R. H. Sikes
Encyclopedia
Richard H. Sikes is an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1960s and 1970s.
A native of Paris, Arkansas
, Sikes had a stellar amateur and college career as a member of the golf
team at the University of Arkansas
. He won the U.S. Amateur Public Links
in 1961 and 1962. In 1963, he won the NCAA Championship
, was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur, and played on the victorious Walker Cup
team. Sikes' victory at the NCAA Championship was the only Razorbacks
national championship recognized by the NCAA until John McDonnell
's track and field teams of the mid-1980s to mid-1990s started winning them, and Nolan Richardson
's basketball program won the 1994 men's basketball crown.
Sikes was victorious at the 1964 Sahara Invitational
during his rookie season on the PGA Tour, and earned Golf Digest
's Rookie of the Year Award. He played briefly on the Senior PGA Tour from 1990 to 1992 with his best finish a T36 at Raley's Senior Gold Rush in 1992.
In 2002, he was inducted into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame.
PGA Tour playoff record (0-1)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
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 1960s and 1970s.
A native of Paris, Arkansas
Paris, Arkansas
Paris is a city in Logan County, Arkansas, United States, and serves as the county seat for the northern district of Logan County; its southern district counterpart is Booneville. The population was 3,707 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Sikes had a stellar amateur and college career as a member of the 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....
team at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
. He won the U.S. Amateur Public Links
U.S. Amateur Public Links
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
in 1961 and 1962. In 1963, he won the NCAA Championship
NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships
The NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, starting in 2009 the competition changed to a stroke play/match play competition with the top 8 teams after 54 holes of...
, was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur, and played on the victorious Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
team. Sikes' victory at the NCAA Championship was the only Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
national championship recognized by the NCAA until John McDonnell
John McDonnell (coach)
John McDonnell is the retired head coach for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks track team. He began as the cross country track coach for the University in 1972 and became head track coach in 1978...
's track and field teams of the mid-1980s to mid-1990s started winning them, and Nolan Richardson
Nolan Richardson
Nolan Richardson is an American basketball head coach, who was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He has coached teams to winning a NCAA Men's Division I Basketball National Championship, a NIT, and a Junior College National Championship, the only coach to do so. Most...
's basketball program won the 1994 men's basketball crown.
Sikes was victorious at the 1964 Sahara Invitational
Sahara Invitational
The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event that was played in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1958 to 1976. From 1958 to 1961 it was called the Sahara Pro-Am and was not an official PGA Tour event. It was played at Paradise Valley Country Club from 1970–1972; and at Sahara Nevada Country Club from...
during his rookie season on the PGA Tour, and earned Golf Digest
Golf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
's Rookie of the Year Award. He played briefly on the Senior PGA Tour from 1990 to 1992 with his best finish a T36 at Raley's Senior Gold Rush in 1992.
In 2002, he was inducted into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame.
Amateur wins
- 1961 U.S. Amateur Public LinksU.S. Amateur Public LinksThe U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
- 1962 U.S. Amateur Public LinksU.S. Amateur Public LinksThe U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
- 1963 NCAA Championship (individual)NCAA Division I Men's Golf ChampionshipsThe NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, starting in 2009 the competition changed to a stroke play/match play competition with the top 8 teams after 54 holes of...
PGA Tour wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 18, 1964 | Sahara Invitational Sahara Invitational The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event that was played in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1958 to 1976. From 1958 to 1961 it was called the Sahara Pro-Am and was not an official PGA Tour event. It was played at Paradise Valley Country Club from 1970–1972; and at Sahara Nevada Country Club from... |
1 stroke |  Billy CasperBilly Casper William Earl Casper, Jr. is an American professional golfer who was one of the most prolific tournament winners on the PGA Tour from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s.-Early years:... |
|
| 2 | Aug 7, 1966 | Cleveland Open Cleveland Open The Cleveland Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It was played from 1963 to 1972 at a various courses in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area.-Host courses:-Winners:... |
3 strokes | Bob Goalby Bob Goalby Robert George Goalby is a former American professional golfer on the PGA Tour, who won the 1968 Masters Tournament, his lone major championship among 11 Tour wins achieved between 1958 and 1971.... |
PGA Tour playoff record (0-1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1969 | IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic The IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It was played at the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1980.-Winners:IVB-Golf Classic*1980 Doug Tewell... |
Gay Brewer Gay Brewer Gay Robert Brewer, Jr. was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and won the 1967 Masters Tournament.... , Dave HillDave Hill (golfer) James David Hill was an American professional golfer. He was the brother of golfer Mike Hill.Hill was born in Jackson, Michigan. He attended the University of Detroit, where he played on the golf team. Hill won 13 times on the PGA Tour, three of which came during his career year of 1969, when he... , Tommy JacobsTommy Jacobs Keith Thomas Jacobs, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course owner/operator who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour... |
Hill won with birdie on first extra hole |
U.S. national team appearances
Amateur- Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
: 1963 (winners) - Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
: 1962 (winners)