Michael Souchak (May 10, 1927 – July 10, 2008) was an American professional golfer. He won fifteen events on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s and represented the United States for the Ryder Cup in 1959 and 1961.
Early life Born and raised in Berwick, Pennsylvania, Souchak served two years as a gunner in the U.S. Navy. He then attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and played both golf and football for the Blue Devils, as an end and placekicker.
Professional career In his first win at the 1955 Texas Open, Souchak set and tied several records. In the first round, he tied the tour's 18-hole record with a 60. This record was finally broken in 1977 by Al Geiberger's 59. This first round also included a record-breaking 27 on the back nine holes. This record was not broken until 2006 by Corey Pavin. He then finished with a 72-hole record of 257 (27-under-par). This aggregate total record also stood until the 21st century until Mark Calcavecchia shot 256 at the 2001 Phoenix Open.
Souchak's fifteen PGA Tour wins came between 1955 and 1964, with his best year in 1956 (four victories). He won three tour titles in 1959, and was on an early cover of Sports Illustrated in January 1956, for its preview of the Bing Crosby Pro-Am.
Souchak had eleven top-10 finishes at major championships, including third-place finishes at the U.S. Open in 1959 and 1960. Souchak led after 36 holes in 1960 with a new record score of 135, which was 7-under-par. But he struggled on the final hole of the third round (which was played on the same day as the fourth round,) making a triple bogey, and couldn't regain his composure. Arnold Palmer, who had been seven strokes behind entering the final round, shot 65 to win the championship.
In 1970, Souchak moved from North Carolina to Florida and became the first head pro at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida, and resided in Belleair.
Souchak played on the Senior PGA Tour from its inception in 1980 until 1990. His best finish was second place in his very first tournament, the Atlantic City Senior International in 1980.
Personal life Souchak was married to the former Nancy Tilley (1928–2012). He had four children: sons Mike, Frank, and Chris Souchak and daughter Patti Taylor, as well as five grandchildren. He ran Golf Car Systems, a preventive maintenance firm, with his business partner Bill Dodd until his death from complications of a heart attack in 2008.
Awards and honors Souchak was inducted into the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 1976.
Professional wins (19) PGA Tour wins (15) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Feb 20, 1955Texas Open60-68-64-65=257−277 strokes Fred Haas2Feb 27, 1955Houston Open70-71-67-65=273−152 strokes Jerry Barber3Jan 22, 1956Agua Caliente Open65-71-74-71=281−72 strokes Tommy Bolt4Apr 1, 1956Azalea Open Invitational70-70-65-68=273−151 stroke Dick Mayer5May 6, 1956Colonial National Invitation74-72-65-69=280E1 stroke Tommy Bolt6Aug 26, 1956St. Paul Open70-69-70-62=271−171 stroke Sam Snead7Aug 17, 1958St. Paul Open Invitational (2)66-64-68-65=263−254 strokes Julius Boros, Sam Snead8Apr 26, 1959Tournament of Champions66-70-68-77=281−72 strokes Art Wall Jr.9Jul 12, 1959Western Open67-67-73-65=272−81 stroke Arnold Palmer10Aug 16, 1959Motor City Open69-63-67-69=268−16 9 strokes Billy Casper, Doug Ford11Jan 31, 1960San Diego Open Invitational67-68-67-67=269−19 1 stroke Johnny Pott12Jul 4, 1960Buick Open Invitational71-68-74-69=282−6 1 stroke Gay Brewer, Art Wall Jr.13Apr 16, 1961Greater Greensboro Open70-68-69-69=276−8 7 strokes Sam Snead14Apr 19, 1964Houston Classic (2)71-69-68-70=278−61 stroke Jack Nicklaus15May 24, 1964Memphis Open Invitational69-65-67-69=270−10 1 stroke Billy Casper, Tommy Jacobs
PGA Tour playoff record (0–3) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11955Thunderbird Invitational Fred Haas, Shelley MayfieldMayfield won with birdie on second extra hole after 18-hole playoff;Mayfield: −3 (69),Souchak: −3 (69),Haas: −2 (70)21957Thunderbird Invitational Jimmy Demaret, Ken VenturiDemaret won 18-hole playoff;Demaret: −4 (67),Souchak: + 4 (75),Venturi: +5 (76)31963Hot Springs Open Invitational Dave HillLost to par on second extra hole
Other wins (4) This list is probably incomplete 1955 Havana Invitational 1959 Carolinas PGA Championship 1967 Michigan Open 1968 Michigan PGA Championship
Results in major championships Tournament1953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT4T17CUTT14T25U.S. OpenCUTCUTT10T29CUTCUTT3The Open ChampionshipT8PGA ChampionshipR16T8T5
Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT16T28T5T11T9T35T33U.S. OpenT3T4T14T32CUTCUTT42The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT12T45T39T23T13T15CUTT20CUTT59
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA ChampionshipT29
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 2 3 8 12 11U.S. Open 0 0 2 3 4 5 16 8The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1PGA Championship 0 0 0 1 3 8 14 12Totals 0 0 2 6 11 22 44 32 Most consecutive cuts made – 19 (1958 PGA – 1965 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)
U.S. national team appearances Ryder Cup: 1959 (winners), 1961 (winners) Hopkins Trophy: 1956 (winners)
References
External links
Duke University Athletics – Mike Souchak