Massengale". Golf Major Championships.

[3] "Don Massengale, 69, Professional Golfer, Is Dead". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 11, 2007.

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