Charles R. Kocsis (January 27, 1913 – May 30, 2006) was an American amateur golfer.

Early life Kocsis was introduced to the game as a caddie at the Phoenix Country Club, which is now Rogell Municipal Golf Course. One of fourteen children, he grew up in the Old Redford area of Detroit. Attended Redford High and was victorious at the city and state championship levels.

Golf career Kocsis was the winner of six Michigan Match Play Amateurs and six Michigan Medal Play Amateurs, three Michigan Opens (1931, 1945, 1946), individual intercollegiate champion, member of three U.S. Walker Cup teams, member of two NCAA Championship teams at the University of Michigan, low amateur in the Masters, low amateur in two U.S. Opens, runner-up at the 1956 U.S. Amateur, and runner-up at the 1937 Western Amateur.

Kocsis also found success on the senior level winning the US National Open Senior Championship in 1969, 1970, and 1979. Kocsis played in the International Seniors Championship five times and won four - 1970, 1973, 1980, and 1988. He set the tournament record at Gleneagles in 1970 with a 13 under par total of 271. During his time at the University of Michigan, Kocsis became a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity."Lambda Chis Dominate Intercollegiate Golf" The Cross and Crescent. July 1936.

Awards and honors The Golf Association of Michigan voted Kocsis the Michigan amateur golfer of the century. Kocsis was a member of the first class elected into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.

Tournament wins this list may be incomplete 1930 Michigan Amateur 1931 Michigan Open 1933 Michigan Amateur 1934 Michigan Amateur 1936 NCAA Championship 1937 Michigan Amateur 1945 Michigan Open 1946 Michigan Open 1948 Michigan Amateur 1951 Michigan Amateur 1955 Michigan Amateur Medal Play 1958 Michigan Amateur Medal Play 1959 Michigan Amateur Medal Play 1960 Dogwood Invitational, Michigan Amateur Medal Play 1961 Michigan Amateur Medal Play 1962 Michigan Amateur Medal Play

Results in major championships Tournament1930193119321933193419351936193719381939Masters TournamentNYFNYFNYFNYF35T22U.S. OpenCUTT14 LAT10U.S. AmateurR16R64QFR16The Amateur ChampionshipR16 Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949Masters TournamentT44NTNTNTU.S. OpenCUTNTNTNTNTCUTU.S. AmateurNTNTNTNTR32R16R16The Amateur ChampionshipNTNTNTNTNTNT Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT35T14 LAT45CUTCUTT22U.S. OpenT16 LACUTT32U.S. AmateurR1282R16QFThe Amateur Championship Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT34CUTU.S. OpenCUTU.S. AmateurR128R64R32–––––The Amateur Championship Tournament1970197119721973Masters TournamentU.S. Open Note: Kocsis never played in The Open Championship nor the PGA Championship.

LA = low amateur NYF = tournament not yet founded NT = no tournament CUT = missed the half-way cut R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in match play "T" indicates a tie for a place

Sources: U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur,USGA Championship Database 1938 Amateur Championship

U.S. national team appearances Amateur Walker Cup: 1938, 1949 (winners), 1957 (winners)

See also University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor Kupelian, Vartan. Forever Scratch:Chuck Kocsis-An Amateur for the Ages. Ann Arbor Media Group, 2007.

References

External links Michigan Golf Hall of Fame profile Obituary from the USGA