Billy Joe Maxwell (July 23, 1929 – September 20, 2021) was an American professional golfer.
Early life and amateur career Maxwell was born in Abilene, Texas. He has a twin brother, Bobby, who was also a golfer.
Maxwell played college golf at North Texas State College and helped them win four consecutive NCAA Division I team championships (1949–1952). Maxwell also won the U.S. Amateur title in 1951. After an impressive amateur career, he served in the Army.
Professional career In 1954, Maxwell turned pro. Maxwell won seven times on the PGA Tour. He also played on the 1963 Ryder Cup team and was elected to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame.
Maxwell resided in Jacksonville, Florida where, along with former PGA touring pro, Chris Blocker, he owned and operated Hyde Park Golf Club, a Donald Ross designed course.
Amateur wins This list is probably incomplete 1951 U.S. Amateur 1953 Mexican Amateur
Professional wins (10) PGA Tour wins (7) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1 Apr 3, 1955 Azalea Open Invitational −18 (65-68-68-69=270) 1 stroke Mike Souchak2 Apr 22, 1956 Arlington Hotel Open −16 (64-69-70-69=272) 1 stroke George Bayer, Ernie Vossler3 Oct 27, 1957 Hesperia Open Invitational −13 (67-67-67-74=275) 2 strokes Dow Finsterwald4 May 18, 1958 Memphis Open −13 (69-65-68-65=267) 1 stroke Cary Middlecoff5 Feb 5, 1961 Palm Springs Golf Classic −14 (68-70-68-68-71=345) 2 strokes Doug Sanders6 Aug 13, 1961 Insurance City Open Invitational −13 (69-68-68-66=271) Playoff Ted Kroll7 Sep 3, 1962 Dallas Open Invitational −3 (68-70-68-71=277) 4 strokes Johnny Pott
PGA Tour playoff record (1–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11955Baton Rouge Open Jimmy Clark, Bo WiningerWininger won 18-hole playoff;Wininger: −6 (66),Clark: −2 (70),Maxwell: −1 (71)21957Western Open George Bayer, Doug Ford, Gene LittlerFord won with par on third extra holeLittler and Maxwell eliminated by par on first hole31961Insurance City Open Invitational Ted KrollWon with birdie on seventh extra hole
Source:
Other wins (3) this list is probably incomplete 1956 Mexican Open 1961 Puerto Rico Open 1973 Florida Open
Major championships
Amateur wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreRunner-up 1951 U.S. Amateur 4 & 3 Joe Gagliardi
Results timeline Amateur Tournament1950195119521953Masters TournamentT49U.S. AmateurR161R256The Amateur ChampionshipR16
Professional Tournament195419551956195719581959196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971Masters TournamentT43T18T34WDT9T8T25T5T15T18T26T39U.S. Open2712T8T27T26T22T8T514T36T52PGA ChampionshipT25T11T24T27WDT5T13T43T63T10T40 Note: Maxwell never played in The Open Championship.
WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
Sources: Masters, U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur,USGA Championship Database PGA Championship, 1952 British Amateur
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 1 3 7 13 12U.S. Open 0 0 0 1 3 6 11 11The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PGA Championship 0 0 0 1 2 6 11 10Totals 0 0 0 3 8 19 35 33 Most consecutive cuts made – 14 (1963 Masters – 1971 PGA) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (three times)
U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1963 (winners)
References
External links