Felice Torza

Felice "Phil" Torza was an American professional golfer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Torza was born in Hartford, Connecticut. [ web cite | title=Connecticut connections to the PGA Championship | publisher=CT Golfer | author=Burrill, Jack | date=10 August 1996 | url=http://www.ctgolfer.com/news/library/1996/news0810.html |accessdate=14 September | accessyear=2007] Like most of the golfers of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional during his regular career years. Torza worked as the head club pro at the Aurora Country Club in Aurora, Illinois for 28 years.web cite | title=A History of the Aurora Country Club | url=http://www.auroracc.com/history_note.htm |accessdate=14 September |accessyear=2007] [web cite | title=President's news from Aurora Country Club | url=http://www.auroracc.com/presnews.htm |accessdate=14 September | accessyear=2007]

Torza was the runnerup in the 1953 PGA Championship. He was defeated by Walter Burkemo (2 and 1) in the matchplay era. [web cite | title= Time "Scoreboard" | publisher=Time, Inc. | date=20 July 1953 | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889825,00.html |accessdate=14 September |accessyear=2007]

Torza was nicknamed "Toy Tiger" [web cite | title=Fenton Farms Evolves From Its Colorful Past | publisher=Michigan Golfer | author=Harrington, Jeff | url=http://www.webgolfer.com/july99/fentonfarms.html | accessdate=14 September | accessyear=2007] by his fellow golfers due to his fiercely competitive nature and diminutive stature. He was awarded the Illinois PGA Professional of the Year award in 1968.

Professional wins

*1946 Connecticut Open
*1947 Rhode Island Open
*1950 Illinois Open Championship
*1958 Illinois Open Championship
*1965 Illinois Match Play Championship

Notes and References