2019 November Golf Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/24/2019
Open Championship Challenge Belt Buckle - 2010 OPEN Champion's Gift - Mark Calcavecchia Collection
Thought to be at, or near the top of the list for creativity was the Open in 2010 producing a replica of it's first Championship award - The Challenge Belt. Dating back to the first 11 years of the tournament the Champion Golfer of the Year was awarded a red Moroccan leather belt with silver clasps and an ornate silver buckle. The belt was purchased by the members of Prestwick Golf Club, host site to the first dozen Opens. When young Tom Morris won three consecutive Opens from 1868-1870, the Challenge Belt became his permanent possession. No tournament was held in 1871. Subsequently, the Claret Jug was produced and became the Open Champion’s award starting with the 1873 Championship. In 2010 a near replica Sterling Silver Challenge Belt Buckle was gifted to each past champion attending the Champions Dinner at St. Andrews. This item limited to past champions as recipients was presented to 1989 British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia and he has retained it just as he received it that evening with both the original presentation box and gift card. For the collector of golf history, Open Championship history or St. Andrews memorabilia it's a must have. Due to scarcity this is certain to be a sought after but unattainable collectible for most. This eye catching belt buckle measures 3 1/4" by 5." A letter of provenance from Mark Calcavecchia will be attached with this lot.
Mark Calcavecchia Collection:
The 1989 ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ was none other than 4-time US Ryder Cup Team Member and perennial top PGA Tour player, Mark Calcavecchia. A moment that any golfer dreams of having, Calcavecchia knew the magnitude of his accomplishment, with his name mentioned with the great champions of past going forward. As a testament to Calcavecchia’s easy going personality after the 1989 Open Championship in Royal Troon, he famously told a member of the press that he wasn’t aware of the tournament’s playoff format and jokingly asked “How’s my name going to fit on that thing?” Calcavecchia was of course referring to the engraving of his name on the Claret Jug. Calcavecchia has left his footprint all around the globe, amassing 29 victories across the PGA Tour, Asian Tour, PGA Tour of Australia among others over four decades from 1986 until 2018.
A Florida native since 1973, Calcavecchia has been in the spotlight numerous times in his career, with numerous notable victories and a runner up finish in the 1988 Masters Tournament. Calcavecchia’s final round of 70 made him leader in the clubhouse at 6-under par. Sandy Lyle did the unthinkable, birdieing Augusta National Golf Club’s final hole, negating a playoff finish the patrons were hoping for. His dominance at the Phoenix Open tournament continued in 2001, tying a PGA Tour record of 28 under par and winning his third Phoenix Open title. In 2009 Calcavecchia set a PGA Tour record by getting nine consecutive birdies at the RBC Canadian Open.
Many of Mark Calcavecchia’s finest on-course achievements worldwide are represented by items from his collection that The Golf Auction is proud to offer.
AUCTION CLOSING RULES:
This auction will end at 9:00pm EST Sunday, November 24th with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items that have received multiple bids in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period (at 10pm EST, the countdown clock will be adjusted to a 5 minute interval). Place your bids now!
1. You must place your initial bids BEFORE extended bidding begins in order to bid on the item in extended bidding
2. During extended bidding, you are allowed to bid only on items you PREVIOUSLY placed a bid on.
3. All lots that are active in extended bidding will close at the same time, and those with only ONE or NO BIDS will close at 9pm EST
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