Pete Brown (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Pete Brown is an American
professional golfer
who is best known as the first African American
to win a PGA Tour
event.
Brown was born in Port Gibson, Mississippi
and grew up in Jackson, Mississippi
. He started in golf
as a caddy at the municipal course in his hometown.
Brown received his PGA Tour card in 1963. He was not the first African American to obtain his PGA players card; that honor belonged to Charlie Sifford
. Brown's victory at the 1964 Waco Turner Open
did, however, earn him a place in history as the first African American to win a PGA event. He played on the PGA Tour for 17 years and posted a second tour win at the 1970 Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational in a playoff over Tony Jacklin
.
Brown played on the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour) beginning in 1985. His best finishes were a pair of T-6s in 1985 at the Senior PGA Tour Roundup and the MONY Syracuse Senior Classic
.
Brown and his wife, Margaret, are the parents of six daughters. He has been the head pro at Madden Golf Course in Dayton, Ohio
for more than 20 years.
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 is best known as the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to win a 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...
event.
Brown was born in Port Gibson, Mississippi
Port Gibson, Mississippi
Port Gibson is a city in Claiborne County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,840 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Claiborne County.- History :...
and grew up in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
. He started in 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....
as a caddy at the municipal course in his hometown.
Brown received his PGA Tour card in 1963. He was not the first African American to obtain his PGA players card; that honor belonged 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...
. Brown's victory at the 1964 Waco Turner Open
Waco Turner Open
The Waco Turner Open was a PGA Tour event that was played in Burneyville, Oklahoma in the early 1960s.The founder of the tournament, Waco Turner, was a millionaire Oklahoma oilman with a passion for golf...
did, however, earn him a place in history as the first African American to win a PGA event. He played on the PGA Tour for 17 years and posted a second tour win at the 1970 Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational in a playoff over Tony Jacklin
Tony Jacklin
Anthony Jacklin CBE is an English golfer, who was the most successful British player of his generation. He was also the most successful European Ryder Cup captain ever.-Early life and education:...
.
Brown played on the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour) beginning in 1985. His best finishes were a pair of T-6s in 1985 at the Senior PGA Tour Roundup and the MONY Syracuse Senior Classic
MONY Syracuse Senior Classic
The MONY Syracuse Senior Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1982 to 1991. It was played in Syracuse, New York at the Bellevue Country Club and in Jamesville, New York at the Lafayette Country Club ....
.
Brown and his wife, Margaret, are the parents of six daughters. He has been the head pro at Madden Golf Course in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
for more than 20 years.
PGA Tour wins (2)
- 1964 Waco Turner OpenWaco Turner OpenThe Waco Turner Open was a PGA Tour event that was played in Burneyville, Oklahoma in the early 1960s.The founder of the tournament, Waco Turner, was a millionaire Oklahoma oilman with a passion for golf...
- 19701970 PGA TourThe 1970 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to December 13. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Billy Casper won the most tournaments, four, and there were six first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below....
Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational
Other wins (12)
- Four time USG (Negro) National Open Champion
- Four time Long Star Open Champion
- Three time North & South Champion
- 1961 Michigan OpenMichigan OpenThe Michigan Open is the Michigan state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Michigan section of the PGA of America...