Bill Collins (golfer)

William R. Collins (September 23, 1928 – April 8, 2006) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s and the Senior PGA Tour in the 1980s.

Bill Collins
Personal information
Full nameWilliam R. Collins
Born(1928-09-23)September 23, 1928
Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
DiedApril 8, 2006(2006-04-08) (aged 77)
Woodstock, Georgia
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
Sporting nationality United States
Career
StatusProfessional
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins7
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour4
PGA Tour Champions1
Other2
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT7: 1961
PGA ChampionshipT12: 1960
U.S. Open7th: 1964
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Life

Collins was born in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania[1] and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.

Collins joined the PGA Tour in 1958[1] and won four events between 1959 and 1962.[2] His first victory came at the 1959 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational by three strokes (280) over Jack Burke Jr. and Tom Nieporte. In 1960, Collins finished in a three-way tie for first at the end of regulation at the Insurance City Open, which he and Jack Fleck lost in a playoff to Arnold Palmer. His best finishes in major championships were T-7 at The Masters in 1961 and a 7th-place finish at the 1964 U.S. Open.[3] He was a member of the victorious 1961 Ryder Cup team.

Collins was forced to quit the Tour after back surgery in 1963. In 1965, he took a club pro job at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, New York and remained there until December 1981.[1] He joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1982 and won the Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic in his first full season.[2]

Collins died in Woodstock, Georgia at the age of 77.

Professional wins (7)

PGA Tour wins (4)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1 Mar 9, 1959 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational −8 (68-72-70-70=280) 3 strokes Jack Burke Jr., Tom Nieporte
2 May 2, 1960 Houston Classic −8 (66-71-68-75=280) Playoff Arnold Palmer
3 May 22, 1960 Hot Springs Open Invitational −13 (68-70-68-69=275) 3 strokes Pete Cooper
4 Jul 8, 1962 Buick Open Invitational −4 (70-71-71-72=284) 1 stroke Dave Ragan

PGA Tour playoff record (1–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1960 Phoenix Open Invitational Jack Fleck Lost 18-hole playoff;
Fleck: −3 (68),
Collins: E (71)
2 1960 Houston Classic Arnold Palmer Won 18-hole playoff;
Collins: −3 (69),
Palmer: −1 (71)
3 1960 Insurance City Open Jack Fleck, Arnold Palmer Palmer won with birdie on third extra hole
Collins eliminated by birdie on first hole
4 1962 Hot Springs Open Invitational Al Johnston Lost to birdie on second extra hole

Other wins (2)

Senior PGA Tour wins (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 Aug 22, 1982 Greater Syracuse Senior's Pro Golf Classic +1 (73-71-71-70=285) 1 stroke Guy Wolstenholme

References
  1. "Collins, PGA Tour and Champions Tour Veteran, Dies" (PDF). PGA Tour.
  2. "Collins Seniors Victor". The New York Times. UPI. August 23, 1982.
  3. "Bill Collins". Golf Major Championships. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
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