Hugh John Baiocchi (born 17 August 1946) is a South African professional golfer who has won more than 20 professional tournaments around the world.
Early life Baiocchi was born in Johannesburg.
Professional career In 1971, Baiocchi turned professional and spent his regular career playing mainly in Europe. He was a member of the European Tour from its first season in 1972 until 1993 and made the top one hundred on the Order of Merit for the Tour's first nineteen seasons, including three top ten placings: 1973 (3rd); 1975 (6th) and 1977 (2nd). He won six official money events on the tour. He also competed regularly on the Southern Africa Tour during the Northern Hemisphere winter, winning several tournaments there and winning the Order of Merit in 1978/79.
As a senior (over 50) golfer, Baiocchi played mainly on the U.S.-based Champions Tour, where he has three wins.
He also designed many golf courses such as the Legend Course at the Constance Belle Mare Plage Resort in Mauritius, venue of the 2011 MCB Tour Championship.
Personal life Baiocchi is married to Joan. He has two children. He currently lives in Tequesta, Florida. His daughter, Lauren, was married to well-known retired baseball player Johnny Bench.
Amateur wins 1968 Brazil Amateur Open Championship 1970 South African Amateur
Professional wins (24) European Tour wins (6) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up129 Jul 1973Swiss Open−2 (68-70-69-71=278)1 stroke Jack Newton, Eddie Polland210 Aug 1975Dutch Open−9 (71-72-69-67=279)2 strokes Dale Hayes, Simon Hobday318 Jul 1976Scandinavian Enterprise Open−17 (68-65-70-68=271)2 strokes Eamonn Darcy421 May 1977Sun Alliance Match Play Championship6 and 5 Brian Huggett52 Sep 1979Swiss Open (2)−5 (68-67-73-67=275)5 strokes Antonio Garrido, Dale Hayes, Delio Lovato69 Jul 1983State Express Classic−9 (70-68-70-71=279)Playoff Eamonn Darcy, Mike Sullivan
European Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11983State Express Classic Eamonn Darcy, Mike SullivanWon with birdie on first extra hole21986Benson & Hedges International Open Mark James, Lee TrevinoJames won with birdie on first extra hole
Southern Africa Tour wins (11) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up113 Jan 1973NCR Western Province OpenE (76-70-74-72=292)1 stroke John O'Leary210 Feb 1973General Motors International Classic−14 (68-70-74-70=282)Playoff Dale Hayes322 Dec 1973ICL Transvaal Open−12 (68-67-71-70=276)1 stroke Dale Hayes44 Dec 1976Holiday Inns Invitational−15 (69-65-70-69=273)Playoff Dale Hayes511 Dec 1976ICL International (2)−12 (68-66-69-65=268)1 stroke Tienie Britz, Gary Player619 Dec 1976Rhodesian Dunlop Masters−14 (67-72-66-69=274)2 strokes Andries Oosthuizen79 Dec 1978Yellow Pages South African Open−3 (71-69-74-71=285)1 stroke Gavan Levenson816 Nov 1980Zimbabwe Open−9 (67-70-70-72=279)Playoff Allan Henning, Denis Watson922 Nov 1980Lexington PGA Championship−12 (65-68-68-67=268)1 stroke Mark McNulty, Gary Player1031 Jan 1981Vaal Reefs Open−12 (70-69-68-69=276)2 strokes Tienie Britz1117 Dec 1989Twee Jonge Gezellen Masters−7 (69-68-74-70=281)1 stroke Tertius Claassens, Ernie Els, Rick Hartmann
Southern Africa Tour playoff record (3–5) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11972Glen Anil Classic Peter OosterhuisLost to birdie on second extra hole21973General Motors International Classic Dale HayesWon with par on second extra hole31976Rhodesian Dunlop Masters Allan HenningLost to par on third extra hole41976Holiday Inns Invitational Dale HayesWon with par on fourth extra hole51978ICL International Dale HayesLost to par on third extra hole61980Zimbabwe Open Allan Henning, Denis WatsonWon with birdie on first extra hole71985Palabora Classic Mark McNultyLost to birdie on fifth extra hole81995Phalaborwa Mafunyane Trophy Roger Wessels
Other wins (4) 1980 BCA Tournament 1989 Murphy's Cup, SA Railfreight 2002 Nelson Mandela Invitational (with Deane Pappas)
Senior PGA Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up131 Aug 1997 Pittsburgh Senior Classic−10 (70-70-66=206)Playoff Bob Duval213 Sep 1998 Comfort Classic−20 (66-63-67=196)2 strokes Bruce Summerhays320 Sep 1998Kroger Senior Classic−7 (67-66=133)Playoff Bob Charles, Frank Conner, Larry Nelson, Bruce Summerhays
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (2–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11997Cadillac NFL Golf Classic Bruce CramptonLost to birdie on third extra hole21997Saint Luke's Classic Bruce SummerhaysLost to par on second extra hole31997Pittsburgh Senior Classic Bob DuvalWon with par on sixth extra hole41998Kroger Senior Classic Bob Charles, Frank Conner, Larry Nelson, Bruce SummerhaysWon with birdie on second extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament19721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988Masters TournamentT31T22CUTU.S. OpenWDThe Open ChampionshipCUTT18CUTT23CUTCUTCUTT41T29CUTCUTCUTT9T35CUTT66CUT Note: Baiocchi never played in the PGA Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982 and 1983 Open Championships) WD = Withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 2U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 1 3 17 7PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Totals 0 0 0 0 1 4 21 9 Most consecutive cuts made – 2 (four times) Longest streak of top-10s – 1
Team appearances Amateur Commonwealth Tournament (representing South Africa): 1967 Eisenhower Trophy (representing South Africa): 1968, 1970
Professional Double Diamond International (representing the Rest of the World): 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977 (captain) World Cup (representing South Africa): 1973, 1977 Datsun International (representing South Africa): 1976 (winners) Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing the Rest of the World): 1982
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