2014 Exclusive British Open Week Auction Featuring Stranahan Medals
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/20/2014
1947 Masters 4th Rd Ticket Signed by Runner Up Frank Stranahan-68 Low Round On Day-283 Best Ever by Amateur
This Sunday, 4th round ticket to the 1947 Masters comes from the personal collection of Frank Stranahan. He has autographed the top of the April 6 ducat, clearly in ink signing his full name Frank R. Stranahan. Yes, Jimmy Demaret won the tournament and joined Horton Smith and Byron Nelson as two-time winners of the Masters. However the overriding story of the '47 Masters was the performance of the amateur Stranahan who with his 68 for the Sunday round (low score of the day)moved into a tie for second overall two strokes behind Demaret. Ironically he tied with Byron Nelson, his former instructor at Toledo's famed Inverness Golf Club. Stranny's 283 score demolished the previous best amateur mark for the four day event which had been set by Lawson Little in 1935 at 288.
The condition of this ticket would be of medium grade with technical deductions for loss of string and 13 circular stains over the front of ticket #1917. The reverse of ticket however does present in extremely clean condition free from creases. The over riding value of this item resides in its ownership coming from the "Glamour Guy of the Links" an amateur who beat every pro on the final round of the Masters, and came oh so close to walking away with the Masters Championship in 1947. A portion of the Frank Stranahan collection proceeds will be donated to The First Tee of Lake Erie.
For nearly 20 years Frank Stranahan dominated the landscapes of golf, weightlifting, women, and even the heads of the Masters Tournament. Winning over 70 amateur tournaments wasn’t enough for this ‘Toledo Strongman’; on regular basis he would compete against and beat the day’s professionals including Hogan, Nelson and Snead. As a finalist in over a dozen national championships he won an astounding seven! Frankie was runner-up in five other major championships, including the British Amateur, the Masters Tournament, The Open Championship, and the U.S. Amateur. He won two major championships in the 1948 and 1950 British Amateurs. Throw in 3 Walker Cup Team Victories and this man was untouchable, the greatest amateur anyone had seen since Bobby Jones made his way around the fairways. This world traveling playboy and son of the founder of Champion Sparkplugs competed in over 200 tournaments across multiple continents, leaving his mark wherever he went.
James Spence Authentication(JSA)has reviewed this signature, and their letter of authenticity comes with this lot.
The Golf Auction's Exclusive July Auction will end on July 20th, 2014 at 7:00pm EST with extended bidding to follow.
Please note: The British Open Week Auction Extended Bidding rules have changed. In this auction, extended bidding will continue after 7:00pm EST on July 20th until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended.
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