1935 USGA Public Links Championship Contestant Badge (with Strafaci/Palmer relationship and 2020 US Amateur relationship)
Frank Strafaci, known as one of Brooklyn's top amateur golfers, claimed victory ate the 1935 contest. An interesting story involving Strafaci also involved Arnold Palmer. At the 1954 US Amateur, Arnie's first, his first match opponent was Frank. This was Palmer's final amateur appearance before turning professional and later stated that his toughest match was against Strafaci. After being all square at 17, The King pulled away 1-up and eventually claimed his championship. Strafaci becamse an integral part in golf history as he became the Executive Director of the Florida Golf Association. He then became the Director of Golf at the famed Doral Country Club in 1960 and is credited with naming the course the "Blue Monster".
Further enhancing the collectibility of this badge is the fact that 85 years after Frank Strafaci Sr. won the 1935 U.S. Amateur Public Links, his grandson, Tyler Strafaci, 22, of Davie, Fla., captured the U.S. Amateur Championship in dramatic fashion at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. The fifth-year Georgia Tech senior rallied from an early 5-down deficit to defeat Southern Methodist University rising junior Charles “Ollie” Osborne, 20, of Reno, Nev., 1 up, in the 36-hole championship match.
This lot showcases the stunning 1935 USGA contestant badge period design with the interlocked 'USGA' letters in shallow relief front and center with a dark blue enamel ring and the pertinent tournament information. As exhibited in accompanying lot photos, nearly 90 years after its issuance it remains in unimprovable condition.
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