Chick Harbert

Melvin R. "Chick" Harbert (February 20, 1915 – September 1, 1992) was an American professional golfer.[1]

Chick Harbert
Harbert in 1959
Personal information
Full name	Melvin R. Harbert
Nickname	Chick
Born	(1915-02-20)February 20, 1915 Dayton, Ohio
Died	September 1, 1992(1992-09-01) (aged 77) Ocala, Florida
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st)
Nationality	United States
Spouse	Jeanne
Career
Turned professional	1940
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour
Professional wins	18
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	7
Other	11
Best results in major championships (wins: 1)
Masters Tournament	3rd: 1948
PGA Championship	Won: 1954
U.S. Open	T8: 1946, 1957
The Open Championship	DNP

Harbert won seven times on the PGA Tour, including one major championship, the 1954 PGA Championship, then a match play event. A three-time finalist, he was also that event's runner-up twice, in 1947 (falling to Jim Ferrier) and 1952 (to Jim Turnesa). Harbert was one of the great PGA Championship match play competitors, compiling a 24–10 (.706) record between 1946, his first appearance, and 1957, the final year of the match play format.

In 1949, Harbert played on the Ryder Cup team, winning his singles match against Sam King, 4 and 3, at Ganton Golf Club in Scarborough, England. He was playing-captain of the U.S. team in 1955, with a singles victory against Syd Scott (3 and 2) to his credit.

In 1955, he represented the United States at the Canada Cup team competition at Columbia Country Club outside Washington, D.C. He teamed with Ed Furgol, with the duo outdueling Australia's team of Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle by nine strokes. He finished fourth in the individual competition, two strokes out of the Furgol, Thomson and Flory Van Donck playoff that Furgol won.

After turning 50, he made two official Senior PGA Tour appearances. He tied for 43rd at the 1981 Michelob Senior Classic and then tied for 40th in the same tournament the following year. In addition, he played in nine Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf team events, with his top showing a fifth-place performance in the inaugural event in 1978, when he teamed with Bob Toski.

Harbert was born in Dayton, Ohio, and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.[2] He died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 77 at his home in Ocala, Florida.[1]