2017 February-March Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/12/2017
Byron Nelson Match Used Actual Historic Official 4TH Round 1939 US Open Win Scorecard-Robert Sommers Collection (U.S.G.A. Official)
Byron Nelson was in top form coming into the 1939 United States Open, winning the North and South and Phoenix Opens, but rounds of 72,73, and 71 had left him five strokes behind 54 hole leader Johnny Bulla. With faint hope, Nelson began the fourth round with a birdie at the first, a strong 450-yard par 4, but he dropped a stroke at the third, a tricky downhill par 4 with a tightly bunkered green, and then played 13 consecutive holes in par. A putt finally fell on the 17th, dropping him to one under par, and he played the 18th in a steady par for a 68 (with par being set at 69 for the Championship,the lowest ever in U.S. Open play). In with 284, all he could do was wait on Sam Snead, playing behind him on the 17th tee needing two pars for 70 and 282. This was the worst of Snead's many career collapses at the Open, he took an eight on the final hole of play. In attendance that day and on the deciding 72nd hole for Snead was golfing legend, Bobby Jones. There was still golf to be watched the next day as Nelson was joined by Craig Wood and Denny Shute at 284 setting up an 18 hole playoff. Nelson and Wood each shot 68 to eliminate Shute who carded 76. This setup another playoff the following day highlighted by Lord Byron holing out a 215 yard one iron on the fourth hole for eagle to pace his 70-73 win over Wood. The 1939 Open was the only men's Championship contested at the historic Philadelphia Country Club, and also Nelson's lone Open victory among his five majors. This lot offers the most significant match used scorecard The Golf Auction has offered to date. Bearing the official date stamped (June 10 marking of the U.S.G.A.). This card bears the complete pencil scoring of Byron Nelson's (the professional playing out of Reading C.C. Reading PA) fourth round 68 as completed by his playing partner scorer that day, which gave him an aggregate score of 284 as marked also in pencil. Nelson has signed for this closing round score in pencil at the Competitor's Signature section of card applying a pencil autograph. This item presents a significant opportunity to own a historic, museum quality treasure from Sam Snead's greatest collapse and Byron Nelson's hard fought U.S. Open Championship. James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed the autograph, and their letter of authenticity will come with this lot.
**THE ESTATE OF HELEN AND ROBERT SOMMERS COLLECTION (U.S.G.A OFFICIAL)**
Robert Sommers served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the final stages of World War II, from 1944 to 1946. He returned to spend four years at the University of Maryland, then caught on as a sportswriter for the Baltimore Evening Sun, where he remained for 12 years. In 1962, he switched to the now-defunct Washington Star, and in the winter of 1965-66, he joined the United States Golf Association as managing editor of Golf Journal and public information manager. That was the start of a 26 year career with the U.S.G.A with numerous notable accomplishments including the 1987 publication of his book "The U.S. Open: Golf's Ultimate Challenge", which is also the ultimate source for information about golf's premier championship. With the success of this work, Sommers followed up with a second edition in 1996. Both of these writings are dedicated to wife Helen as Sommers wrote, "who saw me trough this one". Helen Sommers was a librarian by trade who would be invaluable to the maintenance of Robert's golf book and memorabilia collections over the years. A collection which was acquired in both the United States and Europe, with Sommers' first visit to Scotland for the 1979 Walker Cup match at Muirfield. From that assignment he quickly maintained his reputation as the U.S.G.A.'s "foreign correspondent for overseas golf events". All that time assembling the wonderful golf collection which The Golf Auction is privileged to offer here to the collecting world.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, March 12th with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items in the auction will remain open 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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