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Making the List: The Golden Bear
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Of all the great athletes that has once called The Ohio State University home, following mention of the phenomenal Jesse Owens last week, somehow it seems both appropriate, even right to crown Jack Nicklaus as our second mention in ‘Making the List’.
Jack William Nicklaus was born January 21, 1940 in the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington where he’d go on graduate from the Upper Arlington High School who has the nickname of The Golden Bears – thus – the name (The Golden Bear) that is a synonymous to his actual name.
At the age of 10 Jack carded a 51 in the first 9 holes at the Scioto Country Club before going on to win First Place in the Juvenile Tournament.
At 12 he won the Ohio State Junior Championship which began a liftoff of a consecutive streak of 5 straight wins from 1952-56.
At 16 Jack won the Ohio State Junior title & the Ohio Jaycees Title but would go to lose the U.S. National Jaycees Championship in a playoff.
At 17 he won his first National Title. He’d capture the U.S. National Jaycees Championship which he had lost the year before. He’d qualify for the first time to be in the U.S. Open – only to miss the cut.
The Golden Bear attended The Ohio State University from 1957 – 61 majoring in pre-pharmacy as he had intended to follow his father, a Pharmacist, in the family business. After his golfing achievements began to soar he would change his “career” plans, switching to study insurance, as he planned to pursue only amateur golf and supplement his income with selling insurance.
While attending The Ohio State University, he would win the U.S. Amateur twice (1959, 1961), and an NCAA Championship (1961). In the 1959 U.S. Amateur, Nicklaus defeated two-time winner and defending champion Charles Coe in the final 36-hole match 1-up, with a birdie on the final hole. The reason this has even any need for mention, besides that Coe was a good and well-proven player, but this spotted in the history books as the then-youngest champion in the modern era, second only to Robert A. Gardner, who had accomplished the feat way back in 1909. In 1961, Nicklaus would become the first to win the individual title at the NCAA Championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year. Nicklaus also won the NCAA Big Ten Conference Championship that same year.
TEMPE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 3: Golf legend Jack Nicklus, a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, watches the game against the University of Miami Hurricanes during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on January 3, 2003 in Tempe, Arizona. Ohio State won the game 31-24 in double-overtime, winning the NCAA National Championship. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
That was all the early years and his Buckeyes era.
Outside of these honorable and memorable achievements in our private world of Scarlet and Gray Jack Nicklaus is regarded as the greatest professional golfer of all time.
His accomplishments are nearly too numerous to even mention: Winning 73 Tournaments in his playing history on the PGA Tour (3rd best of all-time). Being # 1 at Major Championships with 18 of the span of his playing career – The Masters 6 times, The U.S. Open 4 times, The Open Championship 3 times, and The PGA Championship 5 times. He’d be named the Player of the Year 5 times. And would be anointed with The Congressional Gold Medal this year – 2015.
Designing Golf Courses would become his mastery as he participated in the design of Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio which opened in 1974. Jack is currently in partnership with his 4 sons and his son-in-law through their company simply called – Nicklaus Design.
Jack is also a prolific writer. Having authored several golfing instruction books & an autobiography – which incidentally is a fantastic read called “My Story.”
Jack came into an era that had Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, and Tom Watson. He would shine and stand noticed as a Gentleman Champion throughout his career.
Nicklaus turned 65 in January of 2005 that year, which was the last year he could enter The Open Championship at St. Andrews as an exempt player. He would receive a ten-minute standing ovation from the crowd before giving his final farewell to professional golf while standing on the iconic Swilcan Bridge.
Jack Nicklaus is unquestionably deserving of Making the List of one of the greatest Buckeyes of all-time. And just as Jesse Owens from last week – he MUST be listed at the top.
The post Making the List: The Golden Bear appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Of all the great athletes that has once called The Ohio State University home, following mention of the phenomenal Jesse Owens last week, somehow it seems both appropriate, even right to crown Jack Nicklaus as our second mention in ‘Making the List’.
Jack William Nicklaus was born January 21, 1940 in the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington where he’d go on graduate from the Upper Arlington High School who has the nickname of The Golden Bears – thus – the name (The Golden Bear) that is a synonymous to his actual name.
At the age of 10 Jack carded a 51 in the first 9 holes at the Scioto Country Club before going on to win First Place in the Juvenile Tournament.
At 12 he won the Ohio State Junior Championship which began a liftoff of a consecutive streak of 5 straight wins from 1952-56.
At 16 Jack won the Ohio State Junior title & the Ohio Jaycees Title but would go to lose the U.S. National Jaycees Championship in a playoff.
At 17 he won his first National Title. He’d capture the U.S. National Jaycees Championship which he had lost the year before. He’d qualify for the first time to be in the U.S. Open – only to miss the cut.
The Golden Bear attended The Ohio State University from 1957 – 61 majoring in pre-pharmacy as he had intended to follow his father, a Pharmacist, in the family business. After his golfing achievements began to soar he would change his “career” plans, switching to study insurance, as he planned to pursue only amateur golf and supplement his income with selling insurance.
While attending The Ohio State University, he would win the U.S. Amateur twice (1959, 1961), and an NCAA Championship (1961). In the 1959 U.S. Amateur, Nicklaus defeated two-time winner and defending champion Charles Coe in the final 36-hole match 1-up, with a birdie on the final hole. The reason this has even any need for mention, besides that Coe was a good and well-proven player, but this spotted in the history books as the then-youngest champion in the modern era, second only to Robert A. Gardner, who had accomplished the feat way back in 1909. In 1961, Nicklaus would become the first to win the individual title at the NCAA Championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year. Nicklaus also won the NCAA Big Ten Conference Championship that same year.
TEMPE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 3: Golf legend Jack Nicklus, a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, watches the game against the University of Miami Hurricanes during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on January 3, 2003 in Tempe, Arizona. Ohio State won the game 31-24 in double-overtime, winning the NCAA National Championship. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
That was all the early years and his Buckeyes era.
Outside of these honorable and memorable achievements in our private world of Scarlet and Gray Jack Nicklaus is regarded as the greatest professional golfer of all time.
His accomplishments are nearly too numerous to even mention: Winning 73 Tournaments in his playing history on the PGA Tour (3rd best of all-time). Being # 1 at Major Championships with 18 of the span of his playing career – The Masters 6 times, The U.S. Open 4 times, The Open Championship 3 times, and The PGA Championship 5 times. He’d be named the Player of the Year 5 times. And would be anointed with The Congressional Gold Medal this year – 2015.
Designing Golf Courses would become his mastery as he participated in the design of Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio which opened in 1974. Jack is currently in partnership with his 4 sons and his son-in-law through their company simply called – Nicklaus Design.
Jack is also a prolific writer. Having authored several golfing instruction books & an autobiography – which incidentally is a fantastic read called “My Story.”
Jack came into an era that had Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, and Tom Watson. He would shine and stand noticed as a Gentleman Champion throughout his career.
Nicklaus turned 65 in January of 2005 that year, which was the last year he could enter The Open Championship at St. Andrews as an exempt player. He would receive a ten-minute standing ovation from the crowd before giving his final farewell to professional golf while standing on the iconic Swilcan Bridge.
Jack Nicklaus is unquestionably deserving of Making the List of one of the greatest Buckeyes of all-time. And just as Jesse Owens from last week – he MUST be listed at the top.
The post Making the List: The Golden Bear appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...