- Al Besselink
Albert Cornelius Besselink (born June 30, 1922) is an American
professional golfer who played on thePGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s.Besselink grew up in
Merchantville, New Jersey . [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E16F83E591A728DDDA00A94DB405B848AF1D3 "Besselink Posts 65 for 135 Total to Gain One-Stroke Margin in Azalea Golf; Gajda is Second in $20,000 Event Besselink Gets 8 Birdies in Gaining Lead -- Four Tied for Third Place"] , "The New York Times ", March 29, 1964. Accessed November 26, 2007.] He attended theUniversity of Miami and was the first UM golfer to win a national tournament. He won the Southern Invitational Championship twice before graduating in 1949. [ [http://www.umsportshalloffame.com/abesselink.htm Biographical information from the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame official site] ] He turned pro later that year.Besselink won four PGA Tour events including the inaugural Tournament of Champions in 1953. He was called "Bessie" by the other tour players and was known for living life with a gambler's recklessness and a showman's flair. [ [http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/features/history/article/0,17742,467819,00.html Article from Golfonline: "Whoa, Bessie"] ]
Amateur wins
* Two Southern Invitational Championships
PGA Tour wins
*1952 Sioux City Open
*1953 Tournament of Champions
*1957Kansas City Open
*1964Azalea Open Other wins
* Three Venezuela Opens
* One South American Open
* One Baron Cay Open
* One Madrid Open
*1946Azalea Open (as an amateur)
*1952 International Mixed Two-Ball Open (withBabe Zaharias ), Colombian Open
*1955West Palm Beach Open
*1956 Havana Open
*1961Pennsylvania Open Championship
*1963Philadelphia Open Championship
*1966Philadelphia Open Championship References
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