1964 The Open Championship at St. Andrews Contestant Badge - Tony Lema Winner
Issued at the 1964 Open Championship at St. Andrews was this contestant badge for the playing that crowned 'Champion Golfer of the Year' Tony Lema. The deep blue enameled ring encircles that issuing governing body Royal & Ancient's raised emblem on this pinnacle of Open Championship credentials. 'Champagne' Tony Lema won his career defining major championship in a thrilling five stroke victory over Jack Nicklaus and the rest of the field. Catastrophically Lema's career and life was cut short following the 1966 PGA Championship in Akron, Ohio when he and his wife were on a charter airplane heading to an exhibition tournament south of Chicago, the Little Buick Open in Crete, Illinois. Ironically, Lema would crash onto a golf course, landing in a water hazard on the 7th hole of the Lansing Country Club, less than a mile from their destination. This badge remains in good condition, with some signs of aging as it was issued in 1965 at The Home of Golf - The Old Course of St Andrews. The badge offered here is 1 1/2" diameter and comes in good condition with the pin intact.
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