1953 Masters Low Amateur Sterling Trophy Won By Frank Stranahan

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This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/10/2014

1953 Masters Low Amateur Sterling Trophy Won By Frank Stranahan

Many judges of the history of golf look at Ben Hogan's 1953 Masters as the finest 72 holes of golf over the first 100 years of the game. Hogan won the the '53 Masters besting the low tournament score previously posted by five strokes as he won by five strokes. This made Sunday's round anticlimactic with the Hogan victory already assured to most. The excitement of the day however for the assembled gallery at Augusta came over who would win the amateur cup. In 1952, the Masters Tournament began presenting the low amateur, making the cut, with a sterling silver cup.

Entering Sunday's final round Harvie Ward and Frank Stranahan were deadlocked with aggregate scores of 216 over the first three rounds. The two top United States amateurs, both former British Amateur champions, were keen rivals for a number of years. Their personal dual had been staged in addition to play at the British Am during the Western Amateur, the North and South Amateur and where ever else the top simon-pure players had met to determine supremacy of the amateur ranks of golf. Stranahan was one stroke down as they entered the 17th hole, it was here that Frank made one of the finest shots of the '53 Masters, be it by a pro or an amateur. On the par four he pushed his drive to the right behind a high bunker. The pin placement was on the corner of the green a scant distance from a green-side trap. Frank hit a seven-iron landing it it on the green and spinning the ball back within three inches of the cup for his round tying birdie. When Ward and Stranahan tied the 18th hole, the Augusta National ruling members decided that each amateur should receive a trophy in what was the first deadlock result among the amateurs. And what a trophy it is with the sterling silver cup measuring 5 1/2" diameter and standing 4 1/4" tall with a span of 7 1/2" from handle to handle.

It is not so much it's overall size, as it is the striking design of the award. The silver cup is adorned with gold raised reliefs on each of its sides resembling the images which present on the overall champions medal. One side features the clubhouse with raised lettering " AUGUSTA NATIONAL" "GOLF CLUB" while the reverse depicts the raised relief of the traditional Masters logo it is below this logo that the champions engraving resides and states, "FRANK R. STRANAHAN" "1953". An award of this magnitude from the Masters rarely, if ever becomes available to collectors. Do not miss this opportunity for this trophy that will absolutely dominate a showcase. A portion of the Frank Stranahan collection proceeds will be donated to The First Tee of Lake Erie.

In order to bid in extended bidding you must place a bid on the lot before 9pm on auction closing day. The Golf Auction's Spring Auction will end in two sessions on April 10th and April 13th, 2014. Session 1 (Lots 1-400) will end on April 10th, 2014 at 9:00pm EST with extended bidding to follow. Session 2 (Lots 401+) will end on April 13th, 2014 at 9:00pm EST with extended bidding to follow. Get your bids in before the session ends.