1952 PGA Championship Winner and Scores
Winner: Jim Turnesa (def. Chick Harbert in championship match)
Semifinalists: Jim Turnesa, Chick Harbert, Ted Kroll, Bob Hamilton
Where it was played: Big Spring Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky
Tournament dates: June 18-25, 1952
What Happened in 1952 PGA Championship
After defending champion Sam Snead was knocked out in the first round, Jim Turnesa won his way to the title at the 1952 PGA Championship.Turnesa beat Chick Harbert, 1-up, in the 36-hole title match. Jim was one of the members of the Turnesa family of golfing brothers. He won only two PGA Tour titles, but one was this major. The Turnesa family included:
- Mike Turnesa had six wins and was runner-up at the 1948 PGA Championship;
- Joe Turnesa won 15 PGA Tour titles and was runner-up at the 1926 U.S. Open and 1927 PGA Championship;
- Willie Turnesa was a lifelong amateur who won two U.S. Amateur titles and one British Amateur championship;
- Phil, Frank and Doug Turnesa all played professionally, too.
- And decades later, Marc Turnesa, the grandson of Mike, won on the Nationwide and PGA tours.
In the final, Turnesa was 3-down to Harbert following the morning 18, but fought back to square the match on the 32nd hole. It was still tied going to the final hole, but Turnesa won it with a par after an errant drive cost Harbert a bogey. Turnesa never led in the match until that final hole.
Harbert went on to win the 1954 PGA Championship.
Turnesa reached the championship match by beating, in order, Bob Toski, Chandler Harper, Roberto de Vicenzo (making one of only two appearances in this tournament), Clarence Doser and Ted Kroll. Harbert beat Denny Shute, Leonard Schmutte, Henry Williams Jr., Freddie Haas and Bob Hamilton.
Snead lost in the first round to Lew Worsham, who squared their match on the 17th hole and then birdied the 19th hole to win. Among other favorites in the field, Lloyd Mangrum and Jack Burke Jr. lost in the second round; and Cary Middlecoff fell in the fourth round to semifinalist Kroll.
Late-Round Match Scores in 1952 PGA Championship
Round of 16 (36 holes)Ted Kroll def. Ray Honsberger, 2 and 1
Cary Middlecoff def. Al Smith, 4 and 2
Jim Turnesa def. Roberto De Vicenzo, 5 and 4
Clarence Doser def. Jack Isaacs, 1-up
Fred Haas Jr. def. Milon Marusic, 1-up (38 holes)
Chick Harbert def. Henry Williams Jr., 6 and 5
Frank Champ def. Walter Burkemo, 3 and 1
Bob Hamilton def. Vic Ghezzi, 9 and 8
Quarterfinals (36 holes)
Jim Turnesa def. Clarence Doser, 2 and 1
Ted Kroll def. Cary Middlecoff, 2 and 1
Chick Harbert def. Freddie Haas, 2 and 1
Bob Hamilton def. Frank Champ, 2 and 1
Semifinals (36 holes)
Jim Turnesa def. Ted Kroll, 2 and 1
Chick Harbert def. Bob Hamilton, 1-up
Championship Match (36 holes)
Jim Turnesa def. Chick Harbert, 1-up
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1951 PGA Championship - 1953 PGA Championship
