Tony Holguin
Encyclopedia
Tony Holguin was an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
and the Senior PGA Tour.
Holguin learned the game of golf
while growing up in San Antonio, Texas
during the Great Depression
. His family, which was of Mexican descent, had no money and could not afford an automobile. He spent much time at home, practicing his putting.
Holguin served in the U.S. Army during World War II
. He won the San Antonio City Championship in 1946 and 1947. He turned professional in 1948.
Holguin won the Mexican Open
in 1949 and 1950. His best finish in a major championship
was T17 at PGA Championship
in 1957. The biggest win of his career came in 1953 at the Texas Open. In 1957, Holguin tied Arnold Palmer
for third place in the Texas Open. His majors resume consists of three Masters, six U.S. Opens
and eight PGA Championship
s.
Like most professional golfers of his generation, Holguin earned a living primarily as a club professional. He became club pro at Midlothian (Illinois) Country Club in 1952. He also worked at Gleneagles Country Club in Lemont, Illinois
and Balmoral Woods Country Club in Crete, Illinois
. In 2007, he was inducted into the Illinois Section PGA Hall of Fame.
Holguin was the spokesman for Fairwinds, a failed development that included a Holiday Inn
and future golf course. He also was to be the teaching professional at Fairwinds. A golf course was built after the development failed, which became Balmoral Woods CC.
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...
and the Senior PGA Tour.
Holguin learned the game of 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....
while growing up in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. His family, which was of Mexican descent, had no money and could not afford an automobile. He spent much time at home, practicing his putting.
Holguin served in the U.S. Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He won the San Antonio City Championship in 1946 and 1947. He turned professional in 1948.
Holguin won the Mexican Open
Mexican Open
The Mexican Open or Abierto Mexicano de Golf is the national open golf tournament of Mexico. It was first played in 1944 at the Club de Golf Chapultepec. It was an event on the Tour de las Americas between 2003 and 2006, being co-sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour from 2004...
in 1949 and 1950. His best finish in a major championship
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...
was T17 at PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
in 1957. The biggest win of his career came in 1953 at the Texas Open. In 1957, Holguin tied 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...
for third place in the Texas Open. His majors resume consists of three Masters, six U.S. Opens
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...
and eight PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
s.
Like most professional golfers of his generation, Holguin earned a living primarily as a club professional. He became club pro at Midlothian (Illinois) Country Club in 1952. He also worked at Gleneagles Country Club in Lemont, Illinois
Lemont, Illinois
Lemont is a village located in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, and is roughly southwest of Chicago. The population was 16,625 at the 2007 Special Census.-History:...
and Balmoral Woods Country Club in Crete, Illinois
Crete, Illinois
Crete is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,346 at the 2000 census. Originally named Wood's Corner, it was founded in 1836 by Vermonters Dyantha and Willard Wood.-Geography:Crete is located at ....
. In 2007, he was inducted into the Illinois Section PGA Hall of Fame.
Holguin was the spokesman for Fairwinds, a failed development that included a Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
and future golf course. He also was to be the teaching professional at Fairwinds. A golf course was built after the development failed, which became Balmoral Woods CC.
Other wins
this list may be incomplete- 1949 Mexican OpenMexican OpenThe Mexican Open or Abierto Mexicano de Golf is the national open golf tournament of Mexico. It was first played in 1944 at the Club de Golf Chapultepec. It was an event on the Tour de las Americas between 2003 and 2006, being co-sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour from 2004...
- 1950 Mexican OpenMexican OpenThe Mexican Open or Abierto Mexicano de Golf is the national open golf tournament of Mexico. It was first played in 1944 at the Club de Golf Chapultepec. It was an event on the Tour de las Americas between 2003 and 2006, being co-sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour from 2004...
- 1954 Illinois PGA ChampionshipIllinois PGA ChampionshipThe Illinois PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is conducted by the Illinois PGA . The 54-hole, stroke play Championship conducted over three days is the premier member event on the Illinois PGA calendar...
- 1962 Illinois PGA ChampionshipIllinois PGA ChampionshipThe Illinois PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is conducted by the Illinois PGA . The 54-hole, stroke play Championship conducted over three days is the premier member event on the Illinois PGA calendar...
- 1970 Illinois PGA ChampionshipIllinois PGA ChampionshipThe Illinois PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is conducted by the Illinois PGA . The 54-hole, stroke play Championship conducted over three days is the premier member event on the Illinois PGA calendar...
External links
- Phil KosinPhil KosinPhil Kosin was an American journalist, columnist, radio host, commentator, blogger and newspaper publisher from Chicago...
, Chicagoland GolfChicagoland GolfChicagoland Golf is an independent regional golf newspaper serving the 1.7 million golfers in Northern Illinois, Southeast Wisconsin and Northeast Indiana since 1989. Chicagoland Golf is published in the United States 13 times per year by Chicagoland Golf Publishing Co. and covers recreational golf...
, "Tour player, teacher, Illinois Golf Hall of Famer Tony Holguin dies from injuries suffered in fall"