Fred Wampler (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Frederick Wampler was an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
and the Senior PGA Tour.
Wampler was born in Bedford, Indiana
. He played on the Purdue University
golf
team from 1948 to 1950. In 1950, he won the NCAA individual championship
, was selected as Purdue's first All-American and won the Big Ten individual title for the third consecutive year. Wampler still shares the Big Ten tournament record for lowest individual round with a 64 in the fourth round of the 1950 Big Ten Championships.
A veteran of World War II
, Wampler served in the United States Navy
in the Pacific prior to enrolling at Purdue University.
Wampler's only PGA Tour win came at the 1954 Los Angeles Open. He finished runner-up to Sam Snead
in the 1956 Greater Greensboro Open on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Like most golfers of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional. Starting in 1965, he served 17 years as the head pro at Denver
Country Club.
On the Senior PGA Tour, Wampler finished runner-up twice in the Senior PGA Championship
. In 1975, he lost on the first playoff hole to Charlie Sifford
and in 1976, he finished five strokes behind Pete Cooper
.
Wampler was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame in 1972, the Purdue University Sports Hall of Fame and the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 1997.
Wampler died at the age of 62 after an 18-year battle with chronic leukemia
.
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...
and the Senior PGA Tour.
Wampler was born in Bedford, Indiana
Bedford, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,768 people, 6,054 households, and 3,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,157.1 people per square mile . There were 6,618 housing units at an average density of 556.2 per square mile...
. He played on the Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
team from 1948 to 1950. In 1950, he won the NCAA individual championship
NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships
The NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, starting in 2009 the competition changed to a stroke play/match play competition with the top 8 teams after 54 holes of...
, was selected as Purdue's first All-American and won the Big Ten individual title for the third consecutive year. Wampler still shares the Big Ten tournament record for lowest individual round with a 64 in the fourth round of the 1950 Big Ten Championships.
A veteran of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Wampler served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the Pacific prior to enrolling at Purdue University.
Wampler's only PGA Tour win came at the 1954 Los Angeles Open. He finished runner-up to Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
in the 1956 Greater Greensboro Open on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Like most golfers of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional. Starting in 1965, he served 17 years as the head pro at Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
Country Club.
On the Senior PGA Tour, Wampler finished runner-up twice in the Senior PGA Championship
Senior PGA Championship
The Senior PGA Championship is one of the five major championships in men's senior golf. It is administered by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and is recognized as a major championship by both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour. It was formerly an unofficial money...
. In 1975, he lost on the first playoff hole to Charlie Sifford
Charlie Sifford
Charles Sifford is an African American former professional golfer who helped to desegregate the PGA of America.Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began work as a caddy at the age of thirteen...
and in 1976, he finished five strokes behind Pete Cooper
Pete Cooper (golfer)
Richard Bernice "Pete" Cooper was an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s; he was best known for winning the 1976 PGA Seniors' Championship.Cooper turned professional in 1938...
.
Wampler was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame in 1972, the Purdue University Sports Hall of Fame and the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 1997.
Wampler died at the age of 62 after an 18-year battle with chronic leukemia
Chronic leukemia
Chronic leukemia is an increase of abnormal white blood cells. It differs from acute leukemia, and is categorized as myelogenous or lymphocytic.Chronic leukemia may refer to:* Chronic myelogenous leukemia* Chronic lymphocytic leukemia* Hairy cell leukemia...
.
Amateur wins (6)
- 1947 Indiana Amateur
- 1948 Big-10 Championship
- 1949 Indiana Amateur, Big-10 Championship
- 1950 Big-10 Championship, NCAA ChampionshipNCAA Division I Men's Golf ChampionshipsThe NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, starting in 2009 the competition changed to a stroke play/match play competition with the top 8 teams after 54 holes of...
Other wins (9)
This list may be incomplete- 1950 Indiana OpenIndiana OpenThe Indiana Open is the Indiana state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Indiana section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1915 at a variety of courses around the state...
(as an amateur) - 1952 Long Island OpenLong Island OpenThe Long Island Open is a professional golf tournament played on Long Island, New York. It is sponsored by the Long Island Golf Association and was first held in 1922 at the Cherry Valley Club in Garden City, New York. Al Brosch won a record ten titles between 1939 and 1959, a record that stands...
- 1953 Manchester Open
- 1962 St. Clair Open
- 1966 Colorado PGA Section
- 1968 Colorado PGA Section
- 1973 Colorado PGA Section
- 1974 Colorado PGA Section
- 1983 Indiana Senior Open