Vinny Giles
Encyclopedia
Marvin M. "Vinny" Giles III (born January 4, 1943) is an American
amateur golf
er. He his best known for winning both the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur.
Giles was born in Lynchburg, Virginia
. He graduated from the University of Georgia
in 1966, where he was a three-time All-American on the golf team. He also graduated from the University of Virginia
Law School
in 1969.
Giles finished second in the U.S. Amateur three straight years, 1967 to 1969, before finally winning in 1972. This was in the stroke play era. His victory in the British Amateur came in 1975. He won numerous other amateur tournaments, including seven Virginia State Amateurs, as well as three Virginia Open titles.
Giles played on four Walker Cup
teams (1969, 1971, 1973, 1975), winning three times, and captained the 1993 team to victory. He also played on three winning Eisenhower Trophy
teams (1968, 1970, 1972) and captained the 1992 team to a runner-up finish.
Giles played in 11 professional majors
, making the cut in three of nine Masters Tournament appearances and in both U.S. Open
appearances. He was low amateur in the 1968 Masters Tournament
(tied for 22nd) and in the 1973 U.S. Open
(17th). He was also low amateur in three U.S. Senior Opens (1993, 1996, 1997)
Giles served on the Executive Committee of the Virginia State Golf Association for over 20 years, and then was first an Associate Director and then a Director of the Southern Golf Association for three years.
Giles was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
in 1976 and the Southern Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1984.
Giles is owner and president of a golf management firm which represents such golfers as Tom Kite
, Davis Love III
, Lanny Wadkins
, Beth Daniel
, and Meg Mallon. He lives in Richmond, Virginia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
amateur 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....
er. He his best known for winning both the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur.
Giles was born in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. He graduated from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1966, where he was a three-time All-American on the golf team. He also graduated from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
Law School
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
in 1969.
Giles finished second in the U.S. Amateur three straight years, 1967 to 1969, before finally winning in 1972. This was in the stroke play era. His victory in the British Amateur came in 1975. He won numerous other amateur tournaments, including seven Virginia State Amateurs, as well as three Virginia Open titles.
Giles played on four Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
teams (1969, 1971, 1973, 1975), winning three times, and captained the 1993 team to victory. He also played on three winning Eisenhower Trophy
Eisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
teams (1968, 1970, 1972) and captained the 1992 team to a runner-up finish.
Giles played in 11 professional majors
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...
, making the cut in three of nine Masters Tournament appearances and in both 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...
appearances. He was low amateur in the 1968 Masters Tournament
1968 Masters Tournament
The 1968 Masters Tournament was contested from April 11 to April 14 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 32nd Masters Tournament. 74 players entered the tournament and 52 of them made the cut at five-over-par ....
(tied for 22nd) and in the 1973 U.S. Open
1973 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 1973 U.S. Open Championship was the 73rd U.S. Open played June 14-17 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Johnny Miller won the championship...
(17th). He was also low amateur in three U.S. Senior Opens (1993, 1996, 1997)
Giles served on the Executive Committee of the Virginia State Golf Association for over 20 years, and then was first an Associate Director and then a Director of the Southern Golf Association for three years.
Giles was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a sports hall of fame located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Founded in 1972, it moved to its current location in 2005...
in 1976 and the Southern Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1984.
Giles is owner and president of a golf management firm which represents such golfers as Tom Kite
Tom Kite
Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994....
, Davis Love III
Davis Love III
Davis Milton Love III is an American professional golfer.Love was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina before turning professional in 1985. He earned his PGA Tour card in the fall of 1985, on his first attempt. He quickly established himself on the PGA...
, Lanny Wadkins
Lanny Wadkins
Jerry Lanston "Lanny" Wadkins, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He ranked in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings for 86 weeks from their debut in 1986 to 1988....
, Beth Daniel
Beth Daniel
Beth Daniel is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1979 and won 33 LPGA Tour events, including one major championship, during her career. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame....
, and Meg Mallon. He lives in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
Tournament wins
- 1962 Virginia State Amateur
- 1963 Dogwood InvitationalDogwood InvitationalThe Dogwood Invitational is a top ten men's amateur golf tournament. Founded in 1941, it is hosted annually at the Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.-Winners:*2011 Nate McCoy*2010 Andrew Yun*2009 Brian Harman*2008 Rory Hie*2007 Webb Simpson^...
- 1964 Virginia State Amateur
- 1965 Dogwood InvitationalDogwood InvitationalThe Dogwood Invitational is a top ten men's amateur golf tournament. Founded in 1941, it is hosted annually at the Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.-Winners:*2011 Nate McCoy*2010 Andrew Yun*2009 Brian Harman*2008 Rory Hie*2007 Webb Simpson^...
- 1966 Virginia State Amateur
- 1967 Southern AmateurSouthern AmateurThe Southern Amateur is an amateur golf tournament. It has been played since 1902 and is organized by the Southern Golf Association. From1902 to 1963, it was played at match play...
- 1968 Virginia State Amateur
- 1969 Virginia State Amateur, Virginia Open
- 1971 Northeast AmateurNortheast AmateurThe Northeast Amateur is an amateur golf tournament played annually at the Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island. It was first played in 1962.-Winners:*2011 Peter Uihlein*2010 Joseph Bramlett*2009 Dan Woltman*2008 Brendan Gielow...
, Virginia State Amateur - 1972 U.S. Amateur
- 1973 Porter CupPorter CupThe Porter Cup is a 72-hole, medal-play elite amateur golf tournament held annually at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, New York. It was first played in 1959 and over the years has hosted some of the biggest names in golf...
, Eastern AmateurEastern AmateurThe Eastern Amateur is an annual amateur golf tournament. It has been played at Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club in Portsmouth, Virginia since 1957; the only exceptions were in 1977 when it was played at Sleepy Hole Golf Course in Suffolk, Virginia and in 1999 when it was played at nearby...
, Virginia Open - 1974 Virginia Open
- 1975 British Amateur, Southern AmateurSouthern AmateurThe Southern Amateur is an amateur golf tournament. It has been played since 1902 and is organized by the Southern Golf Association. From1902 to 1963, it was played at match play...
- 1987 Virginia State Amateur
- 1990 Crump CupCrump CupThe Crump Cup is an invitational golf tournament for amateurs. The first tournament was held in 1922. It is named George Arthur Crump,and is played on the grounds of Pine Valley Golf Club, which Crump founded. The format for the four days is two rounds of stroke play, qualifying, followed by four...
Senior amateur wins
- 2000 Virginia State Senior Amateur
- 2002 Society of Seniors Dale Morey, George Coleman Invitational Senior, David A. King Senior Legends Invitational, Senior Hall of Fame
- 2007 Crump Cup Senior
- 2009 U.S. Senior Amateur
- 2010 Crump Cup Senior
U.S. national team appearances
Amateur- Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
: 1969 (winners), 1971, 1973 (winners), 1975 (winners) - Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
: 1968 (team winners and individual winner, tie), 1970 (winners), 1972 (winners)