Theodore "Ted" Makalena (June 14, 1934 – September 13, 1968) was an American 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 in the 1960s.

Makalena was born and raised in Hawaii, where he attended St. Louis High School

Saint Louis School

Saint Louis School, located in the town of Kaimuki in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a historic Roman Catholic college preparatory school for boys founded in 1846 to serve the needs of early Hawaiian Catholics in the former Kingdom of Hawaii...

 in Honolulu

Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...

. He started out as a caddy

Caddy

In golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...

 at the age of 8 and eventually worked to become a club professional.

Makalena's only win in an official 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...

 event came on October 30, 1966, when he won the Hawaiian Open by defeating veteran tour professionals Billy Casper

Billy 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:...

 and 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....

. His record breaking score of 271 for 72 holes stood for many years. He was the first native born Hawaiian to win this event, and one of only two to have ever won it (the other being David Ishii

David Ishii

David S. Ishii is an American golfer of Japanese descent.Ishii grew up on the island of Kauai in Hawaii and graduated from Kauai High School. He turned professional in 1979. He led the money list on the Japan Golf Tour in 1987...

 in 1990). Makalena's victory in this event made him a very popular figure in Hawaii.

Two years after his win in the Hawaiian Open, Makalena died at the age of 34 less than five days after being injured in a swimming accident in Waikiki

Waikiki

Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....

. Governor John Burns

John A. Burns

John Anthony Burns served as the second Governor of Hawaii from 1962 to 1974. Born in Fort Assinniboine, Montana, Burns was a resident of Hawaii from 1913....

 designated September 28, 1968 as Ted Makalena Day. A golf facility in Waipahu that borders Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...

is named for him.