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Tony Lema
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Anthony David Lema (February 25, 1934 – July 24, 1966) was an American professional golfer who rose to fame in the mid-1960s and won a major title, the 1964 Open Championship at the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland.[1][2][3] He died two years later at age 32 in an aircraft accident near Chicago.[4][5]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Lema was born in Oakland, California, to Anthony H. Lema (1899–1937) and Clotilda M. Lema, née Silva (1910–2000), both of Portuguese ancestry.[6] His father died of pneumonia when Tony was three years old, and his widowed mother struggled to raise the family of four children on welfare. He began playing golf as a boy at Lake Chabot municipal golf course and learned different aspects of the game from a variety of people. Noted African-American golf coach Lucius Bateman helped develop his swing and Oakland policeman Ralph Hall taught him course strategy. The golf pros at Lake Chabot, Dick Fry and Bill Burch, trained him on basic golf fundamentals, including the use of a square stance.[7]

At age 17, Lema enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Korea.

Professional career

[edit]

Lema was discharged from the military in 1955. He obtained work as an assistant to the club professional at a San Francisco golf club.

Eddie Lowery, a wealthy San Francisco businessman, who invested in talented amateur players in the area, helped to sponsor and encourage Lema.[8] Lowery is best known as the 10-year-old caddy of champion Francis Ouimet at the 1913 U.S. Open. In return for loaning Lema $200 a week in expense money, Lowery received one-third of all Lema's winnings.[7]

In the late 1950s, Lema started playing on the PGA Tour. In 1957, he won the Imperial Valley Open in memorable fashion: assuming he was out of contention, Lema headed to the clubhouse bar, where he drank three highballs. Told that he would face Paul Harney in a sudden-death playoff, a relaxed Lema won the tournament on the second extra hole. The following year, he began developing friendships with a trio of fellow golfers, Johnny Pott, Tommy Jacobs, and Jim Ferree. During 11 tournaments in 1958, Lema finished in the top 15, winning $10,282 for the year.

The following year, Lema's winnings dropped to $5,900, followed by an even worse year in 1960, when he collected a mere $3,060. A raucous off-the-course lifestyle was taking its toll until he began talking with television producer Danny Arnold, who helped him improve his composure and bolster his confidence.[7]

While Lema's struggles continued in 1962, along with his debt to Lowery reaching over $11,000, his luck changed that autumn. His first tour win came in late September at Las Vegas, three strokes ahead runner-up Don January.[9] Four weeks later, on the eve of his playoff victory at the Orange County Open Invitational in Costa Mesa, California,[10] Lema joked he would serve champagne to the press if he won the next day.[11][12][13] From then on he was known as Champagne Tony, and his handsome looks and vivacious personality added to his appeal. Golfer Johnny Miller has stated that at the time of his death in 1966, Lema was second only to Arnold Palmer in fan popularity.

"There's nothing like ending a nice day on a good game of golf with a little taste of the bubbly".[14]

Lema on golf and champagne

That win sparked an impressive performance over the next four years that saw Lema win twelve official tour events, finish second on eleven occasions, and third four times. From 1963 until his death in July 1966, he finished in the top ten over half of the time and made the cut in every major, finishing in the top ten in eight of the fifteen in which he played. Lema was a member of Ryder Cup teams in 1963 and 1965 with a record of 9–1–1 (.864), which remains the best for any player who has played in two or more.

Friend and tour colleague Jack Nicklaus wrote that Lema's play also stabilized and improved greatly after he married Betty Cline, a former airline stewardess, in 1963.[15][16] One additional reason for Lema's more relaxed play that year was the end of his agreement with Lowery.

In 1963, Lema finished second by one stroke to Nicklaus at the Masters, and missed the playoff for the U.S. Open by two shots, bogeying the last two holes, believing he needed birdies. He won the Memphis Open Invitational later that summer.

Lema won two other tournaments that fall and was named 1963 Most Improved Player by Golf Digest. That winter, he wrote, with Gwylim S. Brown, "Golfers' Gold", an autobiographical account of his eight-year apprenticeship in the competitive cauldron of the PGA Tour.

Major champion

[edit]

In 1964, Lema won the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach, then three tournaments in four weeks: the Thunderbird Classic at Westchester in Rye, New York, the Buick Open Invitational at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and the Cleveland Open at Highland Park (in a playoff with Palmer).[17][18]

Two weeks later at St Andrews, Scotland, Lema captured his only major title at the Open Championship,[1] five shots ahead of runner-up Nicklaus.[19] Before teeing up in the first round, he had only played nine practice holes.[16] Lema had hired Arnold Palmer's regular British caddy, Tip Anderson, since Palmer was not competing that year.[20] Anderson, a descendant of a past Open champion, Jamie Anderson, had grown up on the course.

At the September matchup of the four major champions of 1964, in the 36-hole exhibition World Series of Golf, Lema won $50,000 (then the largest payoff in golf) at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, over Palmer (Masters), Ken Venturi (U.S. Open) and Bobby Nichols (PGA Championship).[21]

Due to his good looks and recent success, Lema was tapped for a guest appearance in an episode of the TV series Hazel that aired January 7, 1965, in which Hazel misplaces his prized golf clubs.[22] Later that year, he was on The Lawrence Welk Show, where Welk passed the baton to Lema to direct the Champagne Music Makers.[23]

In 1965, Lema won the Buick Open for the second consecutive year, and the Carling World Open, finishing second in prize money to Nicklaus. In fall 1965, he and Nicklaus formed the U.S. team to the World Cup of Golf.[16] Lema's last victory came in 1966 in late May, in his wife's hometown at the Oklahoma City Open, winning by six strokes at Quail Creek.[24][25][26] Two weeks later, he recovered from an opening round 78 to nearly capture a third consecutive Buick Open, finishing three shots behind Phil Rodgers, in fourth place.[27]

Death

[edit]

Following the PGA Championship at Firestone in Akron in late July 1966, Lema and his wife chartered an airplane to fly them to an exhibition tournament south of Chicago: the Little Buick Open at Lincolnshire Country Club in Crete, Illinois. The twin-engine Beechcraft Bonanza, piloted by Doris Mullen, ran out of fuel and crashed into a water hazard short of the seventh green of the nine-hole golf course at Lansing Sportsman's Club in Lansing (41°33′16″N 87°31′27″W / 41.5545°N 87.5242°W / 41.5545; -87.5242), about a half mile (0.8 km) northwest of their destination, Lansing Municipal Airport.[4][28] During the fatal plunge, Mullen swerved left to avoid a group of people standing near the clubhouse. In addition to the Lemas and Mullen, who was a mother of four teenaged children, Dr. George Bard, the copilot and a surgeon, was killed.[29] Bard and Mullen's husband, Wylie, were colleagues as well as owners of the ill-fated plane.[15][30]

Lema and his wife, Betty, age 30, were buried in California at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward after funeral services on July 28 at St. Elizabeth's Church in his hometown of Oakland.[31]

In 1983, a San Leandro public golf course bordering San Francisco Bay was named in his memory as the Tony Lema Golf Course, now part of the Monarch Bay Golf Club complex, just southeast of the Oakland airport. In Ludlow, Massachusetts, the road accessing the local country club is named Tony Lema Drive, and there is a collection of photographs and other items in the clubhouse of Ludlow Country Club featuring Lema.

Professional wins (22)

[edit]

PGA Tour wins (11)

[edit]
Legend
Major championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (11)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory 		Runner(s)-up
1 Oct 28, 1962 Orange County Open Invitational 68-66-64-69=267 −17 Playoff United States Bob Rosburg
2 Nov 18, 1962 Mobile Sertoma Open Invitational 67-68-68-70=273 −15 7 strokes United States Doug Sanders
3 May 27, 1963 Memphis Open Invitational 67-67-68-68=270 −10 Playoff United States Tommy Aaron
4 Jan 19, 1964 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am 70-68-70-76=284 −4 3 strokes United States Gay Brewer, United States Bo Wininger
5 Jun 7, 1964 Thunderbird Classic 68-67-70-71=276 −12 1 stroke United States Mike Souchak
6 Jun 14, 1964 Buick Open Invitational 69-66-72-70=277 −11 3 strokes United States Dow Finsterwald
7 Jun 28, 1964 Cleveland Open Invitational 65-70-70-65=270 −14 Playoff United States Arnold Palmer
8 Jul 10, 1964 The Open Championship 73-68-68-70=279 −9 5 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
9 Jun 6, 1965 Buick Open Invitational (2) 71-70-69-70=280 −8 2 strokes United States Johnny Pott
10 Aug 23, 1965 Carling World Open 71-71-67-70=279 −5 2 strokes United States Arnold Palmer
11 May 29, 1966 Oklahoma City Open Invitational 69-68-69-65=271 −17 6 strokes United States Tom Weiskopf

PGA Tour playoff record (3–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1962 Orange County Open Invitational United States Bob Rosburg Won with birdie on third extra hole
2 1963 Memphis Open Invitational United States Tommy Aaron Won with par on first extra hole
3 1963 Cleveland Open Invitational United States Tommy Aaron, United States Arnold Palmer Palmer won 18-hole playoff;
Palmer: −4 (67),
Aaron: −1 (70),
Lema: −1 (70)
4 1964 Cleveland Open Invitational United States Arnold Palmer Won with birdie on first extra hole

Source:[32]

Other wins (11)

[edit]

Note: This list is probably incomplete.

Major championships

[edit]

Wins (1)

[edit]
Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner-up
1964 The Open Championship 7 shot lead −9 (73-68-68-70=279) 5 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus

Results timeline

[edit]
Tournament 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966
Masters Tournament 2 T9 T21 T22
U.S. Open 50 CUT T5 20 T8 T4
The Open Championship 1 T5 T30
PGA Championship WD T13 T9 T61 T34
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied

Summary

[edit]
Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 1 0 1 2 4 4 4
U.S. Open 0 0 0 2 3 4 6 5
The Open Championship 1 0 0 2 2 2 3 3
PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 4
Totals 1 1 0 5 8 12 18 16
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 15 (1963 Masters – 1966 PGA)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (three times)

U.S. national team appearances

[edit]

Professional

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tony Lema

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from Grokipedia
Anthony David "Tony" Lema (February 25, 1934 – July 24, 1966) was an American professional golfer who rose to fame on the in the mid-1960s, securing 11 tournament victories including his sole major championship at the 1964 . Known for his charismatic personality and celebratory flair—earning him the enduring nickname "Champagne Tony" after promising to buy champagne for the press following a 1962 win—Lema's career was tragically cut short at age 32 in a plane crash near , , alongside his wife Betty. Born in , Lema developed his skills as a self-taught player at the municipal Lake Chabot Golf Course, where financial constraints prevented formal lessons; he later received guidance from local coaches Lucius Bateman and Ralph Hall. At age 17, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the , being honorably discharged in 1955 before pursuing professionally. Lema joined the in 1958, showing early promise with 11 top-15 finishes and $10,282 in earnings that year, nearly securing Rookie of the Year honors, though he struggled initially with only sporadic success over the next few seasons. Lema's breakthrough came in 1962 with his first PGA Tour victory at the Mobile Sertoma Open, followed by another at the Orange County Open Invitational, marking the start of a prolific run. In 1963, he won the Memphis Open Invitational, and 1964 proved his pinnacle year with five triumphs—the Cleveland Open, , Thunderbird Classic, National Pro-Am, and most notably, a five-shot victory over at the at St Andrews, , where he shot a tournament-record 279. He added two more wins in 1965 (Carling World Open and Invitational) and one in 1966 ( Open Invitational), amassing $352,095 in official prize money over 238 starts with 65 top-10 finishes. His engaging style, including post-win champagne toasts, made him a fan favorite and a colorful figure in an era dominated by stars like and . On July 24, 1966, shortly after his victory, Lema and his wife perished when their chartered plane, piloted by commercial pilot Doris Mullen, crashed due to fuel exhaustion near , en route to an exhibition match; the accident also claimed the lives of the co-pilot and Mullen. Lema's untimely death at the height of his career left a profound impact on , with tributes highlighting his talent and vibrancy; his legacy endures through his win and the affection he inspired among peers and fans.

Early life

Birth and family

Anthony David Lema was born on February 25, 1934, in , to parents of ancestry, Anthony H. Lema (1899–1937) and Clotilda M. Silva Lema (1910–2000). His father, a Bermuda-born Portuguese descendant who worked as a factory laborer, died of in 1937 when Lema was three years old. Lema grew up in a of four children, including siblings Bernice Lema (b. 1929), Harry Joseph Lema (1930–2013), and Walter Lema (b. 1932). After his father's death, Lema's widowed mother supported the as a seamstress amid ongoing financial struggles in their working-class Oakland home, fostering an unstable environment that contributed to his troubled youth.

Youth and golf introduction

Lema's adolescence was marked by hardship and rebellion, growing up in in Oakland after his father's death when he was three years old. Amid these family struggles, he engaged in petty crimes, including stealing beer and frequent run-ins with the police, reflecting a turbulent shaped by economic challenges and lack of guidance. His introduction to came as a teenager at the public Lake Chabot Municipal Golf Course in Oakland, where he discovered the sport as an affordable escape. Entirely self-taught without formal instruction, Lema honed his skills by observing others and practicing relentlessly, often taking on odd jobs like caddying to cover green fees and equipment costs. Influenced by local mentors such as Lucius Bateman for swing mechanics and for course strategy, he developed a natural talent that contrasted sharply with his otherwise wayward path. At age 17 in 1951, Lema enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving four years with overseas duty in Korea toward the war's end, where he reached the rank of and earned the . Discharged in 1955, he returned to civilian life and immersed himself further in , working as a and assistant at the San Francisco Golf Club under pro John Geersten, and later at courses in , including as head pro at Ruby View Golf Course in Elko. These roles provided practical experience in club operations and sharpened his competitive edge. As an amateur in , Lema began entering local tournaments shortly after his , competing in regional events where he demonstrated raw promise through low scores and bold play, though he captured no major titles. His early showings, often at municipal and club competitions, highlighted an unpolished but potent game that foreshadowed his future prowess, built on the forged in his formative years.

Professional career

PGA Tour entry

Lema turned professional in 1957 at the age of 23, drawing on his self-taught skills developed during his youth. His breakthrough came quickly when he won the Imperial Valley Open by defeating Paul Harney in a playoff after carding a final-round 65, a victory that helped him earn his PGA Tour card for the following year. Despite this promising start, Lema faced significant challenges in his early professional years, characterized by inconsistent performances and financial hardships. His penchant for heavy drinking and often led to instability, diverting focus from his game and contributing to strained finances despite modest earnings. These lifestyle issues hampered his ability to maintain steady play, resulting in multiple close calls at securing full Tour status amid fluctuating results on mini-tours and qualifiers. In his first full season of , Lema showed flashes of potential with 11 top-15 finishes across the Tour schedule, accumulating $10,282 in official . However, his form dipped thereafter, placing him 55th on the money list in 1959 and a disappointing 77th in 1960, underscoring the ongoing hurdles before his later breakthrough. Notable near-misses during this period, including several strong contention runs, highlighted his talent but failed to yield additional victories until 1962.

Rise and major victory

Lema's rise on the began in earnest during the 1962 season, when he captured his first two official victories at the Mobile Sertoma Open Invitational and the Orange County Open Invitational, the latter earning him the enduring nickname "Champagne Tony" after he fulfilled a promise to buy bubbly for the press room upon winning. These triumphs marked a turning point following years of financial and competitive struggles, propelling him into the spotlight as a charismatic long hitter with a bold, aggressive style that emphasized powerful drives and crowd-pleasing flair. Building momentum into 1963, Lema secured one win at the Memphis Open Invitational and finished fourth on the money list with $67,113, signaling his emergence as a consistent contender among the era's elite, including and . His form exploded in 1964 with five victories—the National Pro-Am, Thunderbird Classic, Cleveland Open Invitational, Buick Open Invitational, and —culminating in $74,130 in official earnings, finishing fourth on the money list and underscoring his peak dominance with eight total wins across 1963-1965. Lema's outgoing personality and prodigious driving distance further endeared him to fans, positioning him as a vibrant rival to contemporaries like Palmer, whose similarly captivated audiences. Entering the 1964 at as one of his season's highlights, Lema qualified through his strong performance and recent victories, marking his first trip to Britain; he arrived after three wins in the prior four weeks, prepared with a confident mindset honed by his American successes. Over his career, Lema amassed 11 wins and 11 runner-up finishes, establishing him as a high-impact force before his untimely death in 1966, often compared to the era's "Big Three" for his blend of skill and showmanship.

Tournament achievements

PGA Tour wins

Tony Lema secured 11 official victories between 1962 and 1966, a remarkable streak that established him as one of the tour's rising stars during that era. His wins spanned a variety of courses and conditions, often featuring dramatic finishes such as and come-from-behind efforts, and contributed to his reputation for performance under pressure. These triumphs not only boosted his confidence after early career struggles but also propelled him to second place on the 1965 money list with career earnings of $352,095 from official events. Lema's breakthrough came in 1962 with two late-season victories that ignited his professional ascent. On October 28, at the Orange County Open Invitational held at Mesa Verde Country Club in , he posted a 17-under-par total of 267, defeating Bob Rosburg in a sudden-death playoff after three extra holes; this win earned him the enduring nickname "Champagne Tony" when he fulfilled a pre-round promise to buy champagne for the press if victorious. Just three weeks later, on November 18, he dominated the Mobile Sertoma Open Invitational at Country Club of Mobile in , firing a 15-under-par 273 to prevail by seven strokes over runner-up Lionel Hebert, showcasing his burgeoning putting prowess on the greens. In 1963, Lema claimed a single but significant win at the Memphis Open Invitational, held May 23–26 at Colonial in . He carded a 10-under-par 270, tying before winning in an 18-hole playoff with a one-stroke edge, a victory that highlighted his resilience after a strong showing at that year's Masters. His 1964 season was his most prolific, with five wins that included his sole major title. The year began with a three-stroke triumph at the National Pro-Am on January 19 at in , where he finished at 4-under-par 284 to edge out Al Balding. Following a runner-up at the , Lema won the Thunderbird Classic on June 7 at in , with a 12-under-par 276, one stroke ahead of Mike Souchak despite challenging winds. He then captured the Invitational on June 14 at Warwick Hills Golf & in , posting an 11-under-par 277 for a one-stroke victory over . On August 16 at the Open Invitational at Golf Club in , Lema shot a 14-under-par 270 and defeated in a playoff, avenging a loss to the same opponent from the prior year. His crowning achievement came at the on July 10 at the in , where he won by five strokes with a nine-under-par 279 over , navigating unfamiliar links conditions with steady play. Lema maintained momentum in 1965 with back-to-back Buick Open defenses and another key title. He repeated at the Invitational on June 6 at Warwick Hills, finishing at 8-under-par 280 to win by two strokes over Johnny Pott, fending off a late charge from who faltered on the final hole. Later, at the Carling World Open on September 5 at Pleasant Valley Country Club in , he edged by two strokes with a 5-under-par 279, solidifying his status as a top earner. His final PGA Tour victory occurred on May 29, 1966, at the Oklahoma City Open Invitational at Quail Creek Country Club in —his wife Mary Linda's hometown—where he shattered the course record with a 17-under-par 271, winning by a tournament-record six strokes over runners-up Bert Yancey and Bob Murphy amid steady play that included a final-round 65.
YearTournamentDateVenueScore (To Par)MarginRunner-up(s)
1962Orange County Open InvitationalOct 28Mesa Verde CC, Costa Mesa, CA267 (−17)PlayoffBob Rosburg
1962Mobile Sertoma Open InvitationalNov 18Country Club of Mobile, AL273 (−15)7 strokesLionel Hebert
1963Memphis Open InvitationalMay 26Colonial CC, Cordova, TN270 (−10)Playoff
1964Jan 19Pebble Beach GL, CA284 (−4)3 strokesAl Balding
1964Thunderbird ClassicJun 7Westchester CC, , NY276 (−12)1 strokeMike Souchak
1964Jun 14Warwick Hills G&CC, Grand Blanc, MI277 (−11)1 stroke
1964Aug 16Canterbury GC, Beachwood, OH270 (−14)Playoff
1964Jul 10Old Course, , 279 (−9)5 strokes
1965Jun 6Warwick Hills G&CC, Grand Blanc, MI280 (−8)2 strokesJohnny Pott
1965Carling World OpenSep 5Pleasant Valley CC, Sutton, MA279 (−5)2 strokes
1966May 29Quail Creek CC, , OK271 (−17)6 strokesBert Yancey, Bob Murphy
Lema's wins were distributed as follows: two in 1962, one in , five in 1964 (his peak year, outpacing contemporaries like and ), two in 1965, and one in 1966, reflecting a concentrated burst of success that earned him widespread acclaim for his charismatic style and competitive fire. These victories generated substantial , with standout payouts like $20,000 from the 1965 Buick Open and $9,000 from the Memphis Open, underscoring the financial impact amid the era's growing purses.

Other professional wins

In addition to his 11 PGA Tour victories, Tony Lema amassed 11 other professional wins, bringing his career total to 22 and providing crucial supplementary income during the lean early years of his career when Tour earnings were inconsistent. These triumphs spanned regional section events, international competitions, and invitational tournaments, often serving as vital stepping stones that honed his skills and built momentum before his breakthrough on the national stage. Lema's earliest notable non-Tour success came in 1957 with a playoff victory at the Imperial Valley Open in , where he birdied the extra hole after tying Paul Harney with a final-round 65, marking one of his first significant professional accolades and helping secure his card. The following year, in 1958, he captured the Idaho Open at Twin Falls with a 72-hole total of 257, finishing strongly to claim the title amid a season where he notched 11 top-15 finishes overall. These regional wins demonstrated Lema's emerging talent and provided financial stability as he navigated the competitive Tour landscape. By 1961, Lema expanded his reach internationally and in invitational play, winning the Mexican Open at with a score of 280, edging out Antonio Cerdá. That same year, he dominated the Hesperia Open Invitational at Hesperia , posting a two-round total of 138 (-6) to win by three strokes over Jerry Steelsmith, an event that highlighted his precision in shorter-format competitions. He repeated as Mexican Open champion in 1962 at La Hacienda , again scoring 281 to secure back-to-back titles in the prestigious Latin American event. Lema's affinity for his home region shone through in a dominant stretch in Northern California events. In 1962, he won both the Northern California Open and the PGA Championship, the latter kicking off three straight section titles through 1964 at venues including Poppy Hills Golf Course. These victories, achieved amid his rising Tour profile, not only boosted his confidence but also underscored his local roots, as he outplayed established pros in and formats. Additional successes included team pro-am events like the 1963 National Pro-Am partnership and various exhibitions, which further enhanced his earnings and public persona in the pre-major era. Overall, these non-Tour wins contributed an estimated additional $20,000–$30,000 annually in the mid-1960s, complementing his Tour purses and solidifying his reputation as a versatile, crowd-pleasing competitor.

Major championships

1964 Open Championship

Tony Lema entered the 1964 Open Championship at St Andrews as a debutant, marking his first participation in the event and his initial experience with links golf or British soil. He secured qualification through a tied-10th finish at the 1964 U.S. Open, where he carded 293 amid grueling heat. Arriving in Scotland after a banner year on the PGA Tour—including four victories, three in the prior four weeks—Lema adapted swiftly to the Old Course despite its notorious pot bunkers and undulating terrain. The tournament unfolded under variable weather, including gale-force winds that tested players' control on the exposed . Lema opened with a steady 73 in the first round, trailing the lead by two strokes while many favorites faltered. He seized command in the second round with a 68, assuming the outright lead, then pulled further ahead in the third with another 68—birdieing six of the final 12 holes—to enter the final day seven strokes clear of . His strategic emphasis on low, running shots, such as the chip-and-run, proved ideal for the firm, windy conditions, allowing him to avoid the severe rough and bunkers like the Valley of Sin. shot a 66 in the third round to tie the course record. In the pressure-filled final round, Lema held firm with a 70 while Nicklaus shot 68, closing out at 9-under-par 279 for a five-stroke victory over Nicklaus, who finished at 284; placed third at 285. This dominant performance, Lema's only major title, ended a two-year American drought in the event since Arnold Palmer's 1962 win and delivered a £1,500 first-place prize that underscored his rising prominence. Lema's post-victory , where he shared champagne with reporters, cemented his "Champagne Tony" moniker—already earned from a 1962 PGA Tour win but vividly reinforced here through his exuberant celebration of the . The win propelled his career trajectory, enhancing his confidence and marketability in the years ahead.

Results timeline

Tony Lema competed in major championships from 1959 until his death in 1966, entering a total of 17 events and making the cut in 15 of them. His performances showed steady improvement, particularly from onward, with multiple top-10 finishes across all four majors and his sole major victory at the . Notable non-top-10 results included a 20th-place finish at the 1964 U.S. Open and a 50th in 1956 as an , though the timeline below focuses on his professional era starting in 1959.
YearMasters TournamentU.S. Open
1959----
1960----
1961----
1962-CUT--
19632T5CUTT13
1964T9201T9
1965T21T8T5CUT
1966T22T4T30T34

U.S. team appearances

Ryder Cup 1963

The 1963 Ryder Cup was held October 11–13 at in , Georgia, hosted by the . The team, captained by playing captain , was selected based on players' performances during the 1962 and 1963 seasons, with Tony Lema earning his spot as a through his rising form, including multiple top finishes and a strong showing in majors. Lema, at age 29, joined an experienced squad that included veterans like and , marking his first appearance in international team competition. Lema competed in five matches across the three-day event, posting an undefeated individual record of 3 wins and 2 halves for 4 points, a strong contribution from a debutant. On Day 1, he partnered with Boros in the morning , halving their match against Coles and Bernard Hunt after a competitive battle that ended . In the afternoon , the Lema-Boros duo secured a 3-and-2 victory over Brian Padgham and Dai Thomas, with Lema's steady play helping maintain momentum. Day 2's fourballs session saw Lema pair with Johnny Pott in the afternoon, defeating and Bernard Hunt by 1 up in a tight contest decided on the final green. Lema did not play in the morning fourballs. On Day 3, in morning singles, he dominated Geoffrey Hunt with a 5-and-3 win, showcasing precise iron play and putting to build an early lead. The afternoon singles against ended in a half, as both players traded birdies in a hard-fought . Lema's performances were instrumental in the U.S. team's overwhelming 23–9 victory, the most lopsided result in Ryder Cup history at the time. As a , his debut provided crucial early international exposure, helping build his confidence amid initial nerves and solidifying his reputation as a reliable team player ahead of future successes.

Ryder Cup 1965

The 1965 Ryder Cup took place from October 7 to 9 at in , , marking the first time the event was held there. Tony Lema earned automatic qualification for the U.S. team through the PGA of America's points list, which selected the top performers from recent tournaments, placing him among the 10 automatic qualifiers announced in August 1965. Under captain , the American squad arrived as favorites following their dominant 1963 victory, and Lema, fresh off his 1964 win, brought added confidence to the team. Lema delivered an outstanding individual performance, compiling a 5-1-0 record across six matches and earning 5 points, the highest on either side and a single-event record at the time. He partnered with in the foursomes to secure two victories on the opening day, defeating Lionel Platts and Peter Butler by 1 hole in the morning session and Jimmy Martin and John Hitchcock 5-and-4 in the afternoon. In the four-ball matches the following day, Lema and Boros suffered their lone defeat, a 1-hole loss to Bernard Hunt and Neil Coles in the morning, before Lema teamed with to rebound with a 1-hole win over the same British pair in the afternoon. Lema capped his week undefeated in singles, beating Peter Butler 1 hole in the morning and Christy O'Connor 6-and-4 in the afternoon, showcasing his precision and on the challenging course. The U.S. team clinched a convincing 19.5-12.5 victory, their fourth straight win, with Lema's near-perfect record playing a key role in maintaining high morale amid the partisan British crowds and windy conditions. His contributions helped the Americans dominate the singles sessions, where they won 14.5 of 16 points, adapting swiftly to the local turf that had favored the hosts in prior Opens. Post-match, Lema reflected on the growing intensity of the international , noting how the event's competitive edge and global audience elevated professional 's stature, while praising the that defined the transatlantic contest despite the U.S. edge. This appearance solidified Lema's reputation as a clutch performer in team events, building on his debut.

Personal life and death

Marriage and persona

In 1963, Tony Lema married Elizabeth "Betty" Cline, a former airline stewardess from whom he had met two years earlier on a flight from to . The couple's marriage brought stability to Lema's life and career, with Betty accompanying him on the and becoming a fixture in the social scene of professional . Their shared adventures highlighted Lema's evolving personal life, as he credited the relationship with helping him focus amid the demands of tournament play. Lema earned the enduring nickname "Champagne Tony" during his first PGA Tour victory at the 1962 Orange County Open Invitational, where he promised reporters champagne if he won and followed through with a celebratory toast in the press room. This gesture symbolized his charismatic and generous nature, earning him widespread media acclaim as a fun-loving counterpart to the more reserved personalities of contemporaries like and . His outgoing and humorous demeanor—often marked by quick wit and a flair for dramatic celebrations—made him one of the tour's most popular figures, second only to in fan appeal. Lema's close friendships with and further underscored his sociable side, as the trio frequently socialized and supported each other during competitions. Off the course, he enjoyed leisurely pursuits like and card games, which provided relaxation amid the tour's intensity. In 1965, Lema became the first resident professional at the newly opened Marco Island Country Club in , where he and established a home base that reflected his growing prominence in the sport.

Plane crash details

On , , Tony Lema, his , and two others were killed when their chartered H50 Twin , registration N538B, crashed short of the runway at Chicago-Hammond Airport near . The flight had originated from , following Lema's completion of the at , where he finished tied for 12th; the group was en route to an exhibition event in the area. The stalled during a single-engine approach and impacted a shallow pond on the Lansing Sportsman's Club golf course, erupting in flames upon hitting the ground. All four occupants—Lema (32), Lema (30), pilot Doris Mullen (43), and co-pilot George E. Bard Jr. (41)—died at the scene. The (NTSB) investigation, detailed in report CHI67A0012, determined the probable cause to be fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's mismanagement of fuel and inattention to the fuel supply, leading to complete power loss in both engines. The pilot, a commercial-rated with approximately 2,000 total flight hours (including 15 in the type), failed to maintain adequate flying speed during the attempt, causing . No mechanical malfunctions were found in the aircraft, and weather conditions were not cited as a contributing factor in the official findings. Recovery efforts began immediately after the 6:27 p.m. crash, with local authorities and firefighters pulling the charred wreckage and bodies from the pond amid gathering onlookers on the golf course. The Lemas' joint funeral was held on July 28, 1966, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Oakland, California, attended by numerous PGA Tour peers, followed by burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. The golf community was stunned, with Arnold Palmer, a close friend and rival, describing Lema as "one of the most popular guys on tour" and lamenting the loss of his charisma and talent just as he was reaching his prime. Other players, including those at the ongoing Western Open in Chicago, expressed profound shock, halting play briefly in tribute as news spread rapidly through the sport.

Legacy

Memorial events

Following Tony Lema's death in a plane crash in , several memorial events and tributes were established to honor his contributions to . The most prominent was the Tony Lema Memorial Tournament, an annual celebrity pro-am event held at the Marco Island Country Club in from 1967 to 1980. Organized by fellow golfer , the tournament featured top professionals and celebrities, drawing large crowds and raising funds for local charities such as the Hanna Boys Center. These early post-death events, spanning 1966 to 1980, often included high-profile participants and helped sustain Lema's legacy through charitable giving. For instance, the Tony Lema Scholarship Fund supported educational opportunities for promising young golfers. In 2017, Lema was selected as an honoree for presented by Workday, an invitational event founded by , recognizing his 1964 victory and overall impact on the sport. Physical tributes include a plaque at San Leandro Golf Course in , where Lema grew up and honed his skills, as part of his 1990 induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. Additionally, a bronze bust of Lema resides in the men's locker room at Marco Island Country Club, inscribed with details of his achievements and his role as the club's first resident professional in 1965. A 2018 biography, Uncorked: The Life and Times of Champagne Tony Lema by Larry Baush, serves as a lasting literary , detailing Lema's career and personal story with input from family and associates. Family-endorsed initiatives have included scholarships and support for junior golf programs in , continuing Lema's emphasis on youth development in his home region.

Influence on golf

Tony Lema's charismatic personality significantly contributed to modernizing the image of professional in the , an era when television broadcasts were expanding the sport's reach to mainstream audiences. Unlike the stoic, tradition-bound professionals of earlier generations, Lema's outgoing demeanor and flair for celebration—earning him the moniker "Champagne Tony" after sharing bubbly with the press following his 1962 Orange County Open victory—made the game more accessible and entertaining. His engaging style contrasted sharply with the reserved nature of many traditional pros, helping to humanize golfers and draw in casual viewers who might otherwise have overlooked the sport's technicalities. This vivacious approach boosted 's popularity on television, aligning with the medium's growth during the decade; Lema's high-profile wins, including his 1964 triumph, coincided with the proliferation of TV coverage that turned players into celebrities and elevated the PGA Tour's visibility. By sharing the enjoyment of his successes openly, Lema exemplified a shift toward a more relatable, personality-driven narrative in , which helped sustain viewer interest amid rising competition from other sports. Lema's inspirational legacy stems from his rise as a self-taught from a working-class background, motivating countless young players from modest origins to see as an attainable pursuit rather than an elite endeavor. Born in 1934 in , to a family in an industrial neighborhood, he honed his skills at the public Lake Chabot Municipal Golf Course, learning from a diverse array of mentors without the benefits of private coaching or affluent resources. This gritty path from a troubled youth—marked by early run-ins with trouble—to PGA Tour stardom resonated deeply, particularly among working-class adolescents who viewed his achievements as proof that determination could bridge social gaps in a historically dominated by privilege. His story continues to encourage accessible programs, emphasizing municipal courses as viable training grounds for aspiring talents from non-wealthy backgrounds. Recent recognitions underscore Lema's enduring impact, with a 2025 Northern California Golf Association article spotlighting his impeccable 9-1-1 record across two appearances (1963 and 1965)—the best for any player in multiple events—and lamenting how his tragic at age 32 curtailed a career that positioned him to challenge the era's Big Three of , , and . At the time of his passing, Lema had amassed 11 victories and was frequently mentioned alongside the dominant trio, with contemporaries noting his potential to expand that elite group amid the sport's global ascendancy. This assessment highlights a "what if" narrative in history, where Lema's momentum in the mid-1960s could have reshaped competitive dynamics had it not been interrupted. In golf literature, Lema endures as "Champagne Tony," a cultural symbol of unbridled joy and camaraderie within the sport, often invoked to celebrate the lighter side of competition. Biographies like Uncorked: The Life and Times of Champagne Tony Lema by Larry Baush depict him as a redemptive force who infused victories with shared delight, influencing portrayals of golfers as multifaceted personalities rather than mere athletes. Similarly, Bill Roland's Champagne Tony Lema: Triumph to Tragedy references his exuberant rituals as emblematic of 's potential for happiness, a theme echoed by pros like , who credit Lema's vivacity with enhancing the tour's appeal. This nickname and persona persist in discussions of 's emotional spectrum, reminding enthusiasts of the pleasure derived from the game's highs.

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