- Ted Makalena
Theodore "Ted" Makalena (
June 14 ,1934 –September 13 ,1968 ) was an Americanprofessional golfer who played in the 1960s.Makalena was born and raised in Hawaii, where he attended St. Louis High School in Honolulu. He started out as a
caddy at the age of 8 and eventually worked to become a club professional. [ [http://hawaiisportshalloffame.com/xmaka.htm Biographical information from Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame and Cybermuseum] (last accessed September 9, 2007)]Makalena's only win in an official
PGA Tour event came onOctober 30 ,1966 , when he won theHawaiian Open by defeating veteran tour professionalsBilly Casper andGay Brewer . 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 beingDavid Ishii 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 . Governor John Burns designatedSeptember 28 , 1968 as Ted Makalema Day. [ [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Sep/13/ln/150history.html The history of September 13 - The Honolulu Advertiser] (last accessed September 9, 2007)] A golf facility in Waipahu that bordersPearl Harbor is named for him. [ [http://www.golftoday.co.uk/tours/2000/sony/preview2.html History of the Sony Open in Hawaii] (last accessed September 9, 2007)]PGA Tour wins
*1966
Hawaiian Open References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.