Willie Klein
| Willie Klein | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Klein, c. 1950 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | William L. Klein | ||
| Born | 1901 Long Island, New York | ||
| Died | January 3, 1957 (aged 55) Mineola, New York | ||
| Sporting nationality |  United States | ||
| Career | |||
| Status | Professional | ||
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour | ||
| Professional wins | 9+ | ||
| Number of wins by tour | |||
| PGA Tour | 9 | ||
| Best results in major championships | |||
| Masters Tournament | WD: 1935 | ||
| PGA Championship | T9: 1927 | ||
| U.S. Open | T9: 1926 | ||
| The Open Championship | DNP | ||
| Achievements and awards | |||
| |||
William L. Klein (1901 – January 3, 1957) was an American professional golfer. He won nine PGA Tour events during his career. He played in the 1923 PGA Championship, winning a first round match, and also played in the 1935 Masters Tournament.
In 2007, Klein was inducted into the Metropolitan PGA Section Hall of Fame.
Early life
[edit]Klein was born in 1901 on Long Island, New York.[2]
Golf career
[edit]Klein worked as the head pro at Wheatley Hills Golf Club[3] in East Williston, New York, from 1926 to 1957.[4] He also worked in the winter months at the La Gorce Country Club in Miami Beach, Florida, from 1927 to 1956.[5][2] Klein also played on what later became the PGA Tour, winning nine events.[6]
1923 PGA Championship
[edit]The 1923 PGA Championship was held September 24–29 at the Pelham Country Club in Pelham Manor, New York. Klein was in the starting field and opened up affairs in a first round match against Charles Rowe which he won by the score of 4 and 3. He lost his second round match to Alec Campbell by the identical score.[7]
Death and legacy
[edit]Klein died in Mineola, New York.[3] In 2007, Klein was inducted into the Metropolitan PGA Section Hall of Fame.[1]
Professional wins
[edit]PGA Tour wins (9)
[edit]- 1924 (1) one win
- 1925 (1) Miami Open
- 1926 (1) one win
- 1928 (1) New York State Open[8]
- 1929 (1) Mid-South Open
- 1932 (1) Metropolitan PGA Championship
- 1936 (1) Miami Open
- missing two other wins, one 1916-29, one 1930-45[6]
Other wins
[edit]- 1922 Long Island Open
- 1923 Long Island Open
- 1933 Long Island Open
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Hall of Fame: Willie Klein". met.pga.com.
- ^ a b "Lloyd Watkins Named Professional at LaGorce". Miami Daily News. Miami, Florida. September 11, 1956. p. 12A. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ a b "Golf Pro Passes". The Post-Register. Idaho Falls, Idaho. AP. January 4, 1957. p. 7.
- ^ "Wheatley Hills Golf Club - History". Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ "Get Rep, Then Settle Down, Advice to Young Golf Pros". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AP. January 6, 1941. p. 13. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ a b Barkow, Al (November 1989). The History of the PGA TOUR. Copyright PGA Tour. Doubleday. pp. 236–38, 249–50, 253. ISBN 0-385-26145-4.
- ^ Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008. Vol. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
- ^ "Klein hits 303 to lead field in state open". The Buffalo Times. July 8, 1928. p. 57 – via Newspapers.com.