Bill Collins (golfer)
Encyclopedia
William R. Collins was an American
professional golf
er who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1950s and 1960s and the Senior PGA Tour in the 1980s.
Collins was born in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.
Collins joined the PGA Tour in 1958 and won four events between 1959 and 1962. His first victory came at the 1959 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational by two strokes (280) over Jack Burke, Jr., Tom Nieporte
and Gene Littler
. 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 solo 7th place finish at the 1964 U.S. Open
. 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. He joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1982 and won the Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic in his first full season.
Collins died in Woodstock, Georgia
at the age of 77.
PGA Tour playoff record (1-3)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in the 1950s and 1960s and the Senior PGA Tour in the 1980s.
Collins was born in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
Meyersdale is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on the Casselman River, southeast of Pittsburgh. In the past, its chief industry was the mining of coal. Meyersdale was first settled as early as 1776, but the growth of the town dates from the advent of the first railroad in 1871. Coal...
and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.
Collins joined the PGA Tour in 1958 and won four events between 1959 and 1962. His first victory came at the 1959 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational by two strokes (280) over Jack Burke, Jr., Tom Nieporte
Tom Nieporte
Thomas Nieporte is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s.Nieporte grew up in the Cincinnati suburb of North College Hill, Ohio. He attended the Ohio State University and was a distinguished member of the golf team, winning the NCAA Championship in 1951...
and Gene Littler
Gene Littler
Gene Alec Littler is an American professional golfer. Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth rhythmical swing, he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the best misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes."-Early years...
. 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
Jack Fleck
Jack Fleck is an American professional golfer best known for winning the 1955 U.S. Open. He is the oldest living U.S. Open champion....
lost in a playoff to Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
. His best finishes in major championships
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
were T-7 at The Masters in 1961 and a solo 7th place finish at the 1964 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
. He was a member of the victorious 1961 Ryder Cup
1961 Ryder Cup
The 14th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes, England.The United States team won the competition by a score of 14½ to 9½ points.-Format:...
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
Purchase, New York
Purchase, New York is a hamlet of the town of Harrison, in Westchester County. Its ZIP code is 10577. Its name is derived from Harrison's purchase, for Harrison could have as much land as he could ride in one day...
and remained there until December 1981. He joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1982 and won the Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic in his first full season.
Collins died in Woodstock, Georgia
Woodstock, Georgia
Woodstock is a city in Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. The population was 23,896 at the 2010 census.Originally a stop on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Woodstock is now considered part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
at the age of 77.
PGA Tour wins (4)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 9, 1959 | Greater New Orleans Open Invitational | 2 strokes |  Jack Burke, Jr., Gene LittlerGene Littler Gene Alec Littler is an American professional golfer. Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth rhythmical swing, he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the best misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes."-Early years... , Tom NieporteTom Nieporte Thomas Nieporte is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s.Nieporte grew up in the Cincinnati suburb of North College Hill, Ohio. He attended the Ohio State University and was a distinguished member of the golf team, winning the NCAA Championship in 1951... |
|
| 2 | May 2, 1960 | Houston Classic | Playoff | Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955... |
|
| 3 | May 22, 1960 | Hot Springs Open Invitational | 3 strokes | Pete Cooper Pete Cooper (golfer) Richard Bernice "Pete" Cooper was an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s; he was best known for winning the 1976 PGA Seniors' Championship.Cooper turned professional in 1938... |
|
| 4 | Jul 8, 1962 | Buick Open Invitational | 1 stroke | Dave Ragan Dave Ragan David William Ragan, Jr. is a former American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.Ragan was born in Daytona Beach, Florida. He attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for the Florida Gators men's golf team in National... |
PGA Tour playoff record (1-3)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1960 | Phoenix Open Invitational | Jack Fleck Jack Fleck Jack Fleck is an American professional golfer best known for winning the 1955 U.S. Open. He is the oldest living U.S. Open champion.... |
Lost 18-hole playoff (Fleck:68, Collins:71) |
| 2 | 1960 | Houston Classic | Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955... |
Won 18-hole playoff (Collins:69, Palmer:71) |
| 3 | 1960 | Insurance City Open | Jack Fleck Jack Fleck Jack Fleck is an American professional golfer best known for winning the 1955 U.S. Open. He is the oldest living U.S. Open champion.... , Arnold PalmerArnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955... |
Palmer won with birdie on third extra hole Collins eliminated with birdie on first hole |
| 4 | 1962 | Hot Springs Open Invitational |   Al JohnstonAl Johnston Alan Johnston is a Scottish-Canadian professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour.Johnston was born in Scotland. He came to Canada in 1954 and became a Canadian citizen, living in Montreal. He played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and early 1970s, winning once... |
Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
Senior PGA Tour wins (1)
- 19821982 Senior PGA TourThe 1982 Senior PGA Tour was the third season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 11 official money events with purses totalling $1,597,500, including two majors. Miller Barber won the most tournaments, three...
Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic