Eric Monti
Encyclopedia
Eric Monti was an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1940s
, 1950s
and 1960s
.
Monti was born in Pekin, Illinois
. He started caddying at age 6, and was one of six golfing brothers. He turned professional in 1943. He moved to Los Angeles
with his wife in the mid 1940s, and began play on the PGA Tour in the late 1940s, winning three times. His best finish in a major championship
was T6 at the 1961 U.S. Open
.
Like most golfers of his generation, Monti earned his living primarily as a club pro. He initially worked at the Los Angeles Country Club before being hired as an assistant pro to George Fazio
at Hillcrest Country Club. In 1955, he became head pro at Hillcrest and developed a reputation as the teacher to the stars. Henry Fonda
, Burt Lancaster
, Danny Thomas
, Dinah Shore
, Danny Kaye
, and Jack Benny
were among the famous Hollywood celebrities he instructed. He worked at Hillcrest for 45 years before retiring in 1990.
Monti died at his home in Laguna Woods, California
of prostate cancer at the age of 91. His wife, Evelyn, died in 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in the 1940s
1940s
File:1940s decade montage.png|Above title bar: events which happened during World War II : From left to right: Troops in an LCVP landing craft approaching "Omaha" Beach on "D-Day"; Adolf Hitler visits Paris, soon after the Battle of France; The Holocaust occurred during the war as Nazi Germany...
, 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
and 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
.
Monti was born in Pekin, Illinois
Pekin, Illinois
Pekin is a the county seat of Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located on the Illinois River, Pekin is also the largest city of Tazewell County, and a key part of the Peoria metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population is 34,094. A small portion of the city limits extends...
. He started caddying at age 6, and was one of six golfing brothers. He turned professional in 1943. He moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with his wife in the mid 1940s, and began play on the PGA Tour in the late 1940s, winning three times. His best finish in a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
was T6 at the 1961 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
.
Like most golfers of his generation, Monti earned his living primarily as a club pro. He initially worked at the Los Angeles Country Club before being hired as an assistant pro to George Fazio
George Fazio
George Fazio was an American professional golfer and a golf course architect.Fazio, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a respected player in the mid-twentieth century and competed in seven Masters Tournaments from 1947 to 1954...
at Hillcrest Country Club. In 1955, he became head pro at Hillcrest and developed a reputation as the teacher to the stars. Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
, Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
, Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor, best known for starring in the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy . He was also the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...
, Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
, Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
, and Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
were among the famous Hollywood celebrities he instructed. He worked at Hillcrest for 45 years before retiring in 1990.
Monti died at his home in Laguna Woods, California
Laguna Woods, California
Laguna Woods is a city in Orange County, California, United States. The population was 16,192 at the 2010 census, down from 16,507 at the 2000 census with a median age of 78. About 90% of the city consists of Laguna Woods Village, a retirement community, formerly known as Leisure World...
of prostate cancer at the age of 91. His wife, Evelyn, died in 2006.
PGA Tour wins
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 27, 1955 | Miami Beach Open Miami Beach Open The Miami Beach Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the late 1920s and again in the 1950s. It was held at several different courses in the Miami Beach, Florida area.-Winners:^ 36-hole event-External links:* - now called Miami Beach Golf Club... |
|
2 strokes |  Bob RosburgBob Rosburg Robert Reginald "Rossie" Rosburg was an American professional golfer who later became a sports color analyst for ABC television.-Early years, college:Rosburg was born in San Francisco, California... |
| 2 | Oct 11, 1959 | Hesperia Open Invitational Hesperia Open Invitational The Hesperia Open Invitational was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the late 1950s and early 1960s.It was played at the Hesperia Golf and County Club in the high desert town of Hesperia, California... |
|
4 strokes | Bob Duden Bob Duden Robert W. Duden was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s.A life-long resident of Portland, Oregon, Duden compiled a remarkable record in sectional golf competition... , Jack FleckJack Fleck Jack Fleck is an American professional golfer best known for winning the 1955 U.S. Open. He is the oldest living U.S. Open champion.... , Jay Hebert |
| 3 | Oct 15, 1961 | Ontario Open Ontario Open The Ontario Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour that was played in 1961 and 1962 at the Wispering Lakes Golf Course in Ontario, California, which opened in 1956.... |
|
Playoff | George Bayer George Bayer George Bayer was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.... , Bobby NicholsBobby Nichols Robert Herman Nichols is an American professional golfer, best known for winning the 1964 PGA Championship.Nichols was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville and later played golf at Texas A&M University were his team won the Southwest Conference Championship... |