Bruce Douglass (born November 19, 1953) is an American professional golfer. Douglass had a successful career as an amateur. He won five tournaments for Murray State University, the most ever for the school, and back-to-back Massachusetts Amateur championships. He struggled transitioning to the professional game, however, failing four times at PGA Tour Qualifying school. Before the 1980 season, he made it on to the PGA Tour but played only three seasons, recording only one top ten. In 1984, Douglass took a job as an assistant professional at Winged Foot Golf Club. Despite holding a prestigious position and having success on the local Met PGA, Douglass resigned after only two years, deciding to work as an investment banker.
Early life Douglass was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. He began playing golf at the age of eight. His father got him into the game. Chick Fisher, the pro at Brockton Golf Course, also served as a mentor. However, baseball was his big sport growing up. He injured his arm, though, and decided to focus on golf. "I ruined my arm as a pitcher in Little League and the doctors said I shouldn't play baseball," he later said. "So I turned to golf."
In his mid-teens, Douglass first achieved some media attention. In July 1968, he played The Boston Globe boys golf tournament in Hingham, Massachusetts. Douglass played in the 14–15 years old division. Douglass had the lead late but "missed a golden opportunity to win the championship," finishing bogey-double bogey. He lost by one. In July 1969, he played the Massachusetts Golf Association's (MGA) Junior Championship. He qualified within the Junior-Junior division, finishing third place. However, he lost in the second round of the event proper. In July 1970, he played a USGA Junior qualifier. However, he failed at qualifying by a large number, shooting an 84, missing the cut-off by 11 strokes. A month later, in August 1970, he qualified for the MGA Junior Championship again. He lost in the first round. Later in the month, he played the New England Junior Open at Ponkapoag Country Club in Canton, Massachusetts. He once more lost in the first round.
At the age of 17, Douglass had his first era of sustained success as a junior golfer. In July 1971, he played a USGA Junior qualifier. Douglass shot a 75 and was tied for the final slot. Douglass "grabbed the last spot by winning a four-man sudden death playoff on the second hole." In the summer, he also qualified for the MGA's Massachusetts Junior. The event proper was held at the Chestnut Hill Country Club. In the second round, Douglass faced Dave DiRico of Chicopee, Massachusetts. Douglass led 5 up after 12 holes but DiRico forced extra holes. Douglass, however, won the 19th hole to move on. He eventually made it to the semifinals.
Amateur career In September 1971, Douglass entered Broward Community College in Cocoa, Florida. In the summer, however, he would return to Massachusetts to play some events. In July 1972, he played the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) tournament, another event at Ponkapoag Golf Course. Douglass played in the intermediate division. He won all of his early matches and faced Jeff Lewis, a future PGA Tour pro, in the finals. Lewis narrowly defeated him 2 & 1. In August, he played the New England Junior, also at Ponkapoag. In the first round he "upset" the defending champion, Bruce Martins, defeating him on the 18th hole, 1 up. He ultimately reached the finals, recording another second-place finish. In September 1972, he returned to Broward. In the spring, he began recording some highlights for the golf team. In April of the academic year, Broward faced Miami Dade Community College North. Douglass was the joint medalist and their team won. Later in the month, Broward played in the Division IV junior golf championship at Mirror Lake Golf Course in Lehigh Acres, Florida. In the first round, playing against "25 to 30 miles per hour winds," Douglass shot a 74 (+2) to put himself in second place among individuals and led Broward to the lead. Overall, Broward finished in second place. A week later, the Florida Junior College Golf Tournament was held. Twenty universities participated in the tournament including Broward. Douglass shot under-par in the second round and Broward finished in fourth place overall. In the summer, he again returned to Massachusetts. In July, he qualified for the Massachusetts Amateur for the first time. Later in the month he played the CYO tournament again, this time in the senior division. Douglass won his first two matches. In the semifinals, Douglass defeated medalist Steve Condon, 1 up. In the finals, he defeated Steve O'Kane 4 & 3. It was the most "noteworthy win" of his career until that point.
In the fall, Douglass began to attend at Murray State University (MSU) in Murray, Kentucky. He was a transfer student from Broward. In September, Douglass played the Murray State Intercollegiate Invitational. Among dozens of individuals competing, Douglass finished in the top ten. His team recorded a fourth-place finish among 12 teams. A month later, Murray State played the Mid-South Fall Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. Murray again finished in fourth place. Douglass, meanwhile, improved his record, finishing runner-up. In April, Murray State played the Illinois Intercollegiate Invitational tournament. Douglass was the low scorer for MSU. At the end of the academic year, MSU participated in the Ohio Valley Conference All-Sports Championship. Douglass finished in joint fifth among individuals. In the summers, he continued returning to the northeast where he had some success. In July, he played the four-round New England Amateur at Metacomet Country Club in Providence, Rhode Island. In the second round, Douglass recorded seven birdies on his way to a three-under-par 67. "This is close to the best round I ever had in competition," he told the Hartford Courant at the end of the day. He took a four-stroke lead. Douglass "had trouble" during the two-round finale but still finished in the top five. In August, he qualified for the U.S. Amateur for the first time.
In September, he returned to Kentucky to play for Murray State. Early in the season, the school's golf coach Buddy Hewitt noted, "Bruce has made vast improvements in his game the last year." Late in September, his team played the two-round Murray State intercollegiate again. Douglass "pace[d]" his team to victory, shooting a 138 total. He also won the individual component. In October, Douglass played the LSU Invitational. He would be playing against some of the best college golfers in the country. In the first round, Douglass shot a two-under-par 69 to tie for second with, among others, D. A. Weibring. In the second round, Douglass shot a 66 (−5) to take the lead among individuals. On Sunday, Douglass shot over-par but "outlasted four LSU golfers" to earn individual honors. It was his second win of the season. The Paducah Sun referred to it as "the biggest prize ever won by a Murray golfer." He won his third tournament of the year at the University of Kentucky intercollegiate. In March, he played the two-round Kentucky Intercollegiate. According to The Mayfield Messenger, Douglass was "a strong choice for individual honors." Douglass indeed contented, tying for the first round lead. The final round was cancelled due to rain and Douglass was declared the joint winner. Murray State finished in second place as a team only behind the University of Kentucky. In April, they played the Tennessee Tech Spring Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. Murray State won while Douglass "captured medalist honors for the fifth time this season." It was his final victory of the season. During his senior year, he was referred to by The Paducah Sun as "the top golfer in Murray history."
In the summer, Douglass returned to Massachusetts. In July, he played the Massachusetts Amateur. Douglass reached the semifinals where he faced Bill Mallon. Mallon, a future PGA Tour pro, was the clear favorite. He was the two-time defending champ and had won his previous 16 matches in the event going back a number of years. Douglass, however, won four holes on the front nine to build a sizable lead. Mallon birdied the 12th and 14th holes but "Douglass didn't panic." He won the 16th hole and "startled" Mallon with a 3 & 2 victory. In the finals, Douglass faced Bobby Caprera, the captain of Duke University's golf team. The finals were 36-holes long. It was a back-and-forth affair and the match was all square after 30 holes. However, Douglass made a number of mid-range putts down the stretch to win the match, 2 & 1, and secure the championship. After the event, Douglass told The Boston Globe, "Of course this is the biggest tournament I've ever won." A week later, he began play at the New England Amateur at Vesper Country Club. In the first round, Douglass eagled the par-5 11th hole on the way to a two-under-par 70. He had a one-stroke lead. In the second round, however, Bill Mallon "surged ahead" with a four-under-par 68. The final two rounds were played over one day. Mallon shot over-par in the morning round but Douglass shot a 75 to fall four behind. In the final round, however, Douglass went "charging into contention" with consecutive birdies on #4-6 "to move into a momentary tie." Douglass "faded" on the back nine, though, and "had to settle for the runner-up spot" behind Mallon. In August, Douglass qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Douglass reached the fourth round, defeating future PGA Tour pro Lance Ten Broeck along the way. In September, Douglass returned to Murray State to finish his degree. He did not play golf during the semester. Instead he focused on his studies. In December, he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Despite the success, Douglass did not intend to turn professional. "It could turn from enjoyment into work," he told the Globe. "I'd prefer to stay an amateur instead of trying to go out there and beat your brains out."