Herman Barron

Herman Barron (December 23, 1909 – June 11, 1978) was an American professional golfer best known for being the first Jewish golfer to win a PGA Tour event.[1]

Herman Barron
Personal information
Born(1909-12-23)December 23, 1909
Port Chester, New York
DiedJune 11, 1978(1978-06-11) (aged 68)
Pompano Beach, Florida
Nationality United States
Career
StatusProfessional
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins14
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour4
Other8 (regular)
2 (senior)
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT13: 1949
PGA ChampionshipT5: 1932
U.S. OpenT4: 1946
The Open ChampionshipCUT: 1963

Biography

Barron was born in Port Chester, New York. He was one of barely a dozen professional golfers who earned their living as touring professionals in the 1930s and 1940s. His first professional win came at the 1934 Philadelphia Open Championship. On February 8, 1942, Barron became the first Jewish golfer to win an official PGA Tour event by winning the Western Open by two strokes over Henry Picard at Phoenix Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.[1][2]

Barron was consistently among the Tour's top money winners. His best year came in 1946. In June he won the Philadelphia Inquirer Open, finished tied for fourth in the U.S. Open the following week, and in late July won the All American Open at the Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Chicago.[2]

Barron played on America's victorious 1947 Ryder Cup team,[3] but was soon forced into retiring as a touring professional due to failing health. For the next 15 years, he held the position of teaching pro at the Fenway Golf Club in Westchester County, New York.[2]

Barron returned to the touring circuit in the early 1960s and won the 1963 Senior PGA Championship.[2][4]

Barron continued to work as a teaching pro until his death in Pompano Beach, Florida at the age of 68. He played a large role in the development of Israel's first golf course, in Caesarea.[2] He is enshrined in the Westchester Hall of Fame, in the PGA Metropolitan Section Hall of Fame in New York, and in the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[3][2]

Professional wins (14)

PGA Tour wins (4)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-upRef
1 Feb 8, 1942 Western Open −8 (69-69-71-67=276) 2 strokes Henry Picard [5]
2 Jun 10, 1946 Philadelphia Inquirer Open −3 (72-68-68-69=277) Playoff Lew Worsham [6][7]
3 Jul 28, 1946 All American Open −8 (68-71-69-72=280) 1 stroke Ellsworth Vines [8]
4 May 9, 1948 Goodall Round Robin +38 points 6 points Bobby Locke [9][10]

Other wins (8)

Senior wins (2)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1 Feb 3, 1963 PGA Seniors' Championship −16 (67-67-69-69=272) 2 strokes John Barnum
2 Jul 7, 1963 World Senior Championship 3 & 2 George Evans

Results in major championships
Tournament 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
Masters Tournament NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF WD WD WD
U.S. Open T28 T15 T31 T13 T23 T14 T11 CUT CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship R16 QF R32 R64 R64 R64 R32
Tournament 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Masters Tournament T36 NT NT NT T25 T17 T25 T13
U.S. Open T5 NT NT NT NT T4 T27 7 T27
The Open Championship NT NT NT NT NT NT
PGA Championship NT R16 R16 R32 R16
Tournament 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament T46
U.S. Open CUT CUT CUT CUT T50 CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship T35 CUT
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT
PGA Championship CUT
  Top 10
  Did not play

NYF = tournament not yet founded
NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1959 PGA Championship)
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place

See also

References
  1. American Jewish Historical Society (1999). American Jewish desk reference. Random House. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  2. "Biographical information from International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame".
  3. "History of Fenway Golf Club".
  4. Horne, Cyril (8 July 1963). "Senior title for Barron". The Glasgow Herald. p. 4.
  5. "Barron 'Hot', Wins Golf". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. June 10, 1946. p. 19.
  6. "Two in Playoff For Golf Prize". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. June 10, 1946. p. 18.
  7. "Barron Is Victor Of Golf Play Off". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. June 11, 1946. p. 23.
  8. "Barron Captures Rich Golf Prize". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. July 29, 1946. p. 18.
  9. "Barron Noses Out Locke In Goodall Round Robin". Meriden Record. Meriden, Connecticut. AP. May 10, 1948. p. 11. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  10. "Herman Barron Captures Goodall Open With 38 Plus". Toledo Blade. Toledo, Ohio. AP. May 10, 1948. p. 22. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
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