2014 Exclusive British Open Week Auction Featuring Stranahan Medals
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/20/2014
1948 Tam O'Shanter Men's Amateur Golf Tournament Sterling Winner Medal
Frank Stranahan claimed the treasured winners prize at the George May hosted Tam O'Shanter event when he won the 1948 All American amateur golf title hosted outside Chicago, Illinois. This was accomplished with near perfect play on the weekend of the 72 hole event. Stranahan fired 67, the simon pure best round of the event, on Saturday. In Sundays final round he posted an early eagle on the second hole which led to a 33 on the front nine his two under 34 on the back side gave him a score of 67 for the second straight day. His score of 283 for the tournament was five under giving him a three stroke triumph over rival and U.S. Amateur champion Skee Riegal. Offered in this lot is Frank's champions medal from the event.
In true All American fashion where everything was grand, the winners medal which Stranahan received was illustrious. Fashioned of Sterling Silver (As appears "STERLING" on the reverse of each portion of the two piece metal)it measures in at 1 3/42" x 2 1/4". Not the largest of metals ever produced, but certainly one of the finest ever for detail. The two piece treasure proclaims "Frank Stranahan Winner" and "Tam O'Shanter". The second part of the medal is splendid in design featuring a raised golf ball with crossed golf clubs, with script "1948" "All American Men's" "Amateur Golf Tournament" which are wrapped in the center by laurels of achievement.
This medal was one of Stranahan's most prized of his career one which was choose for display, to the public, next to his British Amateur Champion's and Masters Low Amateur awards. These treasures of amateur golf supremacy from Stranahan, who defined amateur golf bridging the time between Bobby Jones' quadrilateral success and Tiger Woods arrival on the golf world, appeared at his childhood home turned museum and park in Toledo. Now this extreme opportunity to preserve the history of the All-American tournament and the legacy of one of its finest champions falls to our fortunate winning bidder. 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 travelling playboy and son of the founder of Champion Sparkplugs competed in over 200 tournaments across multiple continents, leaving his mark wherever he went.
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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