Kocsis, Amateur Runner-up, Dies At
93
June 1, 2006
By David Shefter, USGA
Three-time USA Walker Cupper and 1956 U.S. Amateur runner-up
Chuck Kocsis died May 30 at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital in
Michigan at the age of 93 from complications relating to a fall
after being admitted to a different medical facility.
 |
| Chuck Kocsis warms up prior to the start
of the 1937 U.S. Open, which was held at Oakland Hills
Country Club in Birmingham, Mich. (USGA Photo Archives) |
Kocsis' three appearances occurred over three different
decades - 1938, '49 and '57. His overall record was .
He competed in 15 U.S. Amateur Championships, including a
first-round upset in 1930 at Merion Golf Club, when at the age of
17, he knocked out 1913 U.S. Open and 1914 U.S. Amateur champion
Francis Ouimet.
Kocsis also was the low amateur at the 1934 and '37 U.S.
Open and he made nine appearances at the Masters, earning
low-amateur honors in 1952.
As a collegian at the , Kocsis led the Wolverines to three of
its five consecutive Big Ten championships and the NCAA title in
1934 and '35. Individually, Kocsis was the NCAA runner-up in
1934 and the national champion in 1936.
Kocsis virtually owned the state of when it came to winning
golf championships. He was the state junior champion in 1927 and
'28, the high school champion in 1928 and '29, a six-time
winner of the Michigan Amateur, a five-time champion of the
Michigan Medal Play Championship and a three-time Michigan Open
champion, including 1931 when he defeated Tommy Armour, the 1927
U.S. Open champion in a playoff for the title.
Kocsis learned to play golf as a caddie at Redford Golf Club
near , where his father had a job on the assembly line at the
Ford plant. Until last year, Kocsis continued to play golf on a
weekly basis, but heart problems slowed him down.
Funeral services are set to be held June 3.
is a staff writer for the USGA.