2020 May Memorabilia Auction Featuring Ken Venturi Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/24/2020
1954 Mexico Open Contestant Badge, Invitation, & Scorecard - Rod Munday Collection
Taking place at the Club De Golf Mexico, the 1954 Mexico Open saw American Johnny Palmer finish with a winning score of 286, with the 1953 and 1955 champion Roberto De Vicenzo runner up. The Abierto Mexicano de Golf, or Mexican Open was the national open that began in 1944. This offering contains Rod Munday's contestant badge, personal tournament invitation and scorecard from the Club De Golf Mexico. With exception of the invitation the pieces are entirely in Spanish. The contestant badge boasts the national flag colors of green, white and red. The scorecard is in fair to good condition, with the badge and invitation in good condition.
Rod Munday Collection
A contemporary of Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, and Paul Runyan, Rod Munday traveled the same proving ground as many of the touring and club professionals in a career that spanned over 50 years. His friendship with those individuals and fellow teaching professionals lasted throughout his life as a pro golfer that started in Northern California and ended in Pennsylvania. Rod competed in many pro tournaments including both the 1940 and 1946 Masters Tournaments. He frequently qualified for and played in the PGA Championship from the 1930’s through the early 1960’s, and competed in the 1934, 1935, 1946, and 1947 US Open. If a putt would have fallen one way or another, Munday could have been a golfer that was mentioned in the same sentence as the legendary golfers of his day.
Munday, a World War II army vet who received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, was the preferred teaching professional for many celebrities and dignitaries, none larger than President and General Dwight D Eisenhower. Eisenhower became Rod’s #1 pupil at the Gettysburg Country Club in Pennsylvania. Munday was just as much a personal friend to these larger than life figures as a golf instructor. Many of the leading tour players such as 1941 Masters champion Craig Wood, considered Rod Munday one of the top putting minds of the 1950’s. Horton Smith, Byron Nelson, Henry Cotton, Jack Grout, and Gene Sarazen all kept in contact with Munday over the years. The allure to play exhibitions at Munday’s clubs at Highland Meadows in Toledo, Ohio and the Country Club of York in Pennsylvania was there for many, including visits and fundraisers attended by one of his closest friends, Ben Hogan.
The Golf Auction is proud to offer the Rod Munday Collection, helping to tell the story of the man himself.AUCTION CLOSING RULES:
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