On This Day in Hogan History: On October 17, 1948 Ben shot a final round 64 to win the inaugural Glendale Open Invitational in California at the Oakmont Country Club by 2 strokes over Lloyd Mangrum earning $2,450. This was the last tournament of 1948 with Ben appropriately winning, like he did in nine previous tournaments that year. In the first round Ben shot a three under par 69 to finish in third place two strokes behind Lloyd Mangrum who shot an opening nine 36 and an inward nine of a 30, one of the lowest nine hole scores on record, which included four birdies and an eagle on the 18th hole with a beautiful approach shot that went up 12 feet from the cup. He sank the 12-footer as hundreds of the day’s gallery of 3,800 applauded. In the second round Ben shot a 68 to finish in a tie for second with Lloyd Mangrum two strokes back of Skip Alexander who shot a course record 65. In the third round Ben shot a two over par 74 which found him hitting a wayward drive on the eighth hole, his ball lodging in a tree some 15 feet above the ground and taking three shots to get out of a sand trap on the 14th hole. Lloyd Mangrum shot a two under par 70 to take the lead by four strokes over Hogan. In the final round Ben shot a course record 64, making eight birdies with only 24 putts, beating the previous record of 65 set in the second round by Skip Alexander. Lloyd Mangrum held a four shot lead going into the final round, but shot two over par on the outward nine. He came back with a four under par 32 on the inward nine, shooting a total score of 70, two strokes behind Ben’s winning total. Ben led the yearly money race by $1,209 over Lloyd Mangrum, with $34,338 to Hogan’s $35,547. Mangrum said he would compete in the Miami Open in December to attempt to win the title, but he finished in ninth place earning only $415. Ben also ended up winning his third Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average on the tour. This victory extended Ben’s winning streak in Southern California that dated back to January of 1946. This was his last tournament Ben played in 1948. He was quoted as saying, “I got a new home down in Texas that I haven’t seen since I bought it. I’m going there now and get acquainted.” Everything seemed to be going Mr. Hogan’s way at the end of 1948. He won 10 tournaments, the money title and the Vardon Trophy. The sales of his recently published book, “Power Golf” were going through the roof with over 25,000 copies sold in less than three weeks. But his luck was about to change. He played in only four more tournaments before his near fatal head on collision with a Greyhound bus in February of 1949. Pictured is Ben Hogan staring down a drive as he set a course record of 64, eight under par, to win the $15,000 Glendale Open at the Oakmont Country Club on October 17, 1948. Also pictured is Ben calmly sinking his putt on the ninth green. Over 4,000 people watched as Hogan came from behind to beat out Lloyd Mangrum by two strokes, who had a four shot lead at the start of the Days play.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 12:00:01 +0000
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